Science program

The Science Program of the Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust is:

• Obligated first and foremost to the Trust through the relevant Acts and corporate planning.
• Funded primarily by the State Government of NSW and its programs must contribute to that government’s policies and goals.
• Obligated under all treaties and strategies to which the State and Federal governments are signatories (e.g. NSW Biodiversity Strategy, National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia’s Biological Diversity, Convention for Biological Diversity).
• The oldest and one of the most highly respected scientific units in Australia. (Science in Australia began at the Trust and has always been a strong focus for the discovery, documentation and study of Australian plants).
• Recognised and valued internationally, nationally and within the State for its science programs (with different programs relevant at different levels).
• A critical component for the Trust is to remain one of the worlds leading botanic gardens.
• Accepted as a leading organisation in the conservation and management of NSW’s plant biodiversity.
• Part of a national and international collection of herbaria and botanic gardens (and other organisations) contributing to the understanding, appreciation and conservation of Australia’s flora.

Vision for Science of the Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust

The Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust will have exciting, innovative and relevant scientific research programs. It will be recognised throughout New South Wales, Australia and the world as making a major contribution to the discovery and conservation of biodiversity. It will work with the horticultural industry and botanic gardens in plant development and disease diagnosis. Research results and biodiversity data will be communicated using the best available means. The Trust will work in partnership with government agencies, universities, botanic gardens and herbaria to achieve these aims.

All scientific programs will be widely recognised within New South Wales as important and appropriate, with no reduction in the Gardens’ international reputation for high quality, progressive science.

Objectives for Science of the Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust

• To undertake original research on the plants of New South Wales and neighbouring areas.
• To effectively disseminate the results of research through publications, products and services.
• To play a leading role in the conservation of biodiversity in New South Wales and neighbouring areas.
• To be the primary source of plant diversity information in New South Wales.
• To lead and contribute to the understanding and appreciation of plant diversity.
• To assist in the sustainable management of the botanic gardens and the horticultural industry.
• To contribute to the development of State, national and international policies and legislation.

Priority-setting Criteria

All new programs and projects must be evaluated against the following criteria. Some criteria are deliberately open to interpretation and should be used as a starting point for discussion about a particular program/project. The geographical focus for any program will usually be New South Wales or ‘neighbouring’ region (in a scientific, geographic or economic-political sense).

The program or project should:

1. Be consistent with the implicit and explicit directions and policies of the State Government of New South Wales
2. Be of scientific merit: i.e. methodologically sound and scientific in approach. The research should ‘change the way we do or think about things’
3. Contribute to a sense of wonder and excitement about plants and their biology
4. Be innovative and/or use the best available methodology
5. Result in better conservation and management of biodiversity
6. Provide a service or knowledge not readily available elsewhere (may be part of a coordinated interagency program)
7. Make best use of our resources, including people, facilities, and preserved and living collections
8. Contribute to, complement, or initiate other programs in the Trust
9. Effectively communicate outcomes to the appropriate audience
10. Raise or maintain the profile of the Trust
11. Preferably attract external funding or result in income to the Trust
12. If consistent with the above criteria, be targeted to meet the greatest needs of the identified stakeholders.

Science Promotion

The Trust’s sciences program continued to receive excellent media coverage and staff publicised their work in print, radio and television wherever the opportunities arose.

Other publications and presentations for general audiences are included in the detailed reports for each section, and in the reference list at the end.

Teaching

The number of Honours and higher degree students supervised was 32 this year. Apart from the involvement in the biosystematics course at the University of New England (see below) staff also delivered guest lectures at various universities, sometimes presenting blocks of key lectures (e.g. Dr Cathy Offord and Dr Edward Liew at The University of Sydney). Dr Maurizio Rossetto has continued his involvement in the Biological Conservation course at the School of Rural Sciences and Natural Resources (University of New England), coordinated by Associate Professor Caroline Gross. Various staff members have adjunct appointments at a number of universities.

Plant Science Internship Program

2009 saw the third 7-week Internship Program offered by the Herbarium, running from 8 January to 23 February. This program offers undergraduates and recent graduates in the plant sciences advanced full-time working experience, with training in a broad suite of science and workforce skills. In return the Interns assist staff, particularly in the Herbarium curation area, yielding a significant nett gain for us. The program helps with the Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain profile on university and TAFE campuses, and yields some media opportunities.

The Friends of the Gardens provided crucial financial support for the program. Twelve interns were recruited: Karen Bartle (UNSW), Anne Baumann (University of Sydney) Joelle Catherine (University of Mauritius) Theresa Choi (UNSW), Daniel Clarke (University of Sydney and TAFE), Eliza Fagan (Completed University of New England Bachelor Environ Sc, 2008), Peter Fallon (UNE and Macquarie University), Jennifer Hens (University of Western Sydney and Sydney Water internship), Alison Jaggard (UNSW), Rebecca Johnson (Southern Cross University), Jo Miller (University of Queensland), and Margaret Stimpson (UNE).

Core staff of the program was Bob Makinson, Louisa Murray, Kathi Downs, Barry Conn, Doug Benson, Peter Wilson and Peta Hinton. Many staff from other parts of the Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, DECCW and beyond volunteered time in task preparation and teaching.

Biosystematics course

The Trust continued its strong involvement in the two Biosystematics units for tertiary students run in conjunction with the University of New England and the Australian Museum. It has been decided to run the course-specific unit every year, which staff helped to teach and to run this year. The 5-day residential school was held at the Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney in April 2009.

Honorary research associates and volunteers

The Honorary Research Associates continued to be major contributors to our research program and their key research achievements are included within the relevant programs below. Patricia Meagher and Joy Everett were appointed as Honorary Research Associates in this period.

Our volunteers continued to play an important role in the herbarium, particularly in the mounting room program, where they painstakingly care for and mount the plant specimens of the herbarium collections. The herbarium could not function without their important contribution. Volunteer contributions in the library and various scientific programs have also been enormously beneficial.

Scientific Committee of the Trust

The external members of the committee are Professor Lesley Hughes (Macquarie University) (Chair from 2 February 2009); Professor Sue Serjeantson (Australian Academy of Science) (Chair till 20 December 2008), and Associate Professor Jeremy Bruhl (University of New England), Dr Dan Faith (Australian Museum), Dr Jane Tarran (University of Technology, Sydney) (till 27 April 2009), Dr Klaus Koop (Scientific Services Division, Department of Environment and Climate Change) and Dr Murray Henwood (University of Sydney). The Scientific Committee of the Trust, together with Professor Mark Burgman, University of Melbourne, and Dr Derek VanDyk, Office of Science and Medical Research, NSW Government reviewed the science programs of the Trust on the tenth anniversary of the previous review of science in 1998. The review team provided a report to the Trust highlighting that the science programs continued to be relevant, innovative and of high quality but also providing some recommendation for future directions and appointments.

In addition the committee met three times during 2008/09, usually coinciding with the Trust meetings. Through the provision of general advice and feedback, and the review of scientific projects and programs, the committee continued to have a critical role in the management of the Science Program.

Homoranthus thomasii. Photo: Andrew Orme

Angophora costata after bushfires in Royal National Park, McKell Ave, near Waterfall, NSW. Photo: Chris Allen

Peta Hinton, Scientific Volunteer Coordinator (standing) and Gillian Towler, Technical Officer (front) with some of our valued Mounting Room volunteers.