She then moved to the University of Western Australia in 1988 to work on phosphorus uptake in barley with Prof Alan Robson and settled in Perth for the next 26 years.

The Bean Files was an online resource for primary school students which followed farm activities in a series of episodes throughout a growing season.

It was narrated by Billie Bean and populated with a cast of characters including Chelsea Chickpea, Lentils in Leotards, roving underground reporter Albert Annelid, and Spike Medic.

The Bean Files was a collaborative effort of CLIMA staff and postgraduate students who met weekly during their lunch break.

As with the Bean Files, the purpose of this resource was to give urban populations a better ides of the scientific research and other work behind food production.