A multi-spectral green thumb for optics, plants, and outreach

Diana Moreno, currently completing her master’s at the University of Guanajuato, is immersed in the growing field of agriphotonics, applying optics and photonics to improve our approach to agriculture. In part, her research aims to reduce the use of pesticides and optimize the use of fertilizers for plant growth, while assessing the plants’ nutritional condition and dehydration. “This work contributes to more efficient water use, especially given the global scarcity of water for crops,” says Moreno. “It also addresses issues of the overuse of fertilizers and pesticides which contaminate the soil.”

Moreno and her colleagues’ research also includes using noninvasive, versatile methods for early diagnosis of plant diseases. For her master’s thesis, Determination of Plant Health via Spectroscopic Analysis of Leaf Cuticle, Moreno is using spectrometers, lenses, lasers, and mirrors to collect data for numerical analysis. “We obtain a range of spectra that we then differentiate and classify between visually healthy and diseased plants,” she says. “We are using software to make these distinctions and, in the future, hope to predict and better detect these diseases.”  They also plan to incorporate emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and image analysis, as well as other relevant technological elements: “We do not yet have hyperspectral and multispectral cameras, so we will have to wait to implement these technologies.”

Initially utilizing a variety of plants in order to understand their optical properties, Moreno currently focuses on strawberry plants because the area where she lives is a major producer of the fruit. “In the future, I plan to use optics to evaluate soils, to identify those best suited for growing certain types of plants and to improve crop productivity, creating a basis for better decision-making,” explains Moreno. “I’d like to develop a comprehensive approach where optics and photonics optimize and enhance current agricultural practices.”

In the lab, Moreno uses LED and ultraviolet lamps and an automatic watering system, nurturing plants for future analysis.

Moreno is garnering recognition for her optics and photonics work, in both research and outreach. This year, she is the recipient of an SPIE Optics and Photonics Scholarship; in addition, the OASIS University of Guanajuato SPIE Student Chapter received the 2024 Presidential Award for Outstanding Student Chapter for its 2023 work — the year that Moreno was chapter president.

On the cusp of starting her PhD, Moreno will be using the scholarship funds to cover the transition from completing her master’s degree in electrical engineering with a focus on optoelectronics, to initiating her doctoral studies.  But, for Moreno, this scholarship means more to her than just financial support. “The SPIE scholarship adds value to my academic and professional credentials because being recognized by such an important society speaks highly of my talent to others in these fields of study,” she notes. “It’s a great acknowledgment for those of us who want to become researchers and contribute to the evolution of science, especially in my country where there are not many people working in scientific fields, and even fewer women. When people, especially women, learn that I received an SPIE scholarship, they start to feel encouraged, and it becomes a great source of motivation.”

That Presidential Award for Outstanding Student Chapter honors a team effort, one in which Moreno held the primary leadership role. Her chapter received this award in recognition for their work in founding an astronomy club; orchestrating creative activities that combined outreach, technical knowledge, and professional development; and initiating the Optics and Photonics for Applications conference, which brought together students and senior investigators. “I’m particularly proud of having created the astronomy club,” she says. “It now serves both my university and the people of my small city, and it’s the first club of its kind on our campus. In addition to that, we organized our first scientific congress, went on group trips, engaged in science outreach, and developed interactive games. We also cared for our physical environment by tending to the university garden, a desert-climate garden created by the chapter. I can honestly say that being an SPIE Student Chapter president pushes you more than you ever expected because you feel the responsibility to leave a lasting impact for those who will follow. That is my greatest pride knowing that I did it well.”

Moreno, who initially fell for optics during a semiconductor physics class, is looking forward to sharing her excitement for and knowledge of optics and photonics with others. After completing her own master’s, she plans to form a team of undergraduate and master’s students who will work together with her in applying optics and photonics to agricultural-focused research.  Another goal, further down the line, is to establish a company that trains experts in the agriphotonics field.

In the meantime, she plans to explore “all possible alternatives” where optics and photonics can replace traditional methods for conducting observations, measurements, and treatments in the field of agriculture. “At the moment, we are focused on improving the efficiency of disease detection,” says Moreno, “but we won't stop there. Although we are aware of the limited resources in our country for the study of optics and photonics, I am fully committed to advancing this field.”