1. Chile continues to add institutions to celebrate
Fascination of Plants Day
This is the second year that CGNA coordinates this
initiative at national level.
At a national level, thirteen organizations have already joined the 2013 Fascination of
Plants Day celebration in Chile, an activity that has been carried out for two
consecutive years and which hopes to continue adding more institutions that support
all aspects of plant recovery, along with the development of the science that studies
them.
With the participation of diverse institutions, such as: the Mirador Interactive Museum;
National Botanical Garden; Botanical Garden of the University of Talca; the 'More
Science for Chile' Movement; the University of Chile Faculty of Science Laboratory of
Molecular Biology; the School of Engineering in Biotechnology at the Catholic
University of the Maule; the Explore Program of the Araucania Region; the Armando
Dufey Artistic School and the George Chaitor School of Temuco; as well as scientific
research centers, such as the Agriaquaculture Nutritional Genomics Center (CGNA),
Center for Advanced Studies in Arid Zones (CEAZA), Center for Advanced Studies in
Fruticulture (CEAF) and the Ceres Center for Innovation in Horticulture.
The European Plant Science Organization (EPSO), which has called on research
centers, universities, schools, museums, corporations, and other organizations to
participate in this initiative carry out the Fascination of Plants Day (FoPD) at global
level.
At an international level, 52 countries (including Chile) have joined this initiative,
surpassing the 39 that participated in the first version.
Fascination of Plants Day aims to ensure that the greatest number of people worldwide
become fascinated by plants and informed of the importance of plant science in
agriculture and sustainable food production, as well as in horticulture, forests and all
plant-derived products such as paper, wood products, chemicals, energy and
pharmaceutical products. This in addition to the role played by plants in the
conservation of the environment, as a relevant topic.
We hope that in this second version Chile will surpass by a large margin the number of
organizations that participated in 2012 (10), which is why national coordinator Loreto
Moya Gonzales from CGNA has made a special appeal to institutions that address
issues relating to plants in their daily activities to join and become a part of an

2. international movement that promotes plant recovery in various areas, and above all
as a fundamental part of the sustainability of life on this planet.
"We have many institutions, research centers, organizations, NGOs and companies in
Chile linked to crops, forests and plants, and this is a unique opportunity for
summoning them and joining a global celebration, so we hope that many people have
the opportunity to participate during the month of May in any activity that will awaken
in them a 'fascination' with plants, and recognition of the important role they play in
food, nutrition, biosustainability and bioproduct development," said Loreto Moya.
Contact in Chile for coordination regarding International Fascination of Plants Day,
email: Loreto.moya@cgna.cl www.plantday12.eu @PlantDay2012
Young people prepare art exhibit to celebrate
Fascination of Plants Day
Activity organized in Temuco by CGNA, the Armando Dufrey
Artistic School and Explora Araucania.
How do we value the role of plants and the science that studies them through art?
That's the question that children and youths in the Armando Dufey Artistic School in
Temuco have asked themselves, and is the source of their inspiration for working on
pieces that will be shown between the 14th and 16th of May in the Portal Temuco Mall,
as part of the Fascination of Plants Day celebration carried out worldwide on May 18th.

3. The activity, which unites science and art, is organized by the Agriaquaculture
Nutritional Genomics Center, CGNA, with the support of Explora Araucanía and the
participation of the Armado Dufey Artistic School.
An essential part of this activity is the joint work between children and scientists from
the regional research center. "The inspiration and motivation they feel for science and
plants is vital, which is why they've already had a motivational day with two
professionals from the center, in addition to lectures and visits to the lab and
greenhouses. This way, they receive knowledge and also motivation to create their
works of art under the guidance of their teacher, artist Francisco Badilla", pointed out
Loreto Moya, CGNA professional who is also the national Fascination of Plants Day
coordinator.
The exhibit will be ready to be assembled in different places in the city during the
month of May, beginning its traveling cycle at Portal Temuco Mall. "We're still
confirming other places where the exhibit will be shown, and we look forward to being
where more people can see these pieces, arriving with all the beauty of plants, science,
and art, with a message as laudable as restoring the vegetable world, its role as the
foundation of life, and also the science that studies it and that has allowed us to move
forward in the development of new foods and products of all kinds", added the
professional.
The places where the exhibit will be shown during the month of May will be informed in
a timely manner.