Salk Institute Hosts Webinar on Smart Plants in a Changing World

Three-part series highlights Salk's research in brain health, cancer, and agriculture

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The Salk Institute is teaming up with the Del Mar Foundation for a three-part webinar series to highlight Salk's foundational research in brain health, cancer, and agriculture. The first webinar on March 11 will feature Salk scientist Lucia Strader discussing how plants sense and respond to their environments, and how understanding these natural survival strategies can help develop crops that thrive in a changing world.

Why it matters

As the climate continues to change, developing crops that can adapt and thrive in new environmental conditions is crucial for global food security. Salk's research into plant biology and survival strategies offers insights that could help create more resilient and productive agricultural systems.

The details

The March 11 webinar is the first in a three-part series co-hosted by the Salk Institute and the Del Mar Foundation. Salk scientist Lucia Strader will present her work on how plants perceive and respond to their environments, with the goal of translating these natural survival mechanisms into solutions for sustainable agriculture. The Del Mar Foundation is also offering a 1:1 challenge match for donations made during the webinar series, doubling the impact of contributions to Salk's critical research.

  • The webinar series kicks off on Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at 10 a.m.
  • The Del Mar Foundation's 1:1 challenge match will run through June 2026.

The players

Salk Institute

A non-profit research institute focused on advancing scientific discoveries to enhance human health, quality of life, and the health of the planet.

Del Mar Foundation

A community foundation that supports charitable initiatives in the Del Mar, California area, including a partnership with the Salk Institute.

Lucia Strader

A scientist at the Salk Institute who studies how plants sense and respond to their environments.

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What’s next

The Del Mar Foundation is offering a 1:1 Challenge Match through June 2026, so donations made during the webinar series will be doubled.

The takeaway

Salk's research into plant biology and survival strategies could lead to the development of more resilient and productive agricultural systems that can adapt to the challenges posed by climate change, benefiting global food security.