Why do science?

Less than 20 years ago, I'm now 57, as a single parent of two, having just finished my PhD I decided to venture into academic research science. As one (female) academic colleague has observed, "People were going to ask what you were doing there." This question was always unspoken wherever I worked, be that on a farm, my subsequent education as a mature student, and then where I spent most of my scientific working career ( ANSTO ) who finally decided, along the Australian Government's Minister for Industry and Science ( Ed Husic MP ) and Foreign Affarirs Minister (Penny Wong), that because I could not be classified, that I have no right to engage in the intellectual debate which is Australian science, and now ANSTO and the Australian government are working actively to exclude me. The experience has been traumatic for both me and my family who now live with me in exile in Germany. Its important to remember what drew me to science in the first case.

My first job was to lecture in soil science at the University of Western Sydney. Recently I reread this piece of work that I wrote for the local permaculture (organic gardening) magazine just before I took this deeply important career step. It speaks to my experiences growing up on farm, a wish to live alongside the natural world, and my quest for understanding. Please read and I hope it inspires someone.

Experiments in Soils

There is a great store of experiences in everyday tasks that one performs. Living on the land I learnt a few things that I would like to share with you. Working as scientist who research examines the influence of organic matter on soils and natural waters there are some microscopic observations which allow this knowledge to become more general. My research is on the microscopic origin of the observable macroscopic effects of organic matter on natural systems.

What is organic matter? The definition of organic matter to the soil scientist differs slightly from its usual meaning. In a usual gardening context organic matter is anything that was once living which is placed on the soil.

For the scientist soil organic matter is the homogenous material made largely of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen somewhere between the organism which formed the material and final product, carbon dioxide. It is not a nutrient in itself but has important effects on the physical properties of the soil and also on the way the soil stores nutrients

The natural process by which organic matter is turned from something identifiable, something heterogeneous, to something relatively uniform or homogenous is not unlike burning but takes place ever so slowly (over a periods up to many thousands of years) and we call it decay. Finally all the carbon in the organic matter is turned into carbon dioxide[1]. Instead of flames the main agents of transformation are the micro-organisms and fungi within the soil but the final result is the same there is carbon dioxide and free nutrients (ash). The ash contains mainly minerals which are a very important source of nutrients in the soil. It is obvious that as the process of decay occurs that these will be released slowly, and because this process relies on organisms, the conditions in the soil must suit the organisms. These micro-organisms may incorporate nutrients into their bodies and when they die they also become decaying organic matter. If a plant takes up these nutrients, and is eaten, and well you know the rest……

This inter-connection between the various elements of a living environment or an ecology is not always recognised in traditional agricultural systems which more usually identify simple inputs and outputs. The agricultural system called Biodynamics inspired largely by the writings of Rudolf Steiner, though couched in not quite scientific terminology, represents an important recognition of value of an ecological approach to agricultural systems and an important step in intellectual foundations of Permaculture. However this knowledge was being gained at more fundamental level since humankind started to rise above subsistence. I am sure you all have your own experiences.

Growing up on a farm in western NSW I was the child responsible for the family garden. While I didn’t realise it at the time, the demands of other farm chores, school and the constraints of growing in a hot and dry climate led me to approach this problem with skills that would later stand me in good stead for my eventual chosen career as a scientist. In much the same way as the permaculturist learns to gently adapt to their living space, the family vegetable garden became a place to experiment and produce adequate vegetables with the resources available.

Over a period of 10 years or so I learned that incorporation of organic matter into soil could make my plants much healthier and give much better yields. The soil took a much more heterogenous appearance and rather than a uniform red clay, one could clearly see various cracks, holes and pores through which water, insects and roots could easily travel. Placing organic matter on top of the soil could protect plants sensitive to the extreme heat of this environment and reduce the time I spent watering, and indeed the amount of precious water that was used. Another simple but important observation was that this improved soil was in a position of equilibrium, the organic matter on top of the soil would disappear depending on the weather conditions and if nutrients were applied. The same was true of the improved growing conditions in the soil if the land was vigorously cropped, eventually it would return to the conditions of poor moisture infiltration and drainage, and one would have to apply much more fertiliser to have healthy happy plants.

It was interesting for to contrast this with my experiments in hydroponics where one applies all the nutrients to plant growing in an inert medium such as vermiculite. If I forgot to tend it carefully it had a tendency to die and the plants seem very sensitive to diseases. Hydroponics seemed like a lot of work and was not so forgiving of mistakes. Systems less artificial seemed much more robust and resistant to large changes.

This organic matter seemed to have magical properties! But its magical properties seemed quite different in different parts of Australia.

The first anecdote took place on a red clay soil which was much degraded by the ravages of time (and man’s agriculture). I tried the same approach on a sandy loam soil near Faulconbridge. This soil had the problem of not retaining water so well. I started to add organic matter to the soil. In addition to the differing soil type I did not have the large amount of manure that I had in the country. I found that the effect on the soil was quite different. Although numerous wide pores formed the soil would not wet very well so we had to use a lot more water to saturate the soil. Interestingly this problem was solved to certain degree by using the old dishwashing water which seemed to help the soil wet and stay wetter.

Organic material has many almost magical effects on the observable, or macroscopic, properties of the soils, including:

• Improving the way which soil retains water but also the drainage and infiltration of water during heavy rain periods.
• Decreasing the amount of fertilisers (natural or artificial).
• Protecting roots from the extremes (heat and cold) of the climate.

By identifying these simple desirable qualities one can start to experiment, and study the effects of modifying your various management practices on the health of your living environment, your own personal habitat!

Without worrying too much about the philosophy of Permaculture it is a practical solution to the problem of living in our modern society. Not only does the ecological approach to living afford us a green and pleasant environment which incidentally gives us food but it provides a connection to the rhythms of the natural world. In this way the lifestyle affords both spiritual and physical sustenance.

Natural systems have the features of remaining robust, and resistant to change. Manmade systems strive to achieve a constant state struggling against the ebb and flow of the seasons. While this to a certain degree inevitable, since there is an optimal comfortable environment for humans to exist in, the cost this struggle is to the resources of natural environment. Permaculture seeks to modify the natural environment in a way which allows a connection to the modern environment avoiding the practice of soil mining. You buy vegetables from somewhere else takes those nutrients from where the vegetables were grown. You put your waste in the garbage to be put in a big hole and the rest goes down the toilet.

The scientific method, at least to the experimental physicist/gardener, represents the ability to apply special observations to make generalisations, and on the face of it would seem an ideal tool for helping families or some other social unit to adapt its lifestyle to the environment. While there are many good books on the subject it is impossible to encompass all the different types of environment which are found in a formulaic fashion. The philosophy of my research is in the formulation of general principles which may allow us to better sustain and even enjoy the resources that we have. So the next time you go out into your garden think perhaps of scientific methodology, start with a hypothesis, and test it. Also remember that part of the scientific tradition is the free exchange and debating of ideas. Talk to your neighbours!

[1] As well as being an important issue in the degradation of Australian soils by conventional agricultural methods CO2 released from degradation of soil organic matter has formed an important contribution to the rise of Greenhouse gases.