MRS ANNETTE RAFFAN

Biography

      Pre-2004 Annette was definitely going to be a vet, but then ecology caught her eye. Alongside regular procrastination activities like conservation work and co-founding the Photography Society she developed a passion for studying vegetation changes in response to their environment. She had a role as a ‘weekend water fairy’ with a bi-weekly responsibility for potentially ruining drought experiments. This led to being a research assistant working on diverse projects; Pb in game birds, peat analysis for historical Sn mining, As in rice and N-strategies of grassland species. She quickly realised that science is both rewarding and repetitive - there’s nothing more ‘rewarding’ than starting a new page in your lab-book. This led to a Research Technician position that was initially based in Analytical Services and then took a side-step into Soil Biophysics. She learnt from the ‘soil’ up; FIA, AAS, NCS, DOC, IC, GC, MP-AES and many more skills you can't attribute an acronym to. She quickly became an expert for finding ‘something that looks like this’ or building it if need be.

     In 2016, as a self-professed postage stamp geek, she launched her own business, achieving accreditation from the Philatelic Traders Society who recognise dealer integrity and trust. She also undertook a part-time research MSc, working to the industrial mindset where next week means tomorrow. She collaborated with the Woodsmith Project (Sirius Minerals) on the effects of POLY4 fertiliser on soil properties. As this ended, her independent research continues as a postgraduate researcher on the, cue acronyms, UKRI NERC QUADRAT DTP. After thinking she wants to be the next Nobel Prize winner but finding out her supervisor, Professor Paul Hallett 'doesn't expect that,' she is currently planning how her project, which looks at the impact and interactions of different plant species on soil properties, can answer some exciting ecology questions.

Prizes and Awards

2008 Ecology Class Award

Research Overview

My particular research interests are:

• Plant-environment interactions particularly those affected by human degradation
• Root-soil interactions especially as affected by water dynamics, root exudates
• Plant-plant interactions and community dynamics such as during succession
• Imaging of plant and root-soil systems through x-ray CT
• Use of gardening to develop awareness of soil health and biodiversity
• Study and collection of Armeria cultivars

Due to experiences in running my own business I also have ongoing interest in:

• Public engagement of research particularly using online content and social media or through art.
• Personal development, planning and innovation

Current Research

PhD: Investigating whether 1+1=3

Supervisors: Professor Paul Hallet; Professor Mark Emmerson; Dr Kenneth Loades 

This research will investigate the role that species interactions have in the development of soil structure and identify whether it is possible that certain species can work together to improve soil structure more than others. Focussing on grasslands, we will use plant species with a wide variety of root architectures to understand more widely how roots can manipulate soil structure.

The ways that roots can manipulate soil structure tend to be split into 'biological', such as providing an organic matter source for earthworms, 'chemical' such as producing exudates which may alter soil particle behaviour and 'physical' methods such as enmeshing of soil particles.

It seeks to find an answer to the question of whether the root impact of a species on soil structure is enhanced (or indeed supressed) by the presence of another. The other specie(s) may be another individual of the same species or a different species that may have similar or contrasting root traits. Generally a mix of root traits (i.e. high plant diversity) is believed to be key to positive impacts on root structure but do some species work better together than others?

Proposed National Plant Collection

Plant Heritage

Work is currently underway to apply for a Proposed National Plant Collection of Armeria cultivars. Over the next few years this will allow development of a recognised collection. National Plant Collections are co-ordinated by Plant Heritage and recognised by institutions such as Kew Royal Botanic Gardens and the RHS. They help to protect and preserve plants, most often those with horticultural interest, from being lost over time. Owners are expected to maintain curated collections of their area, develop herbarium specimens and generally share awareness with structured plans in place in case the worst should happen.

Armeria cultivars (also known as sea pinks or thrift) are not currently held within a collection in the UK. Current work on this project has identified at least 150 cultivated varieties, around half of which are not going to be easy to track down. They are small, compact plants with white, pink, red or purple pom-pom flowers and are well adapted to dry and coastal conditions. Furthermore, they are easy to propagate and have a long flowering season so are an ideal group to hold the fort and spread the word for. Our native species, A. maritima, is a very common occurrence in coastal areas and montane regions.

Past Research

Lichen Succession on the Branches of Quercus petraea

Supervisor: Dr Sarah Woodin

The environmental conditions along a tree branch vary significantly from the outer canopy to the internal trunk. This project investigated the potential for succession of epiphytic lichen species along a Oak tree branches in a planted Atlantic oak wood. There was strong evidence of a change in species in just a few metres of branch.

The Effects of Polyhalite (POLY4) on Soil Structure, Stability and Nutrient Behaviour

Supervisors: Professor Paul Hallet; Dr Timothy Lewis; Professor Graeme Paton

Soil stability and structure are key to soil health - a soil with good stability and structure will reduce the impacts of erosion, compaction and nutrient loss. POLY4, made from the mineral polyhalite, is a new fertiliser, that along with essential K also contains Ca, Mg and S. There is evidence that it is a useful fertiliser for use by crops and also that it could provide added benefits for soil structure due to the Ca and Mg. Initial investigations supported the idea that it could improve the tensile strength of soils at increasing application rates. Further investigations revealed soil-dependent negligible or positive effects on soil structure and stability at fertiliser application rates but that it does have potential as a soil amendment for use to remove Na in saline soils. When compared with conventional MOP, growth of barley to first awns appearing was similar, but the additional nutrients contained in POLY4 meant that the soil lost less nutrients overall. In the longer term this would likely have a positive effect on soil structure and stability. In summary polyhalite (as POLY4) had negligible effects on crop (barley) growth and negligible or positive effects on soil structure, stability and nutrient status.

Knowledge Exchange

2019 'I'm a Scientist' Get me Out of Here contributor in the general science 'Seaborgium Zone'.

Collaborations

2016-2018: Collaborated with Sirius Minerals to investigate the impacts of POLY4 (polyhalite) fertiliser on soil structure. Initial work was incorporated into the company's marketing materials which fed into Sirius Minerals acquiring investor funding for developing the new mine in Scarborough, UK.

2016-2020: BBSRC Rhizosphere by Design; Southampton University and James Hutton Institute

Funding and Grants

Teaching Responsibilities

Demonstrator