VMU Botanical Garden featured in the latest issue of Roots magazine
The newest issue of Roots, the international education magazine published by BGCI (Botanic Gardens Conservation International), includes a feature article about an educational study conducted at the Vytautas Magnus University Botanical Garden in Kaunas (VMU BG).
Roots is a respected publication dedicated to exploring and promoting educational activities in botanic gardens worldwide. The current edition reflects on the recent 11th International Congress on Education in Botanic Gardens, held in Seoul, South Korea in June 2025, and showcases key presentations, initiatives, and collaborations from the event.
One of the articles, “The Impact of Learning in a Botanical Garden on Conceptual Change”, was co-authored by former VMU Botanical Garden staff member dr. Vesta Vančugovienė, along with researchers Erno Lehtinen and Ilona Södervik. The study investigated whether biology lessons delivered in a botanic garden setting improve students’ long-term conceptual understanding of biological processes.
The research was carried out with two groups of 9th-grade students: one participated in inquiry-based lessons at VMU Botanical Garden, while the other followed traditional classroom-based learning. The lessons at the garden focused on various levels of conceptual understanding – from cellular biology to plant adaptation – and used interactive tools like microscopes, lab work, and even an outdoor orienteering game.
The results confirmed that students who learned in the botanic garden showed fewer misconceptions and better scientific understanding, even three months after the lessons, compared to the control group.
This publication is a great recognition of VMU Botanical Garden’s role as a space for meaningful learning and science-based education. We are proud to see our educational efforts reflected in a global platform that inspires collaboration between botanic gardens and educational scientists.