UFZ Science DaysIn-Person Event

12 Oct 2022, 09:00 → 13 Oct 2022, 18:00 Europe/Berlin

KUBUS Leipzig

Rolf Altenburger (UFZ), Sarah Sühnholz (UFZ), Stefanie Baumert (UFZ)

First UFZ Science Days

On October 12 and 13, 2022, the UFZ Science Days took place for the first time at KUBUS in Leipzig. This new event was intended to make research at the UFZ visible and tangible for all interested employees.

In total, 350 UFZ employees had registered for the event. Approx. 50 participated via livestream.

Evaluation of the first Science Days

More than 140 people completed the form. The results can be found below. Based on these results, the TBL Board, in its meeting on November, 23, decided to organise UFZ Science Days also in 2023 and to also use the format to systematically prepare the upcoming evaluations (scientific evaluation of UFZ in 2025 and strategic evaluation for PoF V in 2026).

The goals of the UFZ Science Days were

• to present and discuss inspiring science from the six Integration Platforms (IPs),
• to stimulate internal UFZ exchange on research and products from Program-oriented Funding (PoF), and
• to develop collaborations within the UFZ.

The program

To achieve the goals, entertaining and inspiring presentation, discussion and exchange formats were prepared, e.g. flash talks by different scientists, workshops, lab tours and a science marketplace. Some UFZ scientists also reported on their experiences in national and international initiatives as well as in large integrative research projects.

20221007_ScienceMarketplace_Planning.pdf

20221010_ScienceDays2022_ProgramOverview.pdf

20221123_EvaluationScienceDays.pdf

Wednesday 12 October

09:00 Registration and welcome coffee

Plenary: Welcome & Introduction

1 Welcome by Scientific Managing Director

Speaker: Rolf Altenburger

2 Introduction to PoF IV, to the Program “Changing Earth” and to the six UFZ Integration Platforms

Speaker: Hauke Harms

Plenary: Round Table with IP Chairs on Integrative Research at UFZ in PoF IV

Convener: Katrin Wendt-Potthoff

Plenary: IP1 Sustainable future land use: Provisioning natural resources, biodiversity and ecosystem services

Conveners: Ingolf Kühn, Ralf Seppelt

3 Introduction

Speaker: Ingolf Kühn

4 BODIUM - a systemic approach to model the dynamics of soil functions

Speaker: Sara König

5 Next level citizen science: using private-owned dogs to detect invasive species

Speaker: Annegret Grimm-Seyfarth

6 Projecting the futures of plant traits across habitats

Speaker: Marina Golivets

7 Introduction to iDiv

Speaker: Stan Harpole

11:00 Coffee break

Plenary: IP4 Tapping nature’s potential for sustainable production and a healthy environment

Conveners: Bruno Bühler, Lukas Wick

8 Introduction

Speakers: Bruno Bühler, Lukas Wick

9 Rewiring photosynthesis toward hydrogen production

Speaker: Sara Lupacchini

10 Microbiomes for chain elongation

Speaker: Flavio Baleeiro

11 The change of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes in anaerobic digestion systems

Speaker: Zhe Cheng

12 Performance of an integrated multi-functional system for greywater treatment and reuse

Speaker: Khaja Zillur Rahman

Plenary: IP3 Healthy Planet: Towards a non-toxic environment

Conveners: Martin von Bergen, Werner Brack

13 Introduction

Speaker: Martin von Bergen

14 Next-generation neurotoxicity tools

Speaker: Tamara Tal

15 There is no plural of home

Speaker: Anne Schumacher

16 The benefit of pesticide adaptation under multiple stressors

Speaker: Naeem Shahid

17 From contaminated sites to continental scale: chemical mixtures and adverse effects

Speaker: Saskia Finckh

12:30 Lunch break

Breakout Session: Lab tours und Workshops I

Please use the IP workshops to exchange about collaborations across Research Units. The workshop structures vary, but should focus on discussing current progress and plans for the future.
Lab tours provide opportunities for discussion facilitating potential new connections. Some lab tours will be offered several times. Additional workshops are offered by HIGRADE, ÖA and WTT.

18 _HIGRADE & Do-it: Workshop "Dilemma Game PhD Research and Supervision"

The "Helmholtz Interdisciplinary GRADuate School for Environmental Research (HIGRADE)" provides the umbrella structure for structured doctoral supervision at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ). Adapted to individual needs, HIGRADE offers an excellent qualification programme as well as various networking opportunities that prepare doctoral researchers for different career paths within and outside academia. Although regulated by rights and duties for both doctoral researchers and advisors, a doctorate is a major project not free of obstacles. Together with the doctoral representation "do-it", we offer games and discussions in an open format to balance divergent expectations in collaborative work and to open communication channels where everyone feels valued.

