Bassersdorf, Switzerland
April 7, 2017
Erica Dello Jacovo, The James Hutton Institute Erica.DelloJacovo@hutton.ac.uk
Erica is a PhD student at the University of Pavia (Italy), and one of the Early Stage Researcher of the Initial Training Network called NASSTEC (Native Seed Science Technology and Conservation). Erica is developing her research in The James Hutton Institute in Scotland (Dundee site) and her project is focused on the development of seed and seedling techniques to characterize and improve their germination and establishment traits. The target species used for her work are wild legume species native of Scottish grasslands.
During the 31st ISTA Congress in Tallinn, Estonia (June 14 – 21, 2016), she gave an oral presentation titled “Perspectives on the conservation and restoration of native wild legumes: the biology and ecology of Astragalus, Oxytropis and Lathyrus species as models”. The focus of the presentation was on the characterization of the morphological and germination traits of Lathyrus linifolius, a wild legume native of Scottish grassland.
Hi Erica,
How and when did you first learnt about ISTA?
I have learnt about ISTA from my working colleagues, during the 2nd year of my PhD, as important organization for seed technology and seed quality control. I have heard about the conference in the same period…
How is ISTA concretely helping you in your daily job?
I am studying seeds of wild legumes native of Scotland, trying to test techniques to improve germination and detect (forecast) seed quality: I use articles and protocols approved from ISTA in that sense, to find techniques and methods for quality detection of my native legume species.
How do you keep in touch with ISTA work? With ISTA community?
I use to check news in the official website and read scientific articles published within the organization itself.
Why did you decide to attend the ISTA Congress in Tallinn last June?
I find it really attractive for the kind of work I was performing in that period, and also for the networking opportunities it could have given it.
Did you have an experience with ISTA prior to attending this meeting?
No, this was my first occasion to get in contact and participate to ISTA events.
What are your main takeaways from this event?
I surely got a lot of ideas and new knowledge to apply to my own research. And either a good appreciation for the work I showed during the conference, through the way of an oral presentation. It was a great satisfaction to appreciate that my work was interesting from an experienced public!
Were you able to make some useful connections for your work during the Congress?
Absolutely, I had the occasion to meet people that are working on my same issue. And it was great to share experience and suggestion for future experiments!
Would you recommend students and young researchers to attend similar events?
Definitively, especially for any researchers that investigate on seed science; between the conferences that I have attended so far (as seed researcher) I found ISTA conference the most useful, for convergence of purposes and practical application on the investigation. Without excluding the great opportunity of networking with researchers that work very close to your own field!
How about joining an ISTA Technical Committee one day?
That is an opportunity I have not yet considered to be honest….
If ISTA should change/improve one thing, what would it be?
I found out about ISTA just during my 2nd year of PhD, and the reason of this is because I am working in a research Institute that deal with a broad range of ecological and agricultural investigations; I think anyway that it might be useful to publicize ISTA works either out of strict circles of seed science researchers because I find a lot of curiosity on seed science even in other field, not strictly related to it, and it would be a good opportunity to reach also other research institutes.
What is your vision for future in seed testing?
The same as before, connection with field not strictly related with seed, especially with people working in agriculture improvement and crop quality. Make protocols and knowledge on seed science more accessible to a broader public.
How about your own future?
Finish my PhD, for now! And afterwards I will see… for sure keep the knowledge acquired in these years and apply for next restoration works.
Erica, one last word?
Thank you very much for this opportunity and looking forward to the next ISTA event!
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