Sage Conversation | Plant life and greenhouse tour

Do plants have a social life? Yes! Dr. Susan Dudley will give us all the dirt about how plants make friends (and foe!). Plants sense their environment, communicate with other organisms, compete, and help others. However, their behaviours are very slow, and we have trouble interpreting plant behaviours as helpful or harmful. This talk will highlight what we know about how plants interact with each other, and especially with relatives. What are the questions we are now asking, and why are we asking them?
Following our talk, guests will be invited to tour the NEW McMaster Biology Greenhouse. This state-of-the-art 11,400 sq. ft. greenhouse feature a sunken floor offering more space for plants to grow upward. It is designed with climate-controlled spaces and dedicated research and learning areas. Sails just under the roof will help biologists customize light, and watering will be automated, further supporting ideal research conditions for the thousands of plants encompassing more than 200 species.