March was a busy month for SLCU researchers participating in a range of public engagement activities. As part of the Cambridge Science Festival, Alba Rodriguez, Claudia Martinho and Anna Brestovitsky participated in the Schools Roadshow. They visited Histon and Impington Junior School, where an eager group of KS2 pupils explored the relationship between plant growth and development and temperature.
A record number of SLCU researchers participated in Science On Saturday, with activities ranging from computer modelling to blowing up balloons inside an expanda ball to demonstrate changes in cell walls during seedling growth.
James Locke gave an evening talk on his research into randomness and single cell organism behaviour. As his research has implications not just for plant development, but tumour growth and antibiotic resistance, the question and answer session at the end of the talk covered a wide range of topics. The audience left with a good understanding of how research in one area of science can have huge implications for other areas too.
In addition to these activities, SLCU researchers participated in Rising Stars, FameLab and other public engagement opportunities. SLCU also hosted visits by sociology masters students from Anglia Ruskin University and a group of A level pupils from County Durham who were in Cambridge attending an access programme run by King’s College.
SLCU is now turning its focus to the upcoming Festival of Plants on 15-16 May. The Lab will host a public lecture and a panel debate on evidence-based sustainable agriculture, and SLCU scientists will contribute to a wide range of activities inside the Botanic Garden. Further details will be available on the SLCU website in due course.