What are your research interests?
Stress tolerance mechanisms of plants.
How did you first get involved with SCI?
A friend recommended I visit the SCI website having spotted an opportunity for undertaking overseas research on a topic of interest in plant sciences. Through the David Miller Travel Bursary I became a member of the Horticulture Group and was immediately engaged by attending SCI events and by the chance to present my research findings at their AGM on quinoa in Bolivia.
What do you hope to gain from your involvement with SCI?
Having recently sought out a PhD with a focus on interdisciplinary science and gaining exposure to work in industry, SCI is an ideal source of inspiration. I hope to make the most of the opportunities for meeting with and learning from researchers working at the interface between different disciplines of science.
I look forward to attending a diversity of events, from talks to field visits and outreach activities and to actively participate as much as possible. It would be awesome to present work at future SCI events such as next year's Young Researchers in Crop Science conference.
Finally, it will be exciting to receive updates on the latest research being done and future opportunities for developing new skills. Receiving the SCI monthly magazine (Chemistry & Industry) and by checking all sorts of news updates on the SCI website has been great for this so far!
Why would you encourage your peers to join SCI?
I have gained loads from my first few months since joining SCI. They have made visits to the Eden Project, Rothamsted Research Park and even Bolivia possible, while also offering me chances to present work and communicate with a range of personnel. As a result I have been continuously developing my networking skills and have especially enjoyed exchanging insights from people of different research and/or cultural backgrounds.
There are also endless opportunities for attending discounted conference days, applying for bursaries to gain enriching experiences in new places or presenting your work to diverse audiences. Ultimately, being a member of SCI facilitates the engagement with areas of science distinct to your own, which is both refreshing and inspiring.
Floren Scrafton
University of Oxford, Interdisciplinary Bioscience DTP candidate
