Writing Prompt #5
Have you ever wondered what it is that a group of undergraduate biologists actually do with their time? Well the wait is over because I have just the news you've been waiting for!
Going into a meeting with the Plant Biology club at Michigan State University, I didn't really have a lot of knowledge of what it'd be all about, I thought it might consist of a big lecture hall with some biology professors speaking at the front and then we'd all leave, but I was wrong. The group was very small, maybe 10 to 15 students, and everyone was so passionate about the plant world, which hooked me instantly. We started the meeting by introducing ourselves and naming our favorite species of plant, which dove directly into the next topic for discussion, what kind of plants do we want to make this year? Every year the Plant Biology club gets involved with many public events, one of which is a food drive made up of all different sorts of foods grown right on campus. They like to grow exotic plants to catch the eyes of a passerby; last year for example they were selling purple tomatoes, which became quite popular at the event. The proceeds from this event helps them to fund other events to get the public excited and involved in the plant world, one of which is geared to younger kids specifically. Going to elementary schools and presenting the kids with tons of cool looking plants is their way getting the youth involved to start a whole new generation of plant loving people. One plant that always riles up the kids is the Mimosa pudica; a plant that is extremely sensitive to touch, when it is touched, the plant quickly drops it's leave inward toward itself, almost like it is cowering, the link to view this is here.
The Plant Biology club also teams up with different professors and lab instructors who are involved in the biology world outside of school. Each professor focuses on a different specialty, some focus on sustainability, while others work on manipulation of plant genes, and so on. With these professors we will do anything from go on camping trips, to observe a forest stand in different forest reserves around Michigan, to working in greenhouses, doing a variety of tests and experiments to try new growing methods. Last year for example they grew Pineapple from just having a leaf. For me personally, getting involved with these professors through this club will be extremely beneficial to my career as a biologist and my goal to focus on sustainability. I hope this post helped you get a better idea of what an undergraduate plant biology student does when involved through the Plant Biology club at Michigan State University.
-Garrett Mulanix
I was unaware that there was a plant biology club at MSU. It seems like it would be very helpful in deciding if that was the major for you. Do you find this club interesting? Do you think you will stay in this club throughout your entire time at State? For me, I find the plant biology topic very intriguing and find your post helpful in educating me on what it is like to be a plant biologist. I did not know it was possible to grow a pineapple from just a leaf. I knew that you could grow other plants such as sage and jade like that, is it the same process? Thank you for the brief understanding!
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