As we know that there are big changes occurring in our climate. The single major threat to you know humanity and planetary health underestimating that would be a disaster.
So the facility that we're setting at the moment is the Wolfson advanced glass houses so the primary goal of the Wolfson advanced glass house is to make sure that we are able to carry out cutting-edge research into plant sciences at the University of Birmingham. This covers crop sciences, fundamental plant sciences and also tree research ensure that the biodiversity of the planet is sustained, the climate is healthy, and to make sure that we can grow crops.
Higher temperature inconsistent precipitation patterns and elevated Co2 has a huge impact on plant growth, development reproduction, and physiology it has increased the incidence and stability of pests and pathogens they have a devastating effects on our environment.
The University of Birmingham invested a huge amount of resources into developing research and teaching into plant science this facility consists of a couple of laboratory areas, but also seven isolated plant growth rooms it has fully automated lighting, a temperature control irrigation system a Co2 enrichment facility.
They are fantastic there are these isolated rooms we can grow plants and we can see how they respond to changes in the environment, or we can introduce things like pests and disease and see how they cope with those.
This facility was made possible thanks to a very generous donation from the Wolfson foundation.
What we want to do is try and develop new varieties of plants that are better for resistance or to think about management strategies for trees to try and help them to to survive these kind of problems. In the UK for example, we have the oak tree, the oak has about 320 species that are absolutely reliant so 40 million oaks in the country. If they all died 320 other species, in theory, would go extinct as well knowing what's going to happen allows us to then think about how we can try and A. stop it from happening or secondly to try and actually think about how we can use different approaches to manage the problem.
The facility is very important for the students it offers a state-of-the-art facility. We're training the next generation of scientists in plant science and this facility really is important we all collaborate with academic colleagues around the country, non-governmental organisations, industry partners. They all provide really important support for our research.
Environmental studies enlighten us and how to protect and conserve our environment. So this facility will help to do that and to carry out the cutting-edge research that has important benefits and to make sure that everyone sees those benefits.
