Olga May Goss

Olga May Goss (1916–1994) was an Australian plant pathologist. Her research made the Australian agricultural industry more resilient through discoveries on plant diseases.

Education Goss was born in Perth in 1916. She was the elder of two daughters. Her parents had received little formal education, but they encouraged Goss's interest in biological sciences. In her teens, she was given a microscope and began to examine small specimens. As a woman, Goss was paid less than her male counterparts despite her expertise. She was also restricted in her ability to perform official field visits. Among her first successes were treatments to reduce bacterial canker in tomatoes and apple scab. She tracked the movement of infections due to importation. She also established nitrifying rhizobia in the region. She later performed a study of nematodes in Australia and discovered that many crop diseases were due to nematodes attacking roots and could be treated with fumigants. It served as part of the basis for a nursery accreditation system in Western Australia. 1978 Australian Nurseryman of the Year – the first woman awarded the honour

Personal life Goss would have been forced to resign from the Department of Agriculture if she had married, so she remained unwed and childless though she was in a long-term relationship.

She suffered from chronic pain and asthma.

Goss is remembered by colleagues as a selfless, caring, mentor with extensive scientific expertise.