The Institute of Molecular and Cellular Plant Biology (IBMCP, CSIC-UPV) once again participated in the European Night of Research, an annual event that fills European streets with science. The Valencia edition took place last Friday, September 25th, in the Viveros Gardens. There, IBMCP researchers organized the workshop 'The Garden in a Jar', as part of the CSIC's 'Your Garden in a Pot' space.
The workshop aimed to answer the simple question: can a plant grow inside a jar? Following several illustrated steps, the public learned about in vitro cultivation. First, the plant to be cultivated is chosen. Then, it is placed in a tube with nutrients and observed as it grows under controlled conditions. Finally, it is transplanted to a pot, where it needs water, light, and nutrients to continue developing.
Participants had the opportunity to handle seeds with tweezers and closely observe jars with growing seedlings. They also discovered which species, from tomatoes to carnivorous plants, can be multiplied using this technique, which is a basic tool in plant biology research and crop improvement.
Throughout the day, school groups and families visited the stand, eager to get their hands dirty with science. The IBMCP Outreach Commission wishes to thank all the institute's staff who made the workshop possible, as well as all the public who came to participate.
The European Night of Research is part of the European Researchers’ Night, an initiative of the European Commission's Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, which seeks to bring research and its practitioners closer to the public.
