BERG: Solutions-based approaches to teaching primary/secondary plant science

In this interactive session, attendees will be invited to join a community of experienced educators with plant-based interests, but the session will cater for all levels of experience and expertise. Attendees will, for example, be encouraged to discuss their own plant education practice/research/projects/organisations with others, exchanging ideas and approaches and contributing to the discussion about the future of plant education in the UK. However, participants may just wish to learn about current best practice in plant biology education with proven examples of how to start teaching the subject and inspire students. Outcomes: After attending, participants will be able to: •Utilise and share current best practice, research and resources in plant science education •Identify and access key plant science education organisations and projects •Join, or be able to refer to, a community of other educators interested in plant science Foreword and Introduction by Rachel Davies (Kings College, London) Lightning Talks  Cultural awareness of plants: Rachel Sawle (KCL) .Rooted in emotion: plant awareness from children’s perspectives.  Rachel is a primary school teacher in London and is undertaking a PhD at King’s College London in science education research, focusing on the children’s plant awareness. Plant positive teaching: Chris Graham (SAPS/Hills Road 6th Form College). Chris Graham will discuss how the concept of Plant Positive Teaching has grown out of the plant awareness literature, how we can be more plant positive within the constraints of our curricula, how we can measure our impact, and how this can be a stepping stone to a more ecologically-literate, nature-loving and sustainability-embracing society. And if that’s not enough, it might even lead to better exam results. RHS Garden Learning Experience: Nic Buckley (RHS). Discover these hands-on, immersive sessions that are designed to inspire children's curiosity about plants, nature, and gardening, while delivering strong links to the national curriculum. At RHS sites across the UK, pupils have the opportunity to explore living landscapes that bring learning to life- with gardening and growing at the heart of these experiences. Investigating and fostering plant awareness in educational contexts: Dawn Sanders (University of Gothenburg). In this presentation, a range of practical approaches to fostering plant awareness in educational contexts will be discussed. Recent research, published in the journal Plants, People, Planet, will frame the presentation. There will be a Q&A with lightning talk speakers  and the session will end by sharing good practices in plant science education. This session will be run by the newly formed BERG Plant Science Education Working group. The group, set up in March 2025, comprises of a diverse range of educators, researchers and representatives of plant-related organisations. We recognise the fundamental need to develop a plant science educator community and are keen to share good practice, shape learning opportunities, and research to improve plant science education in general.