“Every single cell in my body is passionate about this job,” says Luiza Bengtsson. Sitting in front of a café in Prenzlauer Berg, Luiza Bengtsson’s eyes light up as she talks about her work. It is clear how much she loves her new role as head of the Museum & Society Department at Freie Universität Berlin’s Botanic Garden.

Dr. Luisa Bengtsson has been the head of the Museum & Society Department at the Botanic Garden Berlin since fall 2024. She is responsible for the Botanical Museum and its exhibitions, education and outreach, publishing and graphic design, the library, and the garden’s history of science collection.

A typical workday? For Bengtsson, there’s no such thing. Her agenda is filled with appointments and important to-do’s: first, a meeting regarding the new permanent exhibition, then an appointment about the colonial history of the institution. In the afternoon, it is time to sort out finances or come up with new ways of engaging the public. Every day brings something new, which is what Bengtsson loves about her job.

The path that led Bengtsson to the Botanic Garden Berlin was anything but linear. After obtaining a master of science degree in Lund (Sweden), she completed her doctoral studies in biochemistry at Freie Universität Berlin in 2002. She then conducted biomedical research in Germany and the USA, where she discovered her passion for science communication. What began as a parallel interest soon developed into her primary professional focus. Her enthusiasm for interdisciplinary dialogue at the interface between science, culture, and the public was what ultimately led her to apply for the position at the Botanic Garden Berlin.

“I knew how plants work from the inside – at the level of cells, DNA, and proteins – but I came into botany from a different angle.” And yet, something stirred in her – what Bengtsson herself calls her latent “activist gene.” Climate action and sustainability have always been close to her heart, so the new challenge immediately felt like a natural fit. As the application process progressed, she increasingly realized just how meaningful – and multifaceted – this position would be.

Creating Formats that Resonate with the City

Bengtsson is committed to bringing science and society into closer dialogue. “We’re creating formats that don’t lecture at people, but instead invite them to reflect,” she says. The new permanent exhibition at the Botanical Museum planned for 2027 is being designed with that mission in mind.

Other formats – such as the series “Noch auf ein BO?” – also focus on making connections: These after-work tours, led by researchers, center on open conversations with visitors. On the first Thursday of each month, anyone interested is invited to join scientists for a walk through the garden. The series launched on June 5, 2025.

However, Bengtsson’s plans face real constraints. The Berlin Senate is currently cutting funding for scientific and cultural institutions across the city – and the Botanic Garden Berlin is no exception. This makes it all the more important to develop formats that truly resonate with the city. “The more visitors we can attract, the more we can achieve.”

Plans for the Gardenʼs 350th Anniversary

Luiza Bengtsson has ambitious plans. In 2029 the Botanic Garden Berlin will be celebrating its 350th anniversary. By then she wants to have established the Botanical Museum as a magnet for visitors from Berlin, across Germany and beyond. Her vision is for the institution to shine – not only through a powerful permanent exhibition and its first temporary shows, but also through innovative educational formats and enticing projects that appeal to people of all ages and backgrounds. As part of this, she is promoting international and interdisciplinary dialogue around the Botanic Garden’s colonial past, using research projects as a springboard for public debate. Ultimately, she aspires to attract a diverse audience that is full of curiosity and who see the garden not only as a place of knowledge, but also inspiration. “By 2029, I hope even more Berliners will have discovered what a true gem they have here,” says Bengtsson.

A preview of what the future might hold was recently on offer, when the Botanic Garden hosted its first Botany Science Slam to mark the International Day of Biodiversity on May 22. “People stayed after the show, asked questions, and started conversations with the scientists,” Bengtsson recalls. For her, it was a prime example of how science and society can be brought together.

Lichens, Diatoms, and More – Urban Nature in Berlin

Bengtsson’s work has changed how she sees nature in her everyday life. In the past, she only noticed the plants around her in passing. Today, she pays attention to the details – also in her allotment garden. “I’ve noticed how little diversity there is among the weeds in my own plot,” she says with a smile. She speaks with enthusiasm about the Berlin’s urban nature, about the lichens, diatoms, and all the small wonders that often go unnoticed. “Once you start looking, you discover something everywhere. Every plant has its own story to tell.”

Bengtsson does not have one specific favorite spot in the Botanic Garden. “In winter, I love the Cactus House. In spring, the Japanese section takes my breath away when the pink azaleas are in bloom.” But what she values most is the garden’s ability to offer a moment of pause, “You step outside and are guaranteed to see something beautiful.”

To ensure this remains true in the future, however, idealism alone will not be enough. We need space, resources, and a willingness to invest in knowledge. “In science, we stand on the shoulders of giants,” Bengtsson says. “When we generate new knowledge, we are building on the work of those who came before us.” This is why places like the Botanical Museum are so essential: “This knowledge does not only tell us about our past – it tells us about our present, and about the kind of world we want to live in tomorrow.”

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The original German version of this article appeared in campus.leben, the online magazine published by Freie Universität Berlin.