What happens when scientists and artists team up to tackle invasive plants? At the University of Florida (UF), a student-led project is testing whether the answer could include edible mushrooms — and a creative approach to recycling. The team won funding through the Dr. E. T. and Vam C. York Art and Agriculture Competition to explore whether invasive plant material can serve as a low-cost growing medium for oyster mushrooms.
Now in its second year, the competition brings together students from the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and the UF College of the Arts to develop projects that combine scientific research and creative practice. The program complements recent presentations in the York Distinguished Lecturer Series, established in 1984 to highlight achievements in agriculture and life sciences.
“We developed this competition to help students explore connections between the arts and sciences and build meaningful collaborations across the university and beyond,” said Dina Liebowitz, director of UF’s Plant Science Program and a program organizer. The $5,500 award supports student scholarships, materials and faculty mentorship.
The student group, known as Team Oyster Mushroom, is evaluating whether invasive plant biomass, paired with cardboard, recycled containers and minimal equipment, can support mushroom cultivation. The approach could expand food production beyond traditional lab settings into community spaces.
“We hope to develop a community-centered method for cultivating mushrooms using invasive plant materials and recyclable resources readily available across Gainesville,” said Emelia Kern, a wildlife ecology student in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.
“It’s a way to engage the public in recycling while also addressing invasive species that threaten Florida’s natural landscapes.”
Early tests indicate oyster mushrooms can grow on invasive plant material and cardboard, suggesting a more accessible method of cultivation that could begin with store-bought mushrooms.
Jenzen Fernan, a UF chemical engineering student, said the project also underscores the role of engineering in sustainability.
“The recycled packaging materials we’re using are made possible by advances in chemical engineering,” Fernan said. “That work helps make materials more efficient and recyclable, which supports projects like this.”
The effort extends beyond the lab. The team is also creating a large, time-based biodegradable outdoor sculpture built from invasive plants, cardboard, forest debris and living oyster mushrooms.
As the mushrooms grow and organic materials break down, the sculpture will visually demonstrate natural decomposition processes and environmental recovery.
Titled “With Care,” the installation will explore the relationship between human activity and ecological change, said Natalie Forton Robles, a student at the UF College of the Arts.
“Human actions have contributed to the spread of invasive species,” Forton Robles said. “This project reflects the responsibility communities have to protect local ecosystems and shows those dynamics in a tangible way.”
The team plans to display the sculpture in August. The 2026 York Distinguished Lecturer Series will follow the sculpture’s debut, with details on attendance to be announced.
By combining applied research with public art, the project offers a new way to engage communities in conversations about invasive species, recycling and sustainable food systems while allowing audiences to observe these processes in real time.
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ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents.
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