Summer is a busy outreach season at SLCU, with pupils participating in workshops and tours designed to give them a better insight into modern plant science. Robinson College brought a group of 14-17 year olds to participate in a genetics and plant development workshop with Siobhan Braybrook. Associate Director Henrik Jönsson led a discussion on imaging and computational biology for year 12 students on a biological sciences residential course run by Trinity College. Pupils came away with a broader understanding of the links between genetics and flower development, biology and maths, plant hormones and growth patterns, and the multidisciplinary nature of current biological research. Both groups also toured the Botanic Garden and learnt about its use as a research facility.
Most recently, the Laboratory and Botanic Garden welcomed 60 year 9 pupils from five local schools. The ‘Careers with Plants’ Day exposed the visitors to a variety of roles available in plant sciences. This included a ‘what’s my job’ speed dating exercise, where pupils quizzed staff members from the Botanic Garden, SLCU, the RHS and several local agritech companies about their roles. They also participated in workshops highlighting different aspects of working with plants, as well as having behind the scenes tours of the Lab and Garden.
Future collaborations over the summer will include hosting pupils participating in the Cambridge Admissions Office’s Insight programme and several more College access courses.