From gardening in the Adelaide Hills to gearing up for a NASA internship, Donna Fitzgerald ’s journey into environmental science is as inspiring as it is unexpected.
The SmartSat CRC PhD candidate, based at the University of South Australia, is the inaugural recipient of the Dr Peter Woodgate Scholarship for Earth Observation. And, now she’s packing her bags for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California, where she’ll spend three months using hyperspectral satellite data to assess vegetation health.
According to Fitzgerald, it began with soil under her fingernails and a curiosity about the bush around her. “My background before university was working as a gardener, with a keen interest in Australian native vegetation,” she explains. “When completing my Bachelor of Environmental Science, I was exposed to remote sensing as a first-year subject.
And, I realised that it could be an excellent tool to show changes in vegetation health on the landscape scale.”
Meet NASA Intern Donna Fitzgerald
Her Honours project – focused on red stringybark in South Australia’s Clare Valley – was a formative experience.
“Using satellite and aerial imagery, I was able to determine changes in vegetation health over time, the extent of unhealthy vegetation and the correlations to topography,” she says.
“I enjoyed the challenge of working on my Honours project and wanted to pursue this further. My supervisors agreed, and this led to me becoming a PhD candidate.”
Now, her PhD is dedicated to a uniquely Australian environmental challenge: eucalyptus forest dieback. “I have a keen interest in eucalypt vegetation as I am surrounded by stringybark eucalypts at my home in the Adelaide Hills,” she says. “Through my research, I found that there is increasing concern about the vulnerability of our eucalypt vegetation to environmental changes, with reports of canopy dieback across Australia.”
With eucalypts covering 77% of Australia’s native forests, their decline poses serious ecological risks. “Dieback refers to the decline in tree crown health that may lead to the premature death of trees caused by external environmental factors,” she explains. “Eucalypts provide the main canopy cover … which is essential for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem health.”
Fitzgerald’s work has now been recognised at the highest levels. “I was thrilled to be awarded the Dr Peter Woodgate Scholarship for Earth Observation from SmartSat CRC and The Andy Thomas Space Foundation,” she says. “This recognition from the industry that my research work is important. And, will be a valuable contribution to our understanding of our natural ecosystems is wonderful.”
Through the scholarship – and as a SmartSat CRC student – Fitzgerald was eligible to apply for the NASA internship. “Initially, I thought the internship would only be relevant to engineers creating space advancements,” she admits.
“However, JPL has extensive Earth Observation teams that use NASA-owned satellite imagery to look at changes in Earth’s ecosystems. When I found out that I had been selected, I was amazed and absolutely thrilled. I never thought this could be a possibility, but what an amazing opportunity.”
At JPL, she’ll work under the mentorship of renowned scientist David Schimel. “My mentor, David Schimel, will be essential in guiding me in the right direction. And, allowing me to extend my learning and understanding of working with hyperspectral satellite imagery,” Fitzgerald says. “
Under the guidance of David Schimel, who, like me, has an ecology background but now specialises in satellite data interpretation, I will refine my ability to integrate ecological knowledge with remote sensing technology.”
She’ll use tools like ArcGIS Pro and Envi to analyse EMIT hyperspectral satellite imagery and classify eucalypt vegetation across vast landscapes. “Using tools within the programs, I will be identifying different spectral responses from other plants to allow for classification to occur,” she explains. “Using the differences in spectral band values in the visible (RGB: red, green, blue) and the Near Infra-Red (NIR) range of the electromagnetic spectrum, I will aim to quantify vegetation health.”
This has a long-term benefits for both her research and Australia’s environment. “The internship … will significantly enhance my research skills in developing methods to analyse and understand Australian vegetation,” she says. “The internship will enhance my ability to communicate and collaborate with international experts … which would ultimately benefit my professional development in remote sensing of the Australian environment.”
Remote sensing, she says, is a powerful, underused tool.
“Traditional monitoring of vegetation has relied heavily on labour-intensive fieldwork … Remote sensing allows for rapid data collection over large spatial scales. It also allows non-invasive investigation across inaccessible or fragile ecosystems.”
And yes, she sees her work informing climate policy and conservation. “Remote sensing has an important role in conservation planning and management, enhancing future strategies for climate change adaptation to safeguard Australia’s eucalypt ecosystems.”
Advice for women in STEM
As a woman in STEM, Fitzgerald says her greatest challenge hasn’t been external – it’s been choosing what to focus on. “There are so many options, and I want to try them all. Learning to prioritise what is needed and what can be achieved during a time frame can be challenging.”
To other young women considering a similar path, her advice is clear. “Follow your passions when thinking about your future career and always be open to new ideas that may change the initial direction of where you thought you might like to go.”
She credits her success to supportive mentors and scholarships that have opened doors – both literally and figuratively. “Scholarships have also ensured that I have access to up-to-date imagery data … and access to amazing opportunities like going to NASA JPL.”
So, what’s she most looking forward to in California? “Professionally, I am looking forward to hearing insights from experts in the field and learning new and different ways to analyse vegetation using hyperspectral satellite imagery. Personally, the chance to live in the USA for three months during the internship will be a great experience, as I have not been to California before.”
Finally, if she could pass on one final message to her younger self, Donna says, “When choosing STEM, follow your interest area and take every opportunity that comes along. Even if you feel that it’s a bit out of your comfort zone. There are so many opportunities around just waiting for you to grab and take them, you never know where it might lead you.”