First Block Seminar of the 3rd Generation [28.08.26]
The 1st block seminar of the 3rd generation of IRTG AMAIZE-P doctoral researchers was held in presence at the University of Hohenheim from November 11-16, 2024.
(Photo: Torsten Müller, University of Hohenheim)
The formal opening ceremony included Welcome addresses by the Vice President for International Affairs of the University of Hohenheim (UHOH), Prof. Dr. Andreas Pyka, the Vice President for Internationalization at China Agricultural University (CAU), Prof. Dr. Taisheng Du Sun (online), by the Deputy Director-General from the Ministry of Food, Rural Affairs and Consumer Protection (MLR) in Baden-Württemberg, Mr. Knut Tropf (representing the Ministerial Director Ms. Isabel Kling), 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 Spokesperson of the IRTG on the German side, Prof. Dr. Torsten Müller as well as by the Deputy Spokesperson of the IRTG on the Chinese side, Prof. Dr. Xuejun Liu of CRES, CAU.
(Photo: Torsten Müller, University of Hohenheim)
The presentations by the new German and Chinese doctoral researchers were all given on November 13, 2024. These mainly consisted of self-introductions, plus a short overview of their future research topics. A total of five invited speakers, four as international members of the Advisory Board and one from the University of Hohenheim, attended the block seminar in presence and gave high-level scientific presentations. Introductions into relevant AMAIZE-P research topics were given by six Principal Investigators, Senior Scientists and Post-Docs from the University of Hohenheim and China Agricultural University.
(Photo: Béatrice Reh, University of Hohenheim)
The total number of participants was 40 on the German and approx. 60 on the Chinese side, including the bachelor students and online participants.
Bachelor students
For the second time, a group of 12 Chinese bachelor students, with 4 from the Yantai Institute of CAU in Yantai, Shandong province, eastern China, and 8 from the China Agricultural University (CAU) in Beijing visited Hohenheim in occasion of the first block seminar. They were accompanied by Prof. Dr. Lin Zhang from the CRES of CAU. The events organized for them included a meeting with the Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences at UHOH, Prof. Dr. Ralf Vögele, a visit to Stuttgart TV tower and the Burial chapel on the Mount Württemberg, a campus tour and a social event. Moreover, they participated in all regular events during the First Block Seminar. The bachelor students enjoyed the rare opportunity of a short-term academic visit to Europe, outside of their regular coursework in China and were able to ask many questions. Such short-term visits by Chinese bachelor students, from Yantai Institute and/or from CAU Beijing campus, had started in 2023 and have been continued for subsequent block seminars held in Germany ever since (2024-2026).
(Photo: Huiyan Wang, University of Hohenheim)
Educational programme
As educational programme for the 3rd generation of doctoral researchers in the IRTG AMAIZE-P, a Class on "Introduction to research" was held by Prof. Dr. JK Ladha of the University of California, Davis, USA in the afternoon of November 11, 2024. This was followed by an Educational exercise on Student-Advisor Interactions offered by Prof. Dr. Susanne Schmidt of the University of Queensland in Australia on November 12. Finally, on November 13, a Talk on “The art of scientific writing” was given by Prof. Dr. Wim De Vries of Wageningen University, The Netherlands. These three separate parts of the educational programme offered many new insights for the fresh doctoral candidates of the 3rd generation in AMAIZE-P.
(Photo: Béatrice Reh, University of Hohenheim)
As separate educational item, a two-day seminar “FIT for China” was held (in presence) after the block seminar, on November 21 and 22, 2024, 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.
Excursions
In the morning of November 09, 2024, 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 lunch at the adjacent traditional Swabian dumplings (Maultaschen) restaurant.
(Photo: Torsten Müller, University of Hohenheim)
As part of the 1st block seminar, a one-day excursion to the Fishery Research Station (Fischereiforschungsstelle) Baden-Württemberg in Langenargen on Lake Constance took place on November 14, 2024. It was organized by the Ministry of Food, Rural Affairs and Consumer Protection (MLR), Baden-Württemberg. The group was accompanied by Ms. Maëlenn Redien, the representative for European affairs at MLR. 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 with lunch (lunch paid by IRTG) which was a real highlight.
In the afternoon, a guided visit of the 18th-century baroque-style Zwiefalten Monastery in Zwiefalten on the Swabian Alb took place, divided into two groups, for German and English language.
A third one-day excursion was organized on November 16, 2024. The morning consisted of a guided site-visit of the central field experiment of the IRTG AMAIZE-P in Hirrlingen, during which many questions were asked.
In the afternoon, this was followed by a self-guided visit to the famous Hohenzollern Castle on the edge of the Swabian Alb near Hechingen, including the outside courtyards, castle walls, etc. The visitors also enjoyed amazing views from the castle to the surrounding hills and plains.
Sessions in world café format
Two sessions in world café format were organized on November 12 and 15, 2024. These included meetings within and among the research subjects (RS) followed by internal meetings of the individual RS. The following issues were addressed: Conclusion of 2nd cohort as well as data synthesis in cooperation with Subject Area (SA) 4; Working plan for 3rd cohort; Cooperation between different RS.
Sessions on future cooperation and Advisory Board meeting
On November 13 and 15, 2024, two special brainstorming sessions amongst a group of younger German and Chinese PIs (in lead) on future Sino-German joint collaboration prospects were held. A meeting of the IRTG AMAIZE-P Advisory Board took place on November 13, 2024, in hybrid format as usual.
(Photo: Torsten Müller, University of Hohenheim)
(Photo: Torsten Müller, University of Hohenheim)
(Photo: Torsten Müller, University of Hohenheim)
(Photo: Saike Jiang, University of Hohenheim)
(Photo: Torsten Müller, University of Hohenheim)
(Photo: Torsten Müller, University of Hohenheim)
