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Dr Sharon Downes

Senior Principal Research Scientist, Team Leader

https://people.csiro.au/D/S/Sharon-Downes

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Contact details:

LOCKED BAG 1
ARMIDALE NSW 2350 AUSTRALIA

Biography

Dr Downes joined CSIRO in 2004 to apply her expertise in evolutionary ecology to the problem of insecticide resistance.

In her current position delivered through the Australian Cotton Research Institute in Narrabri, NSW, she leads a research team that enhances the performance of the Australian cotton industry by developing efficient, sustainable and innovative strategies to protect plants from insects.

Dr Downes' specific focus is on managing insecticide resistance by quantifying shifts over time in its prevalence, and concurrently she studies how toxin performance, pest behavior, resistance characteristics, and preparedness for pest incursions from overseas, interact to shape the risk profile for the Australian cotton industry.

Her current vision is built on capitalizing the increasing globalization of biota that is currently reshaping pest resistance landscapes at multiple scales. It is vital that industries and scientists acknowledge the importance of managing not only key local species and genotypes of these pests but also those that are still foreign which can pose significant risk and may proliferate should they arrive in local environments. Managing potential universal resistances requires a broad perspective and knowledge; not only of the biology of critical pests but also an understanding of the interdependence of biophysical and socioeconomic factors that together potentiate or constrain efforts to limit adaptation.

Dr Downes is an invited member of the advisory panels convened by the peak industry body, Cotton Australia, for the purpose of recommending the most scientifically appropriate practices to manage resistance.

Other Interests

Outside of professional work, Sharon lives with her partner David on a 5ha block that they are designing to provide their food, water, and energy needs. Sharon promotes independent music during a fortnightly DJ stint on community radio, has run a film society in her local community, and is an avid lover of wholesome food, nature, bush walking and hiking.

Professional Areas

Fields of Research

Current

Former

Current Roles

  • Team Leader
    Cotton Insect Resistance Evolution and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Team at CSIRO Agriculture and Food

  • Program Representative
    CSIRO Agriculture and Food Inclusion and Diversity Team

  • Project Leader
    Stewardship of Bt cotton including the threat of multi-resistance

  • Project Leader
    Developing education capacity in agriculture

  • Project Collaborator
    Social-ecological aspect of Bt resistance management

  • Project Collaborator
    Plant pest surveillance

  • Participant
    National Socioenvironmental Synthesis Center (USA) Pursuit on Socio-ecological Approaches to Resistance Management for Pesticides

  • Expert Member (since 2004)
    Member, TIMS Insecticide Resistance Management Strategy Technical Panel

  • Associate Editor (since 2003)
    Behavioural Ecology & Sociobiology

Academic Qualifications

  • 1999

    Doctor of Philosophy in Biology
    University of Sydney

  • 1994

    Bachelor of Science (Hons)
    University of Melbourne

Professional Experiences

  • 2018-current

    Senior Principal Research Scientist, Team Leader
    CSIRO Agriculture and Food

  • 2015-2018

    Principal Research Scientist, Team Leader
    CSIRO Agriculture and Food

  • 2014-2015

    Principal Research Scientist, Team Leader
    CSIRO Agriculture Flagship

  • 2014-2015

    ARLP Graduate of Course 21
    Australian Rural Leadership Foundation

  • 2011-2014

    Senior Research Scientist, Team Leader, Officer in Charge
    CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences

  • 2007-2011

    Senior Research Scientist, Team Leader
    CSIRO Entomology

  • 2004-2007

    Research Scientist
    CSIRO Entomology

  • 2001-2003

    ARC Postdoctoral Fellow
    The Australian National University

  • 2000-2001

    Postdoctoral Fellow
    Institute for Nature Conservation, Belgium

  • 2001-2001

    Eloise Gerry Fellow
    Graduate Women in Science

  • 1995-1995

    William Buckland Fellow
    Earthwatch

Achievements and Awards

  • 2017-2017

    Finalist, Cotton Seed Distributors Research Scientist of the Year
    Cotton Australia

