Science Spotlights: The Chemical World of Plants

Photo of Claire Li.

Date and Time

September 19, 2026
02:00PM - 02:30PM EDT

Location

Harvard Museum of Natural History

In-Person Presentation

Meet up-and-coming scientists and learn about questions at the forefront of research today in this series of short talks.

2:00–2:30 pm – The Chemical World of Plants

Speaker: Claire Li – Graduate Student – Ryan Nett Research Lab 

How would you communicate if you were rooted in place like a plant, unable to move around or speak? Over hundreds of millions of years, plants have evolved different ways to interact with the environment around them. One way is by using special chemical compounds that affect other living organisms! Join Harvard scientist Claire Li as she decodes the chemical language of plants and explores exciting ways humans can put these compounds to use. 

Recommended for ages 10 and up.

Regular museum admission rates apply.

Presented by the Harvard Museum of Natural History and Harvard Museums of Science & Culture.