How hidden contributions power modern research
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Frank Hemmings collects, catalogues and preserves plant specimens for research.Credit: David Eldridge
In the scorching heat and across the rugged landscapes of southeastern Australia, Frank Hemmings has conducted vegetation surveys for more than 27 years. He has collected and documented thousands of plants from grasslands, forests and some of the nation’s driest regions. As a curator at the John T. Waterhouse Herbarium at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, he carefully dries, identifies and catalogues every specimen, adding each one to a vast archive of plants lining the shelves. His work, which began with roadside field trips to collect weeds, eventually produced specimens that would become indispensable to researchers globally, across a wide range of scientific fields. “I didn’t realize early on how managing a collection of biological specimens means that the samples I collect or identify could lead to work for someone else years down the track,” Hemmings says.
As a scientist in a research-support role, he doesn’t independently write academic papers or conduct experiments. Instead, Hemmings meticulously gathers and preserves the samples that other scientists use to collect data and make discoveries. “I’m not obligated to produce research from these data,” he explains. “My responsibility is to make them available so others can use them in their research.”
Research is powered by technical talent — and recognition is finally on the rise