Workshops
Workshop: Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture
Summers will be warmer and drier in the future, and extreme weather events such as heavy rains and droughts more frequent. This will pose major challenges for farmers. It is expected that not only agricultural yields will change, but also the soil’s ability to store carbon. That is why it is important to understand the impact of such changes. In this half-day workshop, pupils will learn about the driving forces of CO2 exchange between crops and the atmosphere in a changing climate. They will investigate how stress in plants after floods or drought affects carbon uptake. (Approx. 4 hours in a climate garden.)
Discovery Workshop#1, Climate Change
Buchmann, N., Keller, S., Schläpfer, J., Rapo, C., Faller, P., Paschke, M., Dahinden, M. (2018). Plant Science Discovery Workshops: Forschungsheft#1 Klimawandel. Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center.
ISBN 978-3-906327-46-4
doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000368677
Workshop: Mycorrhiza – A Mushroom Against World Hunger?
The global demand for food is constantly increasing. In return, natural resources such as phosphate are limited for fertilizers. In addition, fertilisers are a significant cost factor, especially in developing countries. The research of plant symbiosis with mycorrhizal mushrooms promises an efficient and cost-effective solution to increase yields in agriculture with less fertilizer. In this half-day workshop, pupils have the opportunity to isolate, colour and examine mycorrhizal fungi themselves under the microscope. You will learn about some uses of the mushrooms as fertilizers. (Approx. 4 hours in a climate garden or the Life Science Learning Center, Irchel.)
Discovery Workshop#7, Symbiosis
Schütz, L., Schläpfer, J., Rapo, C., Faller, P., Paschke, M., Dahinden, M. (2020). Plant Science Discovery Workshops: Forschungsheft #7 Symbiose. Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center.
ISBN 978-3-906327-44-0
doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000431656
More Discovery Workshops:
Creative ideas
Recognising plant structures by cyanotype
Pictures of plant parts can be made with the process of cyanotype. The students can study the structure of plants with these visualisations.
The botanical parapegma
A botanical parapegma is an annual calendar that is calibrated by the lifecycle of an annual plant such as a sunflower or chickweed. The months are named after important events in the plants’ lifecycle, ranging from germination to propagation. Every transition into the next phase is continually marked on the parapegma.
Citizen Science Project
PhaenoNet allows you to record and share observations of seasonal changes in plants. This network unites pupils, students, teachers, experts, researchers and interested laymen in the service of phenology.
Join in and provide insights into the adaptation of plants to climate change. https://app.phaenonet.ch/map
Developed by the association GLOBE Switzerland, https://www.phaenonet.ch
