The Science of Plant Growth and Adaptation | Excursion Lab

Explore the science of plant growth and adaptation at Boyce Thompson Institute in this two-part virtual experience with Julie Bell and Dr. Magdalena Julkowska.

Julie Bell, Plant Growth Facility Manager, explains how plants are grown in high-tech greenhouses and growth chambers, where factors like temperature, light, and humidity are carefully controlled. Students will learn how pests are managed and why containment is important for genetically modified plants.

Dr. Julkowska introduces phenotyping—measuring plant traits to study how they respond to stress like drought. Using the Phenosite system, her team collects detailed imaging data to track plant growth, health, and adaptation over time.

Students will discover how plants react to their environment, how technology aids research, and how this work supports sustainable agriculture.