Speaker: Daniel Kaping

19 _WTT: Workshop "transfun – where ideas become reality"

Get to know our UFZ internal funding programme transfun. With an annual volume of ca. 350,000 EUR, the internal funding programme transfun intends to support transfer projects at the UFZ. All kinds of projects along the transfer value chain with the aim of identifying and developing transferable solutions (e.g. open source software, sensors, databases, bioreactors, production processes, etc.) for a target market can be funded.
Are you curious and would like to know more about the funding modules transtest, transproof, transmarket, transbig? Do you want to know how you can apply for funding? Then join us during the Science Days!

Speaker: Joachim Nöller

20 IP1-A1: Workshop on GCEF/Bad Lauchstädt

By presenting an inventory of current projects and research activities at experimental platforms of the UFZ this workshops aims to discuss synergies and complementarities in experimental field research  to identify gaps and potentials for future collaborations within and across research units. (including a query among the participants (also in relation to POF goals)

Speakers: Lotte Korell, Martin Schädler, Stan Harpole, Thomas Reitz

21 IP1-A2: Workshop "Advanced metadata standards for biodiversity survey and monitoring data"

The workshop will introduce to an updated biodiversity monitoring metadata tool based on FAIR principles. It will show the importance of a "common language" using updated thesauri. Participants will learn how to use the metadata tool and have the option to further discuss the sematic artefacts with a reflection on their own projects, ideally from different realms.

Speakers: Alexander Harpke, Annegret Grimm-Seyfarth, Jan Bumberger, Juliane Menger

22 IP2-A1: Workshop "What the Water Analytics in Magdeburg can do!"

In this workshop we want to share our experience - on i) Trace element analytics (ICP-OES and ICP-MS), ii) Basic and nutrient analytics (N and P compounds photometrically with Continuous Flow Analyzer, major cations and anions with ICS and C sum parameters with carbon analyzers Dimatoc and VarioEL), iii) Pigment analytics (HPLC and Chlorophyll-a photometric according to DIN) as well as iv) Chemometrics to analyse and evaluate analytical data - and to look for new potential co-operations. As a special feature we want to address LISA-lims as our own laboratory information and management system connected to the data management portal of the UFZ.

Speakers: Andrea Hoff, Wolf von Tümpling

23 IP3-A1: Lab tour "Bisphenol A and its substitution products - methods for assessing effects on human & ecosystem health"

Bisphenol A (BPA), used in consumer plastic products, has been restricted due to its harmful effects, e.g., reproductive impairment, neurodevelopmental disturbance, immunological disorders or metabolic disruption. However, BPA has been replaced by structurally similar analogues like BPB, BPF, BPS or BPAF, which have not been sufficiently studied. This lab tour will present model systems and analytical methods to assess adverse effects of BPA alternatives on human and ecosystems health.

Speakers: Kristin Schubert, Matthias Liess, Tobias Kretschmer

24 IP3-A2: Lab tour "CyTOF mass cytometry explanation + pictures of stained organoids"

Mass cytometry based on CyTOF® (cytometry by time of flight) technology is currently the world's most advanced technology for single cell protein analysis. Antibodies are conjugated with rare earth (metal) isotopes of defined atomic masses, allowing the simultaneous identification of theoretically up to 50 protein markers in one cell. The HyperionTM Imaging System combines CyTOF® technology with imaging capability, enabling detailed phenotypic characterization of different cell types and their spatial relationship in the context of surrounding tissue in highly multiplexed imaging. Here we present implantation sites of pregnant mice at midgestation where tissue architecture markers were detected.
Three-dimensional 3D cell cultures e.g. organoids resemble mini organs in a dish and mimic the tissue microenvironment with high fidelity. Here we present a 3D model of placenta organoids where placenta-specific markers were detected with immunofluorescence and subsequently visualized via fluorescent microscopy.

Speakers: Nicole Meyer, Violeta Stojanosvska

25 IP3-A3-1: Lab tour "The forgotten driver of biodiversity loss: Analyses and assessment of complex mixtures of chemicals in the environment and in organisms"

We will show different steps in the analysis of external (water) and internal exposure (body burden of fish and gammarids) to a multitude of environmental chemicals in the context of collaborative studies on the impact of chemical mixtures on aquatic ecosystems. The tour will include live video links to ongoing fish sampling and dissection at the Holtemme river, the demonstration of biota extraction in the lab and the presentation of state-of-the-art chemical screening of hundreds of chemicals using GC- and LC-HRMS. The tour is particularly meant as an invitation for colleagues from other research units to explore common research opportunities in the context of water quality, biodiversity and environmental regulation.

