CSIRO Develops a New Breed of Young Scientists

Seventeen science and engineering students are doing hands-on work  as part of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) Plant Industry Summer Student Program. This program provides opportunity to university students to work on important agricultural research projects together with some of Australia's agriculture experts.

"These students are working alongside CSIRO scientists on real-world projects," says CSIRO Plant Industry Chief, Dr Jeremy Burdon. "Their work is actively contributing to the body of knowledge around fundamental issues facing the agricultural world: increasing crop yields, tolerance to disease and stress, and securing the world's food supply in the face of a variable climate for a world that must feed nine billion people by 2050."

Amanda Huen, one of the participating students, is engaged in a project investigating the physiological and genetic bases for high-yielding hybrid plants. "This is an unbeatable experience which will help me be far more certain about the kind of career path I would like to follow as I finish university," Ms. Huen says.

The program started in December 2010 and will end on February 2011.

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