Activity: How plants breathe - stomata under the microscope
This activity is part of the Royal Society's Summer Science Exhibition 2026.
Rising atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide (CO₂), are a major driver of climate change. As the climate warms, extreme events such as droughts and heatwaves are expected to intensify, threatening forest ecosystems - the planet’s largest terrestrial carbon sinks – by disrupting key physiological processes that support tree growth.
In this activity, you’ll see stomata – the tiny pores plants use to breathe and eat – under the microscope. Experts from the University of Birmingham's Institute of Forest Research will be on hand to guide you through how these structures work, how factors like temperature, drought, and CO₂ levels influence their behaviour and why understanding how trees respond to climate change is essential for predicting future global resilience.
Attending the event
This event will be held in City of London 1 at the Royal Society on Sunday 5 July 2026, 9.30am – 6pm.
- Free to attend as part of Summer Science Exhibition
- Eventbrite tickets for Summer Science Exhibition are recommended, with only a limited number of walk up tickets released on the day
- Suitable for all ages
- Travel and accessibility information and details on planning your visit - contact us directly to arrange any specific accessibility requirements
- Food and drink will be available for purchase at our onsite café
For all enquiries, please email us.