KATERINA SVOBODA BROOKER
of Natural Products from Plants
DAY 3
18/2/24
Katerina was a lecturer and researcher (1978 – 2008) on plant anatomy, plant breeding and biotechnology at the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) Auchincruive, part of Glasgow University. She was responsible for research on aromatic and medicinal plants, including botany, physiology, chemotaxonomy and the production of secondary metabolites, with a main interest in essential oils. During her career she published 85 refereed and general articles on aromatic and medicinal plants and contributed over 70 papers and posters to national and international conferences.
She has published 2 books on the anatomical structure of essential oil glands and has travelled worldwide during the course of her work, spending a research year in Japan, with follow up shorter stays, including lectures, articles and support for the development of aromatherapy and use of essential oils in Japan. An important part of her work was advisory activities on herb growing for the British Herb Trade Association. After her retirement, she worked for a biotechnology company for two years and currently is running a small advisory company together with her husband, who is specialized as a microbiologist/biochemist.
She lectures for the Association of Czech Aromatherapists (ACA) and gives advice and guidance on the quality of essential oils. ACA is a body with legal status that provides professional education and prepares students for clinical practice. Lecturers include healthcare professionals, doctors, nurses, psychologists and scientists. Every year a conference is held, involving international speakers. Katerina lectures mainly on the chemistry and biological activities of essential oils, including wound healing, and translates and summarizes recent research results into Czech for members of ACA.
