Plants, Pathogens, and Pirouettes?

Centre of the Cell’s Big Question Series are brought to you by top scientists at Queen Mary, in partnership with Centre of the Cell and co-created with young people from our Youth Scheme. They give audiences from age 14 the chance to hear from leaders in science and healthcare about the cutting-edge biology and innovative front-line medicine going on right here in east London.

Dr. Eleonora Moratto speaks about fungus and ways to communicate science in his her Question Lecture.

Many people enjoy eating mushrooms, the fruits of filamentous fungi, as they are packed with nutrients. But if we look underground, it gets more interesting. Filamentous fungi can act as ‘highways’. Much like a road, the hyphae (long structures in mushrooms) can act as physical highways for transporting other microorganisms. Fungi also interact with plant roots, but it’s not always an easy relationship.

About the speaker

Dr Eleonora Moratto is a plant biologist and science communicator who founded The SciBallet Project, an initiative that blends dance and science to bring research to life on stage. A researcher of root-microbe interactions and a ballet dancer for over 25 years, she uses movement and storytelling to make complex scientific ideas accessible and inspiring for all audiences.