“Darling, the tours are starting, come quickly,” a visitor called excitedly to her husband outside the Casino. And indeed: shortly after 11 am, the first major round of tours began at the “Open Day”, taking visitors through the Genebank, the PhenoSphere, the perennial garden and the propagation and experimental plots, among other places. As in previous years, large crowds gathered at the meeting points in front of the information boards by late morning. 

A good hour earlier, Nicolaus von Wirén, IPK’s Managing Director, had opened the “Open Day” in the packed lecture hall. “We want to share our enthusiasm for plant research with you. Take this opportunity to explore the campus in all its facets.” Thomas Wünsch, State Secretary at the Ministry of Science, Energy, Climate Protection and the Environment in Saxony-Anhalt, emphasised the importance of the IPK in his welcoming address. “Here, research is being conducted into the future, into tasks such as securing our food supply, which are essential for us all,” explained the State Secretary. “So, please spread the word about what you experience here today.”

However, the first special experience awaited the guests as soon as they entered the lecture hall. There, John D’Auria delivered the keynote lecture, entitled ”The Chemical Language of Plants: From Metabolism to Conversation”. The head of the ‘Metabolic Diversity’ research group at the IPK took his audience on what he himself described as a ‘personal research journey’ lasting just under an hour. What followed was far more than an overview of his career to date in California, Michigan, Thuringia, Texas and now at the IPK in Saxony-Anhalt. It was a successful blend of vivid and accessible insights into his research and excellent entertainment. “Behind a tree’s bark lives the maggot with its young” was just one of the verses by Heinz Erhardt that John D’Auria recited from memory. In a memorable way, he used them to tell the complex story of evolution, defence, attraction and resistance in plants, receiving loud applause and numerous compliments afterwards. 

A panel discussion focused on how the agricultural sector will respond in future to drought, climate variability, and new demands, what impetus is coming from research, and how this will lead to practical solutions. “Considering major challenges, we definitely need a transformation in agriculture and must make better use of our resources,” said Nicolaus von Wirén. “To this end, we want to develop the right tools and put them in the hands of breeders,” said the Managing Director of the IPK. Lutz Trautmann, long-standing Managing Director of the Hedersleben Agricultural Cooperative, has high hopes for green genetic engineering. “We need research like that carried out at the IPK, but we also need new methods.” State Secretary Thomas Wünsch spoke out in defence of academic freedom. “This is a very precious asset that must be preserved and protected. The role of politics is, above all, to ensure the appropriate framework is in place.”

The work of scientists at the IPK was evident not only during the guided tours of the gene bank and the PhenoSphere, but also in other areas. On Saturday, under the title “CRISPR, Callus and Gene Gun”, researchers provided insights into the use of biotechnology in research and breeding. The presentation “Tracking the letters of life with high-tech” focused on DNA sequencing. There were also fascinating insights into the use of magnetic resonance imaging and electron microscopy in plant research.

But that wasn’t all: information stands featured, among others, the Genbank’s Satellite Collections (“Treasures from the North”) and the Neuland-PLANDT project, which the IPK is organising in collaboration with Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design Halle. And anyone who had brought their bike along could take part in a “Musical Bike Ride to the Biogas Plant”. 

The “Open Day” was rounded off by an extensive children’s programme, as well as plenty of food and drink available in the canteen, at the barbecue, and at the stalls in front of the lecture hall.

There is also a video featuring lots of highlights from the open day.

https://youtube.com/shorts/gwWa3C0LMc4?feature=share