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Join Monica Fahey, Scientific Officer and genomics researcher at the Research Centre for Ecosystem Resilience, Botanic Gardens of Sydney, for an engaging conversation about plant genomics, cultural knowledge, Aboriginal food plants and the hidden histories of species.
About the Speaker:
Monica Fahey is a Scientific Officer at the Botanic Gardens of Sydney, where she uses plant genomic data to uncover the hidden histories of species and support their conservation. Her work focuses on Aboriginal food plant dispersal, rainforest evolution and conservation, combining genetic research with an interest in understanding how people, plants and landscapes have interacted over time.
A key part of Monica's work involves collaborating with Traditional Owners and Aboriginal community groups to support the conservation of culturally significant plant species on Country. Through plant genomic research, she helps investigate the cultural histories of plants and the ways in which human communities may have contributed to their movement and dispersal across the landscape.
Monica holds a Bachelor of Science in Plant Science and a PhD in Environmental Sciences. She is particularly interested in exploring how ancient human populations interacted with and modified their environments, using DNA and other forms of data to better understand the relationships between people, plants and changing landscapes.
Her work also explores how knowledge of a species' natural historical movement patterns can inform conservation. By understanding the genetic and evolutionary history of plant populations, Monica is interested in developing approaches for moving plants between locations that maintain a broad range of genetic diversity and give new populations the best possible opportunity to adapt to their environments.
Much of Monica's work involves organising samples for DNA extraction and developing new approaches to analyse genetic, environmental and trait data. Through this combination of laboratory work, data analysis and scientific research, she is helping reveal stories about plant species that may otherwise remain hidden.
Monica's interest in botany began during her high school Earth and Environmental Science classes, where she became fascinated by ancient environments and the history of the planet. One of her favourite memories from her scientific journey is conducting fieldwork for her Honours project, exploring rocky creek lines and escarpment edges in search of Tristaniopsis, a group of shrubs and trees in the myrtle family.
Her favourite plant is the Kanooka or Water Gum (Tristaniopsis laurina), reflecting her enduring fascination with Australia's remarkable plant diversity and the stories contained within the natural world.
Through her work at the intersection of genomics, conservation and cultural history, Monica is helping build a deeper understanding of Australia's plant species and their relationships with people and place. She hopes that greater collaboration between horticulture and science at the Botanic Gardens of Sydney will contribute to a greener, more informed and resilient future.
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