Flower Power

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫’𝐬 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭, 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐮𝐬é𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐞𝐭 𝐌é𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬, 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐬 - 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧, 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥, 𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐯𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐥. ⁣

Among the many interactive exhibits, Dr. M. Abdul Kareem, Associate Professor at The University of Transdisciplinary Health Sciences and Technology (TDU) Bangalore, and Dr. Romain Simenel, Researcher at IRD (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement), jointly presented a stand titled "Flower Power" on 3rd October 2025. This unique installation explored the fascinating parallels between plant intelligence and the cognitive and emotional development of children.⁣

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Drawing on recent research and fieldwork, Flower Power invited visitors to reconsider traditional notions of intelligence by observing how plants adapt, communicate, and respond to their environment -behaviors increasingly recognized as forms of intelligence. ⁣

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The exhibit also showcased educational tools and case studies from nature-based education programs, demonstrating how regular interaction with plants and green spaces can foster children’s creativity, autonomy, and problem-solving skills.⁣
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Through hands-on activities, videos, and guided discussions, the public discovered how the deep, often intuitive connection between children and nature - particularly with the plant world - can be a powerful driver of learning and empowerment. The stand aimed to challenge the perception that intelligence is purely neurological or human-centered, and to highlight the importance of nurturing ecological awareness from a young age.⁣