Melinda is a plant biotechnologist who has been developing moss as proxies for coastal Antarctica climates. She is interested in the physiology of plants living in extreme environments, with a focus on natural protective mechanisms, preserved chemical signatures and photosynthetic activity, and how they link to changing environments. Her interdisciplinary research spans across plant physiology, natural sunscreens, stable isotopes as proxies for climate, and radiocarbon dating. Melinda’s research has been publicised through public events, popular science articles and media interviews.