  • 2015-2015

    Impactful Publication Award, Featured on front cover in PLoS Genetics, culminated 20 years of work, stimulated ongoing discussion & involved staff from 3 BUs
    CSIRO Health and Biosecurity

  • 2011-2011

    Finalist, Cotton Seed Distributors Research Scientist of the Year
    Cotton Australia

  • 2006-2006

    Science and Innovation Award for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
    Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

  • 2000-2000

    Jabez King Haydon Memorial Prize in Biology for best PhD Thesis
    The University of Sydney

  • 1999-1999

    Gaige Award
    American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists

  • 1998-1998

    Henri Seibert Award
    Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles

  • 1999-1999

    Biological Sciences Postgraduate Excellence Prize
    University of Sydney

  • 1999-1999

    Stoye Award
    American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists

  • 1999-1999

    Peter Rawlinson Prize
    Australian Society of Herpetologists

  • 1994-1994

    Howitt Natural History Scholarship in Science
    University of Melbourne

Other highlights

  • 2008-2008

    CRC Representative, Science meets Parliament, Canberra

  • 2006-2012

    Editorial Board Member, Australian Journal of Zoology

  • 2003-2005

    Australian Delegate, International Ethological Committee

  • 2003-2005

    Associate Editor, Journal of Herpetology

  • 2001-2003

    Australian Federation of University Women Delegate, Status of Women Committee

  • 2001-2003

    Vice President, Australian Federation of University Women (AFUW)—ACT

  • 2001-2003

    President, Australian Society of Herpetologists

  • 2000-2002

    Associate Editor, Journal of Herpetology

Grants

  • 2017-2020

    Department of Agriculture Rural Research and Development for Profit Scheme, Improving Plant Pest Management Through Cross Industry Deployment of Smart Sensors, Diagnostics and Forecasting, with Tom Walsh and Wee Tek Tay (CSIRO) (A$298,964)

  • 2016-2019

    Cotton Research and Development Corporation, Resistance research and monitoring to enhance stewardship of Bt cotton and management of Helicoverpa spp, in collaboration with Tom Walsh and Wee Tek Tay: CSE1701 (A$2,625,820)

  • 2016-2018

    National Socioenvironmental Synthesis Center (USA), Pursuit on Socio-ecological Approaches to Resistance Management for Pesticides and Antimicrobial Drugs, led by Peter Sorggard Joergensen (Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences), and Scott Carroll (University of California, Davis)

  • 2016-2018

    Chinese Government Scientific Exchange of Expertise Grant, Cotton insect pest management, with Tom Walsh and Wee Tek Tay (CSIRO) and Mr Ruifeng Ding (Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences) (A$15,000)

  • 2015-2018

    Cotton Research and Development Corporation, Developing Education Capacity in Agriculture, in collaboration with Trudy Staines: CSE1602 (A$682,530)

  • 2015-2015

    Cotton Research and Development Corporation Travel Grant to World Cotton Conference ($5,000)

  • 2014-2016

    Cotton Research and Development Corporation, Economic risk assessment of resistance management strategies for BT cotton, in collaboration with Russell Gordard: 14-15PRP163 (A$584,225)

  • 2013-2016

    Cotton Research and Development Corporation, Monitoring to manage resistance to Bt toxins, in collaboration with Tom Walsh: CSE1402 (A$2,575,418)

  • 2012-2015

    Cotton Research and Development Corporation, Developing Education Capacity in Agriculture, in collaboration with Trudy Staines: CSE1305 (A$442,203)

  • 2011-2014

    Cotton Research and Development Corporation, Efficacy of Bollgard III against Helicoverpa: CSE1202 (A$1,069,761)

  • 2011-2014

    Cotton Research and Development Corporation, The characterisation of Vip3A resistance in Helicoverpa species, in collaboration with Tom Walsh: CSE1201 (A$1,515,928)

Community and Corporate Citizenship

  • 2015-current

    Myall Vale Site Lead, Health and Well-being

  • 2009-current

    Myall Vale Site Lead, Indigenous Engagement Strategy

  • 2007-current

    Myall Vale Site Contact, CSIRO Benevolent Fund

Attachments

Related links

Publications

We have publications by Dr Sharon Downes