The Social Network of Plants
October 26, 2012
Prof. Ariel Novoplansky, of BGU’s Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, recently gave a talk at the TEDxJaffa conference that explores from the plants’ perspective the age-old question, “If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?”
According to Prof. Novaplansky, plants communicate through their roots through a complex system of non-verbal communication. They are able to warn each other of impending danger.
With his team of research scientists, Prof. Novoplansky has mapped the ways in which plants communicate and has also proven that plants have memory.
Prof. Novaplansky’s scientific work focuses on evolutionary ecology of plants. His current research is related to the evolutionary rationale and physiological mechanisms that enable plants to make developmental decisions based on information they perceive from their environment Research and neighbors.
View of a video of the talk presented at TEDxJaffa >>
ABOUT AMERICANS FOR BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY
By supporting a world-class academic institution that not only nurtures the Negev, but also shares its expertise locally and globally, Americans for Ben-Gurion University engages a community of Americans who are committed to improving the world. David Ben-Gurion envisioned that Israel’s future would be forged in the Negev. The cutting-edge research carried out at Ben-Gurion University drives that vision by sustaining a desert Silicon Valley, with the “Stanford of the Negev” at its center. The Americans for Ben-Gurion University movement supports a 21st century unifying vision for Israel by rallying around BGU’s remarkable work and role as an apolitical beacon of light in the Negev desert.
About Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev embraces the endless potential we have as individuals and as a commonality to adapt and to thrive in changing environments. Inspired by our location in the desert, we aim to discover, to create, and to develop solutions to dynamic challenges, to pose questions that have yet to be asked, and to push beyond the boundaries of the commonly accepted and possible.
We are proud to be a central force for inclusion, diversity and innovation in Israel, and we strive to extend the Negev’s potential and our entrepreneurial spirit throughout the world. For example, the multi-disciplinary School for Sustainability and Climate Change at BGU leverages over 50 years of expertise on living and thriving in the desert into scalable solutions for people everywhere.
BGU at a glance:
20,000 students | 800 senior faculty | 3 campuses | 6 faculties: humanities & social sciences, health sciences, engineering sciences, natural sciences, business & management, and desert research.
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