Monica Fahey has a passion for uncovering the hidden histories of species using DNA data.
With a focus on Aboriginal food plant dispersal and rainforest evolution and conservation, Monica collaborates with Traditional Owners and Aboriginal groups, shedding light on the cultural history of plants and how humans have helped them spread.
Monica spends most work days in the office, organising samples for DNA extraction, and researching and learning new code for the manipulation and analysis of genetic, environmental or trait data.
With a Bachelor of Science (Plant Science) and a PhD in Environmental Sciences, Monica is particularly interested in investigating how ancient human populations interacted with and modified the environment. She’s also passionate about developing plans to move specific species of plants from one location to another, in ways that take into account their natural historical movement patterns. This will help ensure that the new populations of plants have a wide range of genetic traits and are better equipped to adapt to their new environments.
Monica’s interest in botany was first sparked by learning about ancient environments and the history of the planet during Earth and Environmental Science classes at high school. She cherishes her memories of fieldwork for her Honours project, venturing into rocky creek lines and escarpment edges in search of Tristaniopsis, a group of shrub and tree in the myrtle family, with her favourite plant being the Kanooka or Water Gum (Tristaniopsis laurina).
Monica hopes that increased collaboration between horticulture and science at Botanic Gardens of Sydney will lead the way towards a greener and more informed tomorrow.
