“Myrtle rust causes bright yellow pustules and infects over 500 different species including mānuka, pōhutukawa, rātā and feijoa,” Sale said. “We’re getting closer to artificial infection in the laboratory so that we can trial methods for its control.”
“Sarah’s presentation stood out as she had the visual and delivery excellence we were looking for,” Hayley Ridgway from Plant and Food Research, who was adjudicator of the eight judges, said.
At the welcoming ceremony, Tumu Tuarua Rangahau | Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research Professor Ian Wright said, “New Zealand and Australia are world leaders in biosecurity. To remain that way, we must continue to invest in inter-disciplinary research”.
Alongside Sarah, UC PhD students Ben McEwen (Computer Engineering), Hugh Benson (Psychology) and Leann Vinson (Biology) attended the conference thanks to a UC Biosecurity Innovations (UCBI) grant.
“We had 17 delegates from UC attend, four of whom were students,” Director of UCBI Associate Professor Steve Pawson said. “It’s important that our students are aware of the global issues biosecurity creates”.
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