Meet PestFacts WA team member – Svetlana Micic
This week we are talking about our team’s field entomologist and research scientist Svetlana (aka Svet) Micic.
Svet is based in the Albany DPIRD office and began working for the department in 2003. Her earlier work involved looking at ways to decrease the number of insects harvested in grain from swathed crops. Svet also collaborated with the Australian Plague Locust Commission to create models that predicted locust hatching times.
Over the years Svet, along with other very experienced DPIRD entomologists, has worked on other DPIRD projects to help develop new tools to monitor pests and provide management options. These tools include DPIRD’s MyPestGuide and MyCrop apps.
You will regularly see Svet presenting at GRDC Research Update events, PestFacts WA events and industry field days. Svet also enjoys discussing various invertebrate topics on regional radio - so keep an ear out for her.
Svet’s interest in agriculture comes from her rural upbringing in Arnhem Land in the Australian Northern Territory. This was supported by her parents coming from subsistence farming backgrounds in Europe. After finishing school in the Northern Territory, Svet moved to Queensland to attend university. Svet worked for the NSW Department of Primary Industries before moving to the Albany DPIRD office.
Svet is passionate about making sure that the outcomes from DPIRD research are practical for WA growers.
Article author: Svetlana Micic (DPIRD Albany).