A young scientist from Glasshouse Christian College has won the Paul Johnston Memorial Senior Science Award for her outstanding research on net blotch disease in barley as part of the national Hermitage Schools Science Competition.
Year 12 student, Charlotte (Lotty) Kelly received the award for her research project, 'Evaluating the Genetic Resistance of Selected Barley Cultivars Against Net Blotch Disease and its Impact on Plant Growth', which compared the resistance of three barley varieties to net blotch disease by measuring disease severity and plant growth over time.
Miss Kelly said she was honoured to receive the Paul Johnston Memorial Senior Science Award and present her research to scientists, educators and fellow students at the awards ceremony.
“I chose this research topic as part of a class investigation into plant diseases, and I was curious to explore why some barley varieties were more resistant to net blotch than others. I compared three varieties of barley by monitoring disease severity and plant growth over several weeks to see how the disease affected each,” Miss Kelly said.
“With the prize money, I plan to put it towards a laptop for my tertiary studies, where I will be completing a degree in nutrition and dietetics.”
“I found the results of this experiment extremely interesting as it was evident that minor differences in the genetic makeup of barley cultivars made such an impact on the effect of net blotch on the plant.”
More than 3,700 budding plant pathologists from 130 schools nationwide participated in this year’s Hermitage Schools Science Competition.
Winners of the national competition were announced today at the Department of Primary Industries’ Hermitage Research Facility near Warwick.
The theme, 'Fungal Forensics', introduced students to the world of plant pathogens, highlighting their impact on agricultural production and food security. It also examined the role of science, research and plant breeding in managing plant diseases.
Hermitage Project Officer, Kerrie Rubie said the outstanding quality of this year's entries heralded a bright future for agricultural science.
"It's inspiring to see so many young people embracing science and developing a greater understanding of the important role it plays in agriculture," Ms Rubie said.
"The quality of this year's entries was exceptional and highlights the talent, curiosity and creativity of students right across the country."
"Agriculture relies on innovation and scientific discovery, and competitions like this help inspire the next generation of researchers, plant pathologists and agricultural professionals.”
This event is supported by the Department of Primary Industries in partnership with community and industry partners.
More information
Learn more about the Hermitage Schools Science Competition.
Contact
Email media@dpi.qld.gov.au.
Last updated: 27 Aug 2026