Discussion event on plants as CO2 storage

About 50 guests followed the invitation to the House of the University of Düsseldorf, who wanted to learn more about the "green heroes" and participated lively in the discussion. Among them were several students from a high school who were interested in science and saw a good opportunity to learn more about photosynthesis. The event was moderated by Nico Hoffmeister, who led the discussion professionally and eloquently.

An introduction to the topic was provided by CEPLAS member Ute Armbruster (HHU), who gave insights into plant photosynthesis. In her research, she deals with assembly factors in photosystem II and vividly illustrated what happens when individual factors do not work.

In an entertaining but at the same time very informative science slam, CEPLAS PhD student Sebastian Triesch (HHU) presented photosynthesis as a stuttering engine. At the same time, he showed ways to improve the design defects in photosynthesis.

Klaus-Holger Knorr from the Westphalian Wilhelms University in Münster pointed out that moors are important players in climate protection. They cover only 3% of the land surface, but store one third of the total soil carbon. Rewetting drained peatlands would mean a significant reduction in CO2 emissions, the scientist explained.

In a final presentation, CEPLAS member Andreas Weber (HHU) outlined how the property of plants to store CO2 can be used. For example, biomass converted by plants can be burned and the CO2 released can be stored in the soil.

In a final lively discussion, measures for CO2 reduction were discussed that everyone can implement themselves. In addition, it was criticized that increasing government regulations stop new and promising solution possibilities, i.e. CO2 storage in the soil.