A severe hailstorm that struck Canberra on Monday has caused extensive damage to the CSIRO's Black Mountain site, destroying nearly all of its 65 glasshouses and impacting five other buildings. Researchers inside the greenhouses were forced to make split-second decisions as hailstones larger than golf balls shattered the glass around them.
Chief research scientist Evans Lagudah described the storm as arriving 'within microseconds,' transforming a clear morning into a dangerous situation. He and a colleague took cover in an anteroom, but glass shards rained down on them, prompting a dash to a sturdier building. Lagudah sustained only a small bruise above his eye.
The damage has set back research projects, including Lagudah's work on developing genetic stocks to reduce pesticide use in grain farming. Some younger experiments were destroyed beyond repair, causing missed deadlines and delays of up to a full growing season, according to CSIRO director of agriculture and food Michiel van Lookeren Campagne.
Despite the setback, van Lookeren Campagne expressed optimism, stating that scientists would use their creativity and resources to overcome the disaster. CSIRO chief operating officer Judi Zielke noted that teams are still assessing the damage but emphasized that no staff were injured.
