Tom Edwards

I began my research career on Christmas Island with an ecology project that aimed to protect the habitat of the island’s endemic wildlife, including the Christmas Island pipistrelle. This led to working with agricultural scientists who were attempting to grow legume crops to regenerate the island’s soils after many years of phosphate mining.

From there I began working with the Centre for Rhizobium Studies on a range of research projects throughout the Wheatbelt. Field research trials required frequent travel to the paradise of Esperance. So in 2016, when an Esperance-based soil research position became available, I was eager to take the opportunity.

I have previously worked on a range of soil research projects including soil water repellence, soil compaction, soil acidity soil biology, rhizobiology and legume agronomy.

I also previously worked as a senior policy advisor to the Office of the Western Australian Agricultural Minister and am also an executive committee member of the grower group SEPWA.