Dr Karen Sommerville is a Rainforest Conservation Scientist based at the Australian PlantBank at the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan, where she leads the Rainforest Seed Conservation Project.
With a PhD in Science (plant conservation) and expertise in seed biology, tissue culture, and cryopreservation, Karen's typical day involves laboratory work, designing experiments, analysing results, writing papers, and occasional field work.
Highly motivated by the prospect of contributing to the survival of some of our most threatened plant species, Karen is proud of the progress her team has made in identifying which rainforest seeds can be conserved in the seed bank and working out alternative solutions for species that will tolerate drying, but not freezing.
Karen attributes moving into a house with a garden and reading Don Burke’s ‘The Lazy Gardener’ as factors that first piqued her interest in horticulture. Her passion for plants and natural environments then led her to pursue a career in conservation horticulture, starting with a Certificate in Horticulture Operations and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Urban Horticulture. Her love for science continued to grow, and she completed a PhD in the conservation of saltmarsh plants.
A field trip to collect seeds from the cloud forests of Far North Queensland became a cherished memory when Karen felt the incredible peace of a pristine natural environment. She loves the endless fascination of working with plants and the opportunity to collaborate with passionate people from both outside and within the organisation.
Her favourite plant is Angophora costata – the Sydney Red Gum – with its beautiful smooth, pinkish-red bark and its ability to grow in the most precarious environments.
Karen's vision for the future of the Gardens is for it to make tangible progress in the conservation of native plants and restoration of natural habitats. She encourages people to get involved in plant conservation in some way, whether it's by making a donation, joining a local bush care group, or just learning more about the plants that grow in their local area.
