Fifth Block Seminar of the 2nd Generation [11.08.26]
The fifth block seminar of the 2nd generation of IRTG AMAIZE-P (post-)doctoral researchers was held at the University of Hohenheim from November 06-10, 2023. It was the first block seminar since after the pandemic with all German and Chinese participants attending in presence, for the first time in four years.
(Photo: Béatrice Reh / University of Hohenheim)
The formal opening ceremony included Welcome addresses by the Rector of the University of Hohenheim (UHOH), Prof. Dr. Stephan Dabbert, the President of China Agricultural University (CAU), Prof. Dr. Qixin Sun (online), by the Ministerial Director from Ministry of Food, Rural Affairs and Consumer Protection (MLR) in Baden-Württemberg, Ms. Grit Puchan, by the Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences at UHOH, Prof. Dr. Ralf Vögele, by the Dean of the College of Resources and Environmental Sciences (CRES) at CAU, Prof. Dr. Lixing Yuan, by the Deputy Spokesperson of the IRTG on the German side, Prof. Dr. Joachim Müller as well as by the Deputy Spokesperson of the IRTG on the Chinese side, Prof. Dr. Xuejun Liu.
(Photo: Torsten Müller, University of Hohenheim)
The overall topic of the 5th block seminar of the 2nd generation was “Economic Evaluation and Synthesis” and covered the topics of Subject Area (SA) 4. Four high-level invited speakers from universities and research institutions in China, Denmark, and the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission plus one member of the Advisory Board, gave scientific lectures, all in presence in Hohenheim.
Five doctoral candidates from the 2nd generation on the German side gave first-hand reports on their recent stays in China (Aug.-Nov. 2023), the first stays ever by doctoral candidates of the IRTG AMAIZE-P in China since after the pandemic.
(Photo: CAU)
The joint presentations (progress reports) by the (post-)doctoral researchers on the German and Chinese sides were all held on November 09, 2023.
Since this was the first IRTG AMAIZE-P block seminar since November 2019 with all participants from the German and Chinese sides attending in presence, this opportunity was taken advantage of to hold meetings in presence in different formats:
1) World café format: Meetings within and among the different research subjects (RS) to discuss the Conclusion of the 2nd cohort, incl. publications; Summarizing main points of first funding phase (2018-2023); Data synthesis in cooperation with Subject Area (SA) 4; Planning of recruitment of the 3rd cohort.
(Photo: Béatrice Reh / University of Hohenheim)
2) Feedback session with German and Chinese doctoral researchers.
Educational programme
In the afternoon of November 06, 2023, Prof. JK Ladha from University of California, Davis, USA, gave a Class on Introduction to Research for the German and Chinese doctoral researchers. It consisted of: Topic 1) Planning and designing of a research experiment; Topic 2) Writing and reviewing a research paper; Topic 3) Writing a research proposal.
An Advisory Board Meeting, including German and Chinese Principal Investigators (PIs) and Senior Researchers of the IRTG AMAIZE-P was held in hybrid format on November 10, 2023. It was chaired by the Spokesperson on the German and the Dean of the College of Resources and Environmental Sciences (CRES) on the Chinese side, respectively.
(Photo: Béatrice Reh / University of Hohenheim)
The total number of participants was about 115, with 47 on the German and 61 on the Chinese side (incl. Bachelor students and online participants), plus 5 presenting scientists, including the invited speakers.
Bachelor students
For the first time, a group of eight Chinese bachelor students from the Yantai Institute of CAU in Yantai, Shandong province in Eastern China, accompanied by the Deputy Director of the Cooperation and Exchange Office, Yantai Institute, visited Hohenheim in occasion of the fifth block seminar. A row of events was especially organized for them, including a meeting with the Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural Science at UHOH, Prof. Dr. Ralf Vögele, a campus tour and a social event. Moreover, they participated in all regular events during the Fifth Block Seminar. The bachelor students left an exceptionally good impression due to their great English language ability and their high eagerness for knowledge. Based on this positive experience, visits by Chinese bachelor students, from Yantai Institute and/or from CAU Beijing campus, were organized for subsequent block seminars held in Germany ever since (2024-2026).
(Photo: Torsten Müller, University of Hohenheim)
Excursions
In the morning of November 04, 2023, a visit with guided tour to the karst cave of “Nebelhöhle” at the edge of the Swabian Alb was organized for the PhD students on the German and Chinese sides and the bachelor students. This was followed by a lunch at a traditional Swabian dumplings (Maultaschen) restaurant.
An excursion (with two bus coaches) to the famous Castle of Neuschwanstein at the foot of the Bavarian Alps took place on November 08, 2023. Following lunch in Schwangau, the group hiked up to the castle and visited the panoramic Marienbrücke viewpoint. It then split into two groups, with a guided tour of Neuschwanstein Castle interiors, and free time outside the castle grounds, respectively. The neighbouring castle of Hohenschwangau was also visited from the outside in the late afternoon.
Finally, an excursion to the Central Field Experiment of the IRTG AMAIZE-P near Hirrlingen on the Swabian Alb, with detailled introduction of the field experiment treatments, was organized on November 10, 2023 in the afternoon.
(Photo: Torsten Müller, University of Hohenheim)
(Photo: Torsten Müller, University of Hohenheim)
(Photo: Torsten Müller, University of Hohenheim)
(Photo: Torsten Müller, University of Hohenheim)
