CEPLAS at Night of Science: Exploring the world of plant research

For one evening and into the night, CEPLAS took part in the Night of Science, a public event organized by Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, which attracted around 14,000 visitors this year. This year marked the fifth edition of the event, that invited interested people to come to the Schadowplatz in Düsseldorf and find out about a wide range of research fields at numerous information stands, lectures and panel discussions.

CEPLAS was one of 55 exhibitors and hosted an engaging booth that offered visitors fascinating insights into cutting-edge plant research. A dedicated group of CEPLAS postdocs and doctoral students provided visitors with information and answered questions. In order to make fascinating research topics of CEPLAS accessible to the visitors, the researchers had brought large cubes. On each cube, one topic was explained in a short and understandable way.

In addition, the scientists showcased cell cultures in Petri dishes and an interactive presentation showing striking microscopy images. One of the highlights of the evening was the collaboration with the IPK in Gatersleben, which brought a virtual reality (VR) system to the booth. This impressive system allowed visitors to journey through the interior of a plant, exploring its structures. The VR tour quickly became a favorite, with visitors lining up throughout the evening to take part.

Despite the late hour of 11.40 pm, CEPLAS member Guido Grossmann attracted numerous visitors to the Science Talk with his contribution "Unterirdische Allianzen gegen den Klimawandel". He explained how symbioses between plants and microorganisms strengthen our ecosystem, promote sustainable agriculture and contribute to CO₂ reduction.

The response to all CEPLAS contributions was overwhelming, with many visitors expressing a newfound appreciation for the complexity and importance of plant research. The high level of public interest made the event a resounding success for CEPLAS and further emphasized the importance of connecting science with the broader community.