Orto Botanico di Padova

The Unknown World of Lichens
2026-05-03 10:00 - 11:15 (Europe/Rome)
SUNDAY, 3 MAY – 10 AM
Scientific popularisation meeting
With Christoph Scheidegger and Garima Singh
Free | Subject to booking
Lichens differ radically from flowering plants: their structure is formed by a fungal partner that cultivates algae or cyanobacteria within the body of the lichen; through photosynthesis, these organisms provide it with nourishment. This close coexistence between the fungal and algal partners is known as symbiosis. Yet it is thanks to another remarkable trait that lichens are able to endure life in deserts and on the rocks of the highest Alpine peaks: they can survive extreme drought, heat and cold in an apparently dormant—or anabiotic—state, only to awaken and return to active life when the climatic conditions become favourable. The conference will explore the ecological advantages of this strategy and the implications it holds for symbiotic organisms in terms of species conservation.
The conference will be held in English with simultaneous translation into Italian.
It will take place at the Botanical Theatre.
At the end of the talk, participants may join the speakers for a guided viewing of living lichen specimens in Prato della Valle.
Registration

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The Scent of Memory
2026-05-03 11:30 - 12:45
SUNDAY, 3 MAY – 11:30 AM
Scientific popularisation meeting
With Hirac Gurden, Anne-Cécile Pouant, Anna D’Errico. Moderator: Monica Baggio
Free | Subject to booking
Scents and aromas bring with them memories and sensations that weave through the fabric of our minds, linking past experiences with our present-day life. At the crossroads of science, art and history, the conference explores the bond between smell and memory, revealing how our brain—even without our awareness—gathers and preserves countless amounts of information. For fragrance is far more than a fleeting recollection; it is a bridge of connection, a subtle language through which we share something of ourselves with others.
The conference will be held in Italian and French with simultaneous translation.
It will take place at the Auditorium. Entrance: Prato della Valle 57/C.
Registration

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