VIB scientists showcase the wonders of plants at Fascination of Plants Day

In celebration of the sixth edition of Fascination of Plants Day, scientists from Ghent University and the VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology transformed St Baafs square (Ghent) into a lively plant lab on May 21st. Through various workshops, games and demos, passersby discovered the wondrous world of plants. 

Plants are amazing! 

Plants are a source of nutritious food and a wide range of non-food products like energy, paper, and pharmaceuticals. Plant science therefore plays a crucial role in the development of more sustainable agriculture across the value chain – from planting a seed to the final product. To create awareness about the importance of plant science for society, the European Plant Science Organization (EPSO) initiated Fascination of Plants Day in 2012. On that day, plant scientists around the world simultaneously organize events demonstrating numerous fascinating aspects of plant life. This year’s edition hosted over 350 events in Europe and beyond!  

Among those initiatives, scientists from the VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology and Ghent University joined forces to take over the city center of Ghent for one day. Driven by curiosity, visitors explored the secrets behind the otherwise hidden roots, used microscopes to zoom in on the diverse shapes of the different cell types present in plants, and brought out the molecular biologist in them when extracting DNA from strawberries. Other activities challenged their knowledge on the origin of our fruits and vegetables and shed light on the importance of bacteria for plant growth.  

Daniël Van Damme (VIB-UGent Plant Systems Biology): "Many thanks to everyone involved for your enthusiastic contributions. We really illustrated our passion for plants and plant research. I am already looking forward to next year's edition!"