the 2006 -2007 year saw a strong expansion of the PhD program with 16 new students starting with the Cotton CRC, 14 continuing studies and eight completing their theses. The Cotton CRC now has 38 postgraduate students enrolled, working in areas across all of the four research programs. Almost all of them have joint supervisors from non-university research organisations in the Cotton CRC and many are jointly supervised by industry personnel. Among the PhD students who graduated were:
• Michael Rose from The University of Sydney, who studied the use of artificial wetlands for pesticide bioremediation
• Leonie Whiffen from The University of Sydney, who studied sequestration of carbon below ground in cotton fields by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and cotton roots
• Ingrid Rencken from The University of New England who studied the role of native vegetation in harbouring beneficial insects and reducing insect pest damage in cotton
• Kylie Dodd from The University of New England, who studied cotton production on sodic soils
• Andrew Davies from The University of Queensland who studied the role of parasites in integrated pest management in cotton in northern Australia.
The Cotton CRC works hard to make students feel part of a Cotton CRC research community. This is achieved by ensuring that they have adequate opportunities to present their work at scientific forums, by facilitating training in communication and leadership, including IP management, and by conducting meetings and teleconferences across all Cotton CRC programs to ensure that student needs are met. The Cotton CRC provides students with cheap accommodation while they are in Narrabri.
