"How would we go about it?"
THAT is a good place to start. If you don 't want to disturb the petri dish, but you DO want to get their attention, then how do you do it? Modestly and non-threateningly?
Indeed Jody, a very good question.
The communication from the fields is subtle and intelligent and often answers the questions we seem to pose and are mos curious about. This may sound like gibberish to those who take no interest.... or know the progression of the "answers". (However, I digress)