Science Festival Science Festival

Main Navigation

  • Home
  • About
  • Schedule
  • Visitors
  • Schools
  • Presenters
  • Volunteer
  • Sponsors
  • Media

Hands-On Molecular Simulations to Discover How Plants Communicate

Type: Presentation

Description:
Plants need to respond to stresses, like drought or being eaten, by sending signaling molecules through the plant or changing the structure of their cell walls. Using computer simulations at the atomic scale, our group is studying how these signaling molecules are picked up by the proteins from membranes at the cell surface and how cell wall structure changes depending on humidity. Now you can see this too! Using interactive molecular dynamics simulations based on Newton’s laws of motion, you can control what happens at the nanoscale by adding forces to guide this process, while learning about the molecular simulations happening here at Michigan State University.

Presented by:

  • Josh Vermaas, Assistant Professor, Plant Research Laboratory, Michigan State University
  • Daipayan Sarkar, Postdoctoral Scholar, Plant Research Laboratory, Michigan State University
  • Saad Raza, Postdoctoral Scholar, Plant Research Laboratory, Michigan State University
  • Duncan Boren, Graduate Student, Biochemistry, Michigan State University
  • Dayna Olson, Undergraduate Student, Biochemistry, Michigan State University

Ages: Middle school age, High school age, Over 21 years only

Scientific Disciplines:

  • Physics, Astronomy, and Chemistry
  • Plant and Animal Sciences
  • STEAM Expo Days 120
  • Hands-on Science 80

Times and Locations

  • Date/Time: 4/1/2023 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

    Location: STEM Teaching and Learning Facility Room 1201

  • Date/Time: 4/2/2023 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

    Location: STEM Teaching and Learning Facility Room 1201

Featured Events


Featured Events
    • STEAM Expo Days
    • The Sounds of Science
    • Nights at the Museums
    • Statewide Earth Day Celebration
    • Science in the Gardens
    • Statewide Astronomy Night
    • Science After Dark
  • Browse Events by Tag
  • FAQs for Attendees
  • Connect with Us!
  • Sign up for our Newsletter to stay up to date on the latest SciFest news
  • SciFest on Facebook
  • SciFest on Twitter
  • SciFest on Instagram
  • SciFest on Youtube
  • SciFest on Linkedin

Footer and Contact Information

Michigan State University Wordmark Michigan State University Wordmark
  • Call us: (517) 353-8977
  • Contact Information
  • Site Map
  • Privacy Policy
  • Call MSU: (517) 355-1855
  • Visit: msu.edu
  • MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer.
  • Notice of Nondiscrimination
  • Spartans Will.
  • © Michigan State University