Three Murdoch scientists have been awarded prestigious Fulbright appointments to improve rangeland restoration, build more resilient biosecurity systems and explore sustainable crop treatments.

Professor Simon McKirdy has been appointed Fulbright Distinguished Chair in Agriculture and Life Sciences which will see him head to Kansas State University to develop more effective models of biosecurity. 

Associate Professor Rachel Standish, awarded a Fulbright Future Scholarship funded by The Kinghorn Foundation, will assess how soil microbes impact the restoration of rangelands at University of Wyoming.

“This award is a terrific opportunity to bring together a strong team of researchers with complementary expertise to make a difference to a challenge that both the United States and Australia face – restoring lands used to graze livestock to healthy plant ecosystems,” said Dr Standish.
 
Professor McKirdy’s project will also look at a common challenge of the two nations – and many others – reducing the risk and potential impact of biosecurity breaches at international borders. 

Maninder Kaur, a PhD student at Murdoch, was also awarded a Fulbright Future Scholarship to pursue her research into using cold plasma technology to treat fungal pathogens. 

Building more resilient plant biosecurity 

Society’s awareness of the impact of a biosecurity incursion has never been greater than right now, during a health pandemic. 

“This is a clear demonstration of how the entry of an invasive alien species can threaten the economic, environmental, social and cultural aspects of a country’s economy,” explained Professor McKirdy.   

This project will focus on defining what encompasses a resilient biosecurity system, which can be used to assist governments design the future frameworks in the face of growing threats.”
Professor Simon McKirdy

While Professor McKirdy’s focus is on the plant sector, which experiences pandemics regularly, the research outputs will be directly applicable to human and animal sectors.  The project will also provide valuable information for how future pandemics are managed.

The project builds on a ten-year research collaboration between Kansas State University and Murdoch University that has focused on many components of the plant biosecurity system and how they interact.  

 

Restoring rangelands to their former glory

The microorganisms in soil play a critical role in plant ecosystems, cycling nutrients and helping vegetation develop. However, they are often ignored in restoration projects.

“We’re going to use state-of-the-art technology to identify communities of soil microbes and overlay that with plant community data to better understand their impact on land restoration efforts,” said Dr Standish.

This will be helpful for the land managers and ranchers across Australia and the US who are working to improve the productivity and sustainability of rangelands.”
Associate Professor Rachel Standish

The project will reveal whether intervention is required to restore soil microbes or whether microbes recover themselves when weeds are removed and native plant communities are restored to landscapes. This is critical to effective land restoration efforts. 

 

Developing sustainable crop treatments

The aim of Maninder Kaur’s Fulbright Future Scholarship is to minimise the agriculture industry’s reliance on chemicals to treat crop diseases, while maintaining the quality of the end product. 

“I’m excited for the opportunity to continue working on cold plasma and better understanding how we can treat a key fungal pathogen affecting cereal crops in a sustainable way,” said Kaur.

Cold plasma is a naturally occurring state of matter which leaves no residue. It’s the same technology used in plasma televisions and neon lights and is also commonly used in medicine and dentistry to treat wounds, so is safe for human use. 

The commercial application of cold plasma would remove the need to treat crops and foods with fungicides. 

With increasing consumers' demand for chemical-free and safer food, this project could potentially lead to greater economic returns in the long term for both nations."
Maninder Kaur

All three researchers are part of the Harry Butler Institute at Murdoch University, which champions the coexistence of business and biodiversity. Professor McKirdy is Pro Vice Chancellor of the Institute.

About the Fulbright Program

The Australian-American Fulbright Commission is a non-profit organisation sponsored by the Australian and United States governments, as well as other institutional and business partners, private bequests and endowments.

Around the world, the Fulbright Program has a rich history and proud legacy of supporting educational excellence and cultural exchange. As a leading scholarship program between Australia and the United States, the Fulbright Program is recognised for its quality, values and opportunities.

The program promotes education and cultural exchange, in order to enhance mutual understanding and strengthen long-lasting, productive partnerships between Australia and the United States. It places a focus on supporting the development of professional, academic and personal excellence.

Since its establishment, the Fulbright Program has grown to become the largest educational exchange scholarship program in the world, operating in more than 160 countries. 

 

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