{"id":3129,"date":"2020-10-15T10:30:50","date_gmt":"2020-10-15T09:30:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mub.eps.manchester.ac.uk\/science-engineering\/?p=3129"},"modified":"2023-06-21T09:21:11","modified_gmt":"2023-06-21T08:21:11","slug":"firs-environmental-research-centre-gets-2m-makeover","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mub.eps.manchester.ac.uk\/science-engineering\/2020\/10\/15\/firs-environmental-research-centre-gets-2m-makeover\/","title":{"rendered":"FIRS Environmental Research Centre gets \u00a32m makeover"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fallowfield\u2019s best-kept secret has recently reopened for research and teaching after a remarkable \u00a32 million installation. The money has been used to create a new greenhouse structure that has modernised the way plants can be grown there.<\/p>\n

Unlike your *insert leading brand of greenhouse here*, this greenhouse allows for complete control of the climate inside. It can transform one room into a rainforest for humidity-loving plants while, at the same time, another can be in a permanent state of winter.<\/p>\n

From ten\u2013feet-tall cacti to genetically modified rice, the FIRS greenhouses are home to plants from nearly every continent. This enables leading research right from the centre of Manchester.<\/p>\n

\"Picture
Picture of the new greenhouse<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Responding to stress<\/h2>\n

This breadth of plant life is invaluable in offering researchers the opportunity to conduct experiments in real-world scenarios. Giles Johnson<\/a>, a professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences<\/a>, oversaw some of the new construction on-site:<\/p>\n

\u201cMy research looks at a plant\u2019s response to stress. We know that plants undergo stress for a variety of factors and unfortunately, with climate change and food security challenges, this is only going to increase. By understanding how a plant responds to stress and in turn how we can increase the positive responses to stress, we may be able to really address some of the biggest problems of the 21st<\/sup> century.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hear more from Professor Johnson – and take a closer look at the new greenhouse \u2013 in our video<\/p>\n