A recently-arrived German civil engineer, Bianca Pischke, is already working with the CQU Plant Sciences Group.

Ms Pischke, a Masters candidate in the field of Tropical Water Resource Management at the University of Lueneburg, is currently focusing on subsurface drip irrigation.

While at CQU, she will be working with Professor David Midmore, Post Doctoral Research Fellow Surya P. Bhattarai and PhD Student Lance Pendergast of PSG on a number of ongoing research projects.

Ms Pischke is based at CQU Rockhampton as an intern student for 3 months (October to December 2006).

She is primarily focusing on the on-going research projects in oxygation with Professor Midmore and Dr Bhattarai.

Ms Pischke is critically evaluating the beneficial effects of aerated water for cotton growth on vertisols under saline water conditions. She will concentrate on the germination phase and young plant growth.

The visitor is also working on field-scale research on pumpkins at Alton Downs, keenly learning modern methods of plant, soil and water monitoring to complement her engineering skills with a broader knowledge of plant physiology and plant response to oxygation.

Ms Pischke will present her results during a CQU Plant Sciences Group seminar and, once back in Germany, she will use her research as the basis for her Masters thesis.

For more information, please contact Dr Bhattarai, 4923 2140, or Bianca Pischke 4930 9606.

Photo (above): Bianca in the potting shed, analyzing a pumpkin sample.

Photo (below): Bianca in the pumpkin field trails at Alton Downs, working on root coring to analyze the root growth.