Citizen Salad: a project to explore biology up close

What can grow from a simple head of lettuce? Much more than you might imagine. From this everyday vegetable springs a project that brings together science, education, sustainability, and collaboration across regions. H-FARM International School Vicenza is proud to be part of Citizen Salad, an initiative led by the University of Turin that engages schools from different parts of Italy in a shared scientific investigation.

At the heart of the project is an idea that’s as simple as it is innovative: growing two varieties of lettuce, Parella and Regina di Maggio, and collecting environmental and biological data to analyze the microbiome on their leaves. Each school follows a shared research protocol, contributing to a national database that helps study how urban environments influence the microbial quality of the vegetables we eat every day. In this way, Citizen Salad becomes a true participatory science project, where local efforts connect to a broader, systemic vision.

First-year Diploma Programme students, after studying the specific agronomic needs of the two lettuce varieties, like watering, sunlight, and soil type, took daily care of the plants. They monitored their health, made observations, collected data, and eventually sent samples to the University of Turin for microbiological analysis. This process allowed them to experience science not as something abstract or distant, but as a hands-on activity built on observation, attention, method, and reflection.

“I didn’t think growing a plant could teach me so much,” says Rocco, one of the students involved. “At first it seemed like just an experiment, but then I started seeing connections with what we study in biology, and even with our lifestyle.”

Over the course of several weeks, many students discovered a new way of thinking about science, not just as theory, but as something lived and experienced day by day, through small actions and attention to detail. One student put it this way at the end of the project: “I realized that science isn’t just about formulas and numbers. It’s also about care, observation, and the ability to notice patterns. In a way, taking care of my plant became part of my daily routine.”

Through Citizen Salad, students got hands-on exposure to complex topics like biogeochemical cycles, soil-root interactions, and the delicate balance between environment and food production. It also became a moment of personal growth: tending the plants was a lesson in responsibility and awareness, helping students feel like active participants in a larger effort.

“We learned that sustainability isn’t just a word, it’s something you build day by day, even in small ways,” says Beatrice. “Knowing that our data contributes to national research made us feel like we were part of something meaningful.”

So, Citizen Salad is much more than just a school project. It’s a journey into scientific thinking, sparking curiosity and involving young people in real research. It’s an experience that shows how even a simple gesture, like growing a lettuce, can open up deep reflections on sustainability, biodiversity, and the future of food.