Speaker: Martin Krauss

26 IP4-A1: Lab tour "Biotechnikum – Standard and downgraded yeast cultivation techniques using residual materials for the production of organic acids."

The labtour takes place through the technikum of the UBZ and will show the microbiology laboratory and the standardised stirred tank bioreactors in different scales. Yeast processes and their bio-products like citric acid are explained with the focus on the use of different substrates. In addition, the importance of substrates from residues and by-products will discussed and leads on to the establishment of non-sterile processes. This simplification of process control and performance enables the use of downgraded technology and is demonstrated with an Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC).

Speakers: Andreas Aurich, Steffi Hunger

27 IP4-A2: Lab tour "White hydrogen at SoMA"

Biofilm cultivation for the continuous production of "white H2".
Laser laboratory: demonstration of membrane chips for O2/H2 extraction, demo of microscale O2 and pH analysis

Speakers: Christian Dusny, Jörg Toepel

28 IP4-A3: Lab tour "ProVIS Tour 1: Prospects of nanoSIMS applications"

Sample preparation, instrumentation and approaches for single-cell and subcellular SIMS-imaging (nanoSIMS und ToF-SIMS) with preservation of cell structure and chemical composition will be introduced during the tour. Fluorescent labelling via FISH technique and the following microscopic investigation for cell phylogenetic identification and quantification of cell abundance in various environmental samples e.g. soil, water will be explained and showed. Consequent use of laser microdissection system for single cell mapping for further correlative analyses will be demonstrated. Overall, the full workflow from environmental microbial sample to isotope labelling and single cell analyses/imaging to correlate microbial function with identity will be described and showed.

Speakers: Hryrory Stryhanyuk, Niculina Musat

29 IP4-A4: Lab tour "ProVIS Tour 2: Electron microscopy at ProVIS"

High-resolution microscopes provide insight into the structure of microscopic objects. At ProVIS the scanning electron- and helium-ion microscopes are embedded in the correlative workflows alongside with microanalytical techniques, such as SIMS. During the tour the participants will learn about applications in (environmental-)microbiology, the basic principles of the microscopes, sample preparation techniques as well as image registration of correlative microscopy data. It is planned to give participants the opportunity to operate the scanning electron microscope.

Speakers: Matthias Schmidt, Niculina Musat

30 IP4-A5: Lab tour "Laboratory for stable isotope analysis"

The LSI has know-how in the analytics of light element stable isotopes (HCNOS and Cl) for more than 25 years. It offers most modern laboratory equipment, holds several methodological patents and acts as reference laboratory. Core competences are online component specific isotope analyses (CSIA). The experience at LSI is applied in a large variety of process studies (e.g. visualization of biogeochemical processes, differentiation and understanding of reactions and mechanisms).

Speakers: Matthias Gehre, Steffen Kümmel

31 IP4-A6: Lab tour "UFZ Green Roof Research"

During the tour, green roof research at the UFZ will be presented. Using the four green roofs (retention green roof on a carport, as well as extensive, intensive and wetland roof on the Research Green Roof), visitors will be explained how green roofs are constructed, what functions they can take on in urban areas and what contribution UFZ Green roof research makes to the development of multifunctional green roofs.

Speaker: Lucie Moeller

32 IP4-A7: Lab tour "The phytotechnicum as a platform for research on bioremediation with constructed wetlands"

Speaker: Uwe Kappelmeyer

33 IP5-A1: Lab tour "A methodological zoo to explore and monitor the critical zone"

What happens beneath the Earth’s surface? Monitoring and exploration technologies are essential for the observation of both natural and anthropogenic influenced processes and their impacts in the subsurface. Conventional sampling methods often lack adequate spatial and temporal resolution, so MET develops and tests application-oriented methods, technologies and strategies. In our lab tour we will introduce cosmic ray sensing as well as direct push-based and geophysical techniques.

Speakers: Steffen Zacharias, Ulrike Werban

34 IP6-A1: Workshop "Modelling and monitoring socio-technical processes and patterns in multifunctional landscapes"

Human behaviour, socio-technical infrastructures and governance arrangements determine jointly with biophysical conditions the option space for a sustainable use of landscapes. In the IP6 projects, a number of spatially explicit monitoring and modelling approaches are carried out to capture the socio-technical processes and patterns that shape the management of landscapes across environmental media and socio-economic functions (e.g. agricultural land use, impacts of climate change and adaptation measures, irrigation water demands, production of renewable energy and resources, trade-offs between land use and nature conservation as well as between different land use options). In this workshop, we will present our data inventories, the diversity of approaches and methods, showcase results and current progress of our monitoring and modelling activities, explore possible synergies and exploitation options and discuss the added value of leveraging links to and compatibility with natural science research concerning understanding and designing pathways towards multifunctional landscapes.

