About: Leaves of Green Workshop



The Leaves of Green workshop is an opportunity for high school teachers and students to explore how carbon is assimilated and partitioned by plants and how these processes affect agriculture, global climate change, and biofuel production.
2015 Leaves of Green Workshop:
Monday, July 20th - Thursday, July 23rd
Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, VT

The predicted changes in atmospheric CO2 levels and climate are expected to pose many challenges for plants. How plants respond to these changing environmental stressors are of great interest given the importance of plant materials, biofuels and food production. The National Science Foundation has recently awarded a genome grant to a consortium from the University of Missouri, Purdue University, University of Florida and Saint Michael's College, to better our understanding of how CO2 captured in leaves through photosynthesis is distributed throughout the plant.

As part of this grant, we are offering a workshop to teams of two high school students and one teacher.

Workshop goals:

  1. To learn how photosynthesis and long distance transport systems are integrated in plants,
  2. To learn why photosynthesis and carbon partitioning are integral to biofuel production and agriculture,
  3. To help teams develop classroom modules using techniques and concepts covered in the workshop.

Participants will learn to measure:

  1. Photosynthesis in different species,
  2. Sugar transport and storage in plants, and
  3. The energy value of a plant and how it is affected by genes and environmental conditions.

Teams will be provided with room and board during the workshop. Teachers will receive a $1,000 stipend, and $1,000 to purchase equipment for their school.

How do I apply to participate?

    Sorry! Unfortunately, there will not be a Leaves of Green Workshop this year. We hope to secure funding for workshops to resume in Summer 2017 - stay tuned!

View photos of past Leaves of Green Workshops!

Please email questions to Mark Lubkowitz at mlubkowitz@smcvt.edu