Green bodies. Stories of Organisms That Weave the World

Do we really know plants? Are plants merely the still, silent background of our lives? Or do they actively receive information from their environment, react to changes, and communicate with other organisms?

During the lecture, we will look at how our perception of the world of plants has changed over the centuries — from treating them primarily as sources of food, medicine and symbols, through the first attempts at scientific classification, to modern research showing plants as active organisms. We will learn how they react to light, gravity, temperature, touch or environmental stress, and how they communicate with each other and with other organisms.

The event will also be an opportunity to reflect on two extreme ways of thinking about plants: as the passive “background” of our lives and as organisms that are attributed the ability to “remember”, “learn” or “feel”.

The meeting will be led by Dr. Anna Aksmann, professor of UG from the Department of Experimental Biology and Plant Biotechnology of the University of Gdańsk.

Dr. Anna Aksmann, professor of UG has been exploring the secrets of the plant world for years. As a plant physiologist and ecotoxicologist, she studies how plant organisms respond to the challenges posed by the modern environment, from natural stresses to the effects of human activities. Associated with the University of Gdańsk since 1997, she combines research, teaching and popularization of science, convincing us that plants still have a lot to tell us about the functioning and future of our planet. Privately a lover of dogs, hiking and science fiction literature.

The event is organized in cooperation with the Faculty of Biology of the University of Gdańsk.