Sixth block seminar (1st gen.) + First block seminar (2nd gen.) [29.04.22]
The 6th block seminar of the 1st generation and the 1st block seminar of the 2nd generation of IRTG AMAIZE-P doctoral researchers were held as a two-week double-block seminar from October 25 - November 07, 2021, at the University of Hohenheim and the CAU, in hybrid format. The 6th block seminar was combined with an International Scientific Doctoral Researchers’ Conference.
(Photo: Béatrice Reh / University of Hohenheim)
The Doctoral Researchers’ Conference (25-29 October, 2021), organized by the German and Chinese doctoral researchers themselves, was topically divided along the four Subject Areas (SA) of the IRTG. Eight high-level invited speakers from universities and companies in Germany, Canada, Italy, Switzerland and Australia were invited by the German and Chinese doctoral researchers to give scientific lectures, either in presence in Hohenheim or remotely. The lectures by the invited speakers and selected oral presentations by two German and/or Chinese doctoral researchers were always arranged on the same day, in order to strengthen the topics and enable the invited speakers to attend the doctoral candidates’ presentations as well. Additionally, each of the German and Chinese 1st generation doctoral researchers presented his/her results in form of an individual poster, which was hanging for the whole duration of the double block seminar. This succesful conference formed a great achievement for the organizing team of doctoral researchers of the 1st generation.
(Photo: Torsten Müller / University of Hohenheim)
The 1st block seminar for the 2nd generation of doctoral researchers took place from 02-07 November, 2021. The presentations by the new German and Chinese doctoral researchers were held on 03-05 November, 2021. These mainly consisted of self-introductions, plus an overview of their future research topics. Scientific introductions into relevant AMAIZE-P research topics were given by seven Professors and Associate Professors from the University of Hohenheim and the China Agricultural University. As an addition, the spokesperson and former deputy spokesperson on the German side gave an overview of the IRTG AMAIZE-P structure and topics, and an overview of the University of Hohenheim and its long-term Sino-German cooperation, respectively.
(Photo: Torsten Müller / University of Hohenheim)
The double-block seminar was largely held in presence in a conference hall at the University of Hohenheim and in two lecture halls at the CAU, connected live via an online platform. The total number of participants was 58 on the German and 66 on the Chinese side. Hereof, up to 44 online participants were simultaneously counted. The sessions were recorded live (as back-up), and the resulting MP4 video files made available for educational purposes upon request for IRTG AMAIZE-P members only. This double-block seminar continued the hybrid format which had been established during the preceding seminars.
Excursions
As part of the 6th block seminar, a one-day excursion to the Fisheries Research Station (Fischereiforschungsstelle) Baden-Württemberg in Langenargen at Lake Constance took place on 26 October, 2021. It was organized by the Ministry of Food, Rural Affairs and Consumer Protection (MLR), Baden-Württemberg. We received general information on the fishery situation in Lake Constance, and fish rearing tanks with various fish species at different development stages were shown. This was followed by an excursion onto the lake by boat which was a real highlight.
(Photo: Torsten Müller / University of Hohenheim)
In the afternoon, a guided visit of the 18th-century baroque-style Zwiefalten Cathedral in Zwiefalten on the Swabian Alb took place.
As part of the 1st block seminar of the 2nd generation, a one-day excursion was organized on 02 November, 2021. The morning consisted of a site-visit of the company Agro-Energie Hohenlohe GmbH, as part of the Bioenergy Village of Füßbach in Hohenlohe County. A biogas plant and the nutrient recovery (via membrane filtration) in the NutriSep plant were visited. Two lectures, on Theory on nutrient recovery and peat substitution products, as well as on the Economic evaluation of the Agriplus consortium Hohenlohe, were held by two scientists from the University of Hohenheim.
(Photo: Torsten Müller / University of Hohenheim)
In the afternoon, this was followed by a visit of the Cooperative wine-growers association in Fellbach near Stuttgart, which included an introduction to the wine-growers association, a visit of the vineyard, and a visit of the wine cellar. During this excursion, there were many occasions for the doctoral researchers to ask questions.
Educational programme
As educational programme for the 2nd generation of doctoral researchers in the IRTG AMAIZE-P, a two-day “FIT for China” seminar was held (in presence) on 06 and 07 November, 2021, in cooperation with the Language Center of the University of Hohenheim. The experienced Mandarin native-speaker provided basic information on China, an introduction to the Chinese language, as well as on intercultural differences. Finally, a tea ceremony was held. The seminar was very well received.
Additionally, an online meeting of the IRTG AMAIZE-P Advisory Board was held on 05 November, 2021.
(Photo: Torsten Müller / University of Hohenheim)
