Science Center Berlin: Plants shape the future of sustainability!

Das Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin veranstaltet das _matter Festival_ mit Fokus auf Pflanzen und Nachhaltigkeit, vom 14. Mai bis 6. Juli 2025.
The Humboldt University in Berlin organizes the _matter Festival_ with a focus on plants and sustainability, from May 14th to July 6th, 2025. (Symbolbild/NAGW)

Science Center Berlin: Plants shape the future of sustainability!

Art Laboratory Berlin, Prinzenallee 34, 13359 Berlin, Deutschland - on May 14, 2025 the Matter Festival at the Humboldt University in Berlin (HU) in full swing. This science festival, which began in April 2025, has set itself the goal of researching the liveliness and design ability of organic materials as well as plants as non-human actors.

An important highlight of the festival is the upcoming opening of the exhibition "Fermmenting Textile" on May 16, 2025. This exhibition focuses on bacteria and traditional textile dyeing practices and shows how plants and floor bacteria play decisive roles in the coloring process. Microbiologist Prof. Dr. Regine Hengge and anthropologist Dr. Laurence Douny examine methods from Burkina Faso as well as current microbiology approaches in the laboratories of the HU. The results of this research are presented in the Art Laboratory Berlin gallery.

Details about the exhibition

The vernissage of the exhibition will take place on May 16 at 8 p.m. Visitors can visit the exhibits by July 6, 2025, on Thursdays to Sundays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. The event location is Art Laboratory Berlin, Prinzenallee 34, 13359 Berlin. There is also a press preview on the same day at 11 a.m.

In parallel to this exhibition, the “Vegetal Companions” series of events will be opened in the Späth-Arboretum, which started on May 13, 2025 and runs until June 15, 2025. This series addresses plants as non-human actors and their cultural perception. The installation "Planted Archives: Traces of Environmental History" will also be opened on May 13th, followed by workshops that deal with circular material research and traditional practices.

plants as a symbol of sustainability

These events underline the central role of plants in sustainability, such as Innomat life . Plants are not only essential components of ecosystems, but also renewable resources that contribute to CO2 binding and the production of oxygen. They offer habitat for animal species, stabilize the soil and contribute to the preservation of biodiversity and natural water cleaning.

In urban areas, the cultivation of edible plants increases in importance because it strengthens local food supply and reduces dependencies on long supply chains. These plants are easy to grow and need fewer resources than animal products, which makes them an important part of sustainable nutrition.

sustainability in agriculture

The term sustainability is used in a wide variety of contexts, especially in agriculture. According to plant research , agriculture plays a central role in combating hunger and poverty. In addition, it has to cover the food requirement of a growing population while at the same time protects the environment and the biological diversity.

In Germany, agriculture contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, which is why innovative approaches are required to increase efficiency and minimize ecological footprint. The three-pillar model of sustainable development illustrates that a balance between ecological, economic and social goals is necessary.

In summary, it can be said that the events of the Matter Festival and the research results in plant science not only convey a better understanding of the role of plants in our lives, but also emphasize their importance for a sustainable future.

Details
OrtArt Laboratory Berlin, Prinzenallee 34, 13359 Berlin, Deutschland
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