Prof Rachel Burton

Professor Rachel Burton is based at the Waite Campus, University of Adelaide where she is currently Head of the Food Science Department. She is a molecular biologist, passionate about plants and all the useful things they can do for us. They provide food, drinks, nutrition and medicine but also renewable biofuels and plastic alternatives. Rachel believes that making use of all the varied plant feedstocks on the planet, many of them perceived as waste, will be fundamentally important to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and meeting our future energy needs. In recent years Rachel has directed her research efforts towards emerging crops such as industrial hemp, agave, Plantago (psyllium), sorghum and chia, learning how to grow them effectively and employ them for as many end-uses as possible.

Rachel was one of the 30 inaugural Superstars of STEM, a program founded by Science and Technology Australia (STA) to promote the participation and engagement of young people, particularly women, in STEM fields. She has served on the STA Board as a cluster representative for four years and is an active mentor in a number of programs. She loves participating in outreach and science communication events and has starred in a -Pint of Science with giant DNA and interpretive dance, in -The Poet's Guide to Science in the Adelaide Fringe and a whole host of Science Nation events. She can be found Tweeting at @porridgepusher