Grass

Stephen Harris, is Curator of the Oxford University Herbaria, an evolutionary biologist and author of  Grasses  (Reaktion books published 22nd June 2014).  Perhaps more than any other plant, grasses show the effects of human influence: farmed on a massive scale, they are the ultimate staple crop. In turn we are also influenced by grasses, often fighting to preserve our ‘green space’ and public parks. Stephen Harris describes this relationship against the background of our heightened awareness of climate change: in the future we will have to balance our needs of grass as food, grass as living space and potentially even grass as fuel. 

Dr. Umesh Singh is  a Senior Scientist  in  the Plant Breeding, Genetics and Biotechnology Division  at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) specialising in a project to provide Stress Tolerant Rice for Africa and South Asia funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.  A plant pathologist and biotechnologist, Umesh is also an authority on eco-friendly management of plant diseases. He has authored and co-authored over 150 scientific papers and ten books in 17 volumes; of which four are on rice. He is a Fellow of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (India).
Photo courtesy of Umesh Singh

Susanne Lucas, is Executive Director of the World Bamboo Organization,  a horticulturist and author of Bamboo (Reaktion books published 2013).  She says that it often comes as a surprise that Bamboo is a grass.  Numerous species are distributed widely throughout the world, and as well as being used in food, clothing and shelter, it is believed that the first books were written on bamboo.  There is evidence that more than 5,000 years ago it was shaped by humans into musical instruments as well as the framework of housing.  Susanne says that bamboo’s special characteristics, such as its ability to grow quickly and thus be an easily replaced resource, offers potential solutions to modern ecological dilemmas.  As modern research and technologies advance, she says that bamboo use has increased dramatically—it can now be found in the filaments of light bulbs, airplanes, the reinforcements of concrete, and even bicycles. 

Photo courtesy of Susanne Lucas

Photo courtesy of Susanne Lucas

Susanne Lucas proposes a Communications App for the brain. She suggests that we are all "lost in translation" and the remedy is a  free APP , an instant download, that would enable our brains to receive a  simultaneous translation of every language and every dialect, no matter where we are.  It's not for our mobile phones but for our brains. Something similar to what Spock from Star Trek called a "mind meld". But will it put the translators out of business and what about privacy if we are all instantaneously understood by everyone?