Exhibitions
How plants communicate with each other
A new exhibition on plant communication marks the inclusion of botany at the University of Zurich’s Natural History Museum. With the exhibition, which illustrates the diverse forms of communication among plants, the museums for anthropology, botany, paleontology and zoology have now been brought together under one roof.
Opening on 20 May 2025, the new permanent exhibition “Pflanzen sprechen mit!” (Plants Talk) aims to open visitors’ eyes and noses and introduce them to the fascinating world of plant communication. With the arrival of the new exhibits – some of which are interactive – the integration of the former botanical museum into the UZH Natural History Museum is complete.
Visitors are introduced to the ways in which plants “communicate” with each other right at the beginning of the exhibition. Creatively designed, colorful wall displays that combine nature and art in a playful manner add a further element. The centerpiece of the exhibition is an enormous table, where visitors are invited to explore the impressive variety of botanical communication methods, for example via scent or color. Objects from the botanical collection, including some striking flower models of historical and cultural significance, complement this information.
Exhibition “Pflanzen sprechen mit!”
From Tuesday, 20 May 2025
Natural History Museum of the University of Zurich
Karl-Schmid-Strasse 4
CH-8006 Zürich
The exhibition was realized with support from the canton of Zurich’s charity fund and in collaboration with the Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center.
Uganda's traditional medicine in transition
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Uganda’s public healthcare system struggled more than ever. As a result, more people became interested in traditional herbal medicine. The World Health Organization, WHO, encourages African countries to support traditional medicine as an integral component of their healthcare systems. However, in Uganda, traditional medicine is at risk because natural resources, cultural heritage, and knowledge are being lost. Action is needed to secure its future and further development as an important part of healthcare and cultural heritage. Together with local museums and researchers, the exhibition aims to raise awareness.
This exhibition was curated jointly with researchers and museums in Uganda as part of the SOR4D-project funded by SNF / DEZA: "Traditional medicine in transition. The role of museums as agents of change for effective, safe, culturally embedded, and sustainable knowledge transfer in Uganda."
5 June to 15 October 2025
Botanical Garden of the University of Zurich, Zollikerstrasse 107, 8008 Zurich