View the photo gallery of concept art and behind-the-scenes root tower construction.

 

Roots Before Leaves

This summer, the GROW Gallery unveils the new Root Tower exhibit designed to offer guests a chance to view what’s right beneath the surface. The root towers, also called rhizo boxes, house a variety of plants and are constructed with windows to allow guests to easily view the life of roots. The GROW team was inspired to create these towers after learning how scientists in St. Louis and around the world use them for research.

Maddie Earnest, GROW Gallery Manager, says she was “enthralled with the possibility of showing guests the underground parts of the plant and the inner life of soil by using this research tool as a teaching tool. What makes these towers so engaging is that guests will be able to see the underground world of roots and the root systems of different plants. Guests will literally open a door to the hidden half of the plant life we see every day.”

Creating an exhibit like this is a complex process. It takes a variety of skills and team members to design structures and graphics, integrate text and images, build the towers, fill them with plants—and change plantings out with the seasons. The Science Center team partnered with scientists from around the world to develop timely content and to get input on the design and functionality of the towers.

Dorte Bodin Dresbøll, Ph.D, with the University of Copenhagen and Felix Fritschi, Ph.D, of the University of Missouri
provided technical expertise on the construction and filling of the root towers as well as advice on using these towers as exhibits. Allison Miller, Ph.D and Chris Topp, Ph.D from Donald Danforth Plant Science Center were instrumental in guiding the initial vision. Miller has a long history with GROW, serving as an advisor for the development of the gallery and inspiring the GROW team to plant deep-rooted perennials that are being researched around the country for use as future crops. Topp uses new imaging technologies to study underground growth. His research reinforces that what we see above ground is only made possible by the interactions occurring below ground. Earnest says, “Chris Topp was the first person to get us excited about rhizo boxes and root architecture.”

The Root Tower exhibit explores the interactions between roots and soil and the hidden processes that make plant growth possible. Playful poems and surprising images spark curiosity for topics like carbon storage and chemical signaling. Rulers on the tallest towers encourage repeat visits, as guests can see how they measure up to deep-rooting plants. As always, GROW educators are excited to talk to guests who want to dig deeper. Check out this unique experience located in the northwest corner of GROW (near the orchard and giant sunflower).

The Root Towers are made possible by funding through a grant from the USDA.

MORE NEW GROW INTERACTIVES

Cattle Mural

Come check out and take a picture with one of the newest additions to the GROW Gallery made possible by the Missouri Beef Industry Council.

A LOOK BACK

 

Many people remember when GROW used to be the EXPLORADOME, housing our early exhibitions. But did you know that under the EXPLORADOME, staff members took their breaks, ate their lunches and had offices right below? Staff have since been moved to various locations throughout the Science Center for their work stations.