Sino-German International Research Training Group launched [19.11.18]
The new Sino-German International Research Training Group (DFG GRK 2366) between University of Hohenheim and China Agricultural University (CAU) was officially launched in Beijing during the week Nov. 12-17, 2018. Events included an International Phosphorus Symposium, the Opening Ceremony, a Block seminar and an excursion.
(Photo: Mr. Zhong Guo, CAU)
International P Symposium
During the two-day International Symposium on Phosphorus Flow and Efficient Use in Agriculture (Nov. 12-13, 2018) at the CAU, a total of 30 presentations and key-note speeches were held by invited speakers from The Netherlands, Australia, the UK and China, as well as German and Chinese Principle Investigators (PIs) of the IRTG’s different Research Subjects (RS). Topics presented included cutting-edge research on phosphorus in agriculture and the environment.
Opening Ceremony
The Opening Ceremony of the International Research Training Group (IRTG) took place in the morning of Nov. 14, 2018 at the Sino-German Center for Science Promotion of the DFG and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) in Beijing, with more than 100 persons attending. During the formal Opening ceremony, chaired by the respective spokespersons on the Chinese and German sides, Prof. Dr. Zhang Fusuo (CAU) and Prof. Dr. Torsten Müller (University of Hohenheim), welcome addresses were given by Ms. Dr. Zhang Baiyu, of the DFG and the Sino-German-Center for Science Promotion (CDZ), Ms. Grit Puchan, Ministry Director, Ministry of Rural Affairs and Consumer Protection Baden-Württemberg, Mr. Axel Wildner, First Counsellor Food and Agriculture, German Embassy, Beijing, Prof. Dr. Gong Yuanshi, Vice President, CAU, Prof. Dr. Andreas Pyka, Vice President, University of Hohenheim, and Prof. Dr. Ralf Vögele, Dean of Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Hohenheim.
(Photo: Mr. Zhong Guo, CAU)
Additionally, greetings were given by Dr. Bernd Wünnemann from East China Normal University as representative of the sister IRTG project “TransTiP” (DFG GRK 2309), and by Prof. Dr. Zhu Chaodong, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), as representative of the sister IRTG project “TreeDi” (DFG GRK 2324).
The Welcome Addresses were followed by two overview presentations by Prof. Dr. Torsten Müller und Prof. Dr. Yuan Lixing on the topic of phosphorus in general and the goals and structure of the IRTG in particular. In the afternoon of Nov. 14, detailed project work plans incl. student exchanges were discussed in bilateral meetings between the Chinese and German PIs and PhD students of the single Research Subjects (RS).
(Photo: Mr. Zhong Guo, CAU)
First Block Seminar with excursion
The First Block Seminar of the IRTG was held Nov. 15-16, 2018 and included five lectures by invited speakers as part of the Educational Programme for the Chinese and German doctoral researchers (PhD students). These were followed by12 joint presentations by the German and Chinese PhD students and two post-doctoral researchers on the IRTG’s different Research Subjects.
Finally, a 1½-day excursion to CAU’s experimental station in Quzhou County, Hebei Province (approx. 400 km S of Beijing) with a history of 45 years, took place on Nov. 16-17, 2018. It included a visit of the future site of the central field experiment of the project in China, as well as of other long-term P fertilization experiments carried out by the CAU. This was followed by visits to several examples of combined extension and research model approaches in pilot villages (“Science and Technology Backyard Models”) and a local horticultural enterprise.
The various events have highlighted the great importance of this new IRTG both regarding its timeliness, scientific level and educational value, as well as for the long-lasting cooperation between the CAU and the University of Hohenheim. This project is going to make a strong mark for future Sino-German research collaboration.
