Dr Ros Blanche - Retired Ecologist
Ros has always enjoyed putting words together on paper but it wasn't until she needed to report her scientific research that she had any of her writing published. As part of her work as a scientist she has authored, or co-authored, 17 papers in international scientific journals; chapters in two books about ecology; and 10 reports dealing with topics as diverse as threatened species in Melanesia, insect pollinators from tropical rainforests, soil erosion and vegetation changes in desert grasslands and research to enable ventures related to the Australian Carbon Market. She is also an associate editor of the journal Austral Ecology and regularly reviews potential papers for this and other journals. Now that she is retired Ros plans to use her biological expertise to inform an entirely different audience.
Ros' first attempt at an unfamiliar style of writing will be an account of the fascinating lives of insects that cause galls to form on plants. Each aspect of insect life history will be illustrated by photographs of Australian insects or their galls. Most Australians have probably noticed unusual growths on leaves, buds or stems of plants like gum trees or wattles - but few are aware of the complex dramas being played out inside these 'abnormal' growths. This is not surprising given the dearth of general publications about gall-forming insects in Australia. Ros' book will aim to engage the interest of older children, or curious adults, and provide a readable introduction to the world within an insect-induced gall. |
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