The Center for Plant Immigration Integration explores the relationship between plants and bacteria as a metaphor for human migration to Europe. The project builds upon the research of Prof. Sofie Goormachtig (VIB — UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology) exploring soybean cultivation in Flanders, aimed at providing a high-protein crop and an eco-friendly meat alternative for the future. Her research especially focuses on the soybean interactions with nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the soil. This inspired Kuang-Yi to explore the similarities between the plant-microbe research and the integration of immigrants in European societies. The Center for Plant Immigrant Integration is a fictional institution which deals with the legal visa application and the integration of foreign plants. In this project, the fictional center works on their first client —a soybean plant — who wants to apply to work and live in the European Union. The centre provides its expertise to help soybean plants to create its own profile and to facilitate integration with the help of an endemic microorganism.
Find out more about the VIB (Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie) which is Gluon’s scientific partner for the STUDIOTOPIA Art&Science residency programme. This residency is part of the VIB Grand Challenges Program.
