Cotton research takes centre stage in Narrabri

More than 180 registered delegates from across Australia and the USA spent almost a week in Narrabri for the Australian Cotton Research Conference.

Held at The Crossing Theatre, the biennial event ran across three days, bringing together a vast array of scientific experts all interested in one thing – the continued progress and success of the Australian cotton industry.

Conference committee chair Dr Warren Conaty said the conference was opened by international researcher Professor Jonathan F. Wendel from Iowa State University who spoke about the evolution of cotton.

“Having an international guest of such great renown within scientific circles was a fantastic way to start the program which featured more than 80 speakers,” Dr Conaty said.

“The depth of research happening in support of the Australian cotton industry is really inspiring and it was wonderful to see so many early career and new researchers in attendance also.”

The conference also included an afternoon twilight tour of the Australian Cotton Research Institute, with delegates getting an insight into CSIRO’s cotton breeding program together with other research activities with NSW DPIRD.

Dr Conaty said it was fantastic to be able to offer researchers the opportunity to have both a conference experience, as well as getting out into the field.

“It’s one of the benefits of being able to host in a region like Narrabri where research and industry is so close to each other,” Dr Conaty said.

“Being able to show that connection to our delegates from all over Australia and the world made it an incredibly successful conference.”

The conference wrapped up on a Thursday evening at the Australian Association of Cotton Scientists awards dinner held at the Narrabri RSL.

Awards presented on the night included: The Early Career Scientist Encouragement Award: Manish Patel; AACS Scientific Publication Award: Textile Recycling’s Hidden Problem – Surface-Modified Fibre Fragments Emitted at Every Stage (accepted by Arun Chandra Manivannan); AACS Service to Cotton Science Award: Kristen Knight; and AACS life member inductees Dr Stephen Yeates and Dr Gary Fitt.