Speaker: Christoph Schröter-Schlaack et al.

35 IP3-A3-2 Lab tour: "The forgotten driver of biodiversity loss: Analyses and assessment of complex mixtures of chemicals in the environment and in organisms"

We will show different steps in the analysis of external (water) and internal exposure (body burden of fish and gammarids) to a multitude of environmental chemicals in the context of collaborative studies on the impact of chemical mixtures on aquatic ecosystems. The tour will include live video links to ongoing fish sampling and dissection at the Holtemme river, the demonstration of biota extraction in the lab and the presentation of state-of-the-art chemical screening of hundreds of chemicals using GC- and LC-HRMS. The tour is particularly meant as an invitation for colleagues from other research units to explore common research opportunities in the context of water quality, biodiversity and environmental regulation.

Speaker: Martin Krauss

Science Marketplace with Poster Session

20220928_ScienceMarketplace_Planning.pdf

Thursday 13 October

08:30 Welcome coffee

Plenary: IP2 Freshwater resources: Securing quantity and quality in a multifunctional ecosystem perspective

Conveners: Jan Fleckenstein, Markus Weitere

36 Introduction

Speakers: Jan Fleckenstein, Markus Weitere

37 Are wastewater treatment plants causing an ecological risk for small streams under extreme low flow conditions?

Speaker: Olaf Büttner

38 Drought induced deforestation and water quality deterioration

Speaker: Michael Rode

39 Large-scale analysis of runoff events – from a theoretical framework to applications

Speaker: Larisa Tarasova

Plenary: IP5 Robust pictures of the future for sustainable development paths in landscapes under climate change

Conveners: Jian Peng, Karin Frank

40 Introduction

Speaker: Karin Frank

41 How can we reliably assess grassland diversity using remote sensing data?

Speaker: Antonia Ludwig

42 The UFZ water quality modeling initiative in a nutshell

Speaker: Fanny Sarrazin

43 Terrible floods due to concurrent drivers

Speaker: Shijie Jiang

44 Socio-environmental modelling of agricultural systems: Translating farmer behavior into model rules

Speaker: Meike Will

Plenary: IP6 Transformation towards Sustainability

Conveners: Christian Kuhlicke, Daniela Thrän

45 Introduction

Speaker: Daniela Thrän

46 Multi-sectoral drought impact assessments

Speaker: Mariana de Brito

47 Simulating impacts of droughts on agriculture in Germany

Speaker: Mansi Nagpal

48 Legal handling of water allocation conflicts

Speaker: Felix Klickermann

49 Implications for energy production under increasing scarcity of biomass

Speaker: Matthias Jordan

50 Conclusion

Speaker: Christian Kuhlicke

10:30 Coffee break

Breakout Session: Lab tours und Workshop II

Please use the IP workshops to exchange about collaborations across Research Units. The workshop structures vary, but should focus on discussing current progress and plans for the future.
Lab tours provide opportunities for discussion facilitating potential new connections. Some lab tours will be offered several times. Additional workshops are offered by HIGRADE, ÖA and WTT.

51 _WTT: Workshop "Learn to solve problems creatively with DESIGN THINKING"

Design Thinking has become an extremely popular approach to problem-solving. And problem-solving is innate to any scientist! The goal of this workshop is to give you a hands-on, activity-based experience of creative problem-solving using the Design Thinking Method.
We will teach you the fundamentals and take you step by step through the entire Design Thinking process, thereby equipping you with the input you need to apply the method in your research field and come up with innovative strategies, ideas and solutions. Curious to learn more? Then join us during the Science Days!

Speaker: Milina Alber

52 _ÖA Workshop: "Social media at the UFZ and in science"

In this workshop we will introduce the social media channels at the UFZ: Which channels exist, what are the respective goals and which channels are suitable for certain purposes. Furthermore, we will inform about the criteria that have to be considered in order to register an own social media channel from science for science. Finally, we introduce the Alumniae group on LinkedIn, which has been active for almost a year: What is the status and which topics are of interest to potential alumniae? What are the general wishes from the scientific community?

Speaker: Andreas Staak

53 IP1-B1: Workshop "Soil as Bio-Reactor"

Identifying knowledge gaps in soil organic matter turnover and pollutant degradation with a focus on microbial processes, developing methods to analyse important aspects with lab-, field experiments and remote sensing and concepts to improve existing modeling approaches

Speakers: Hans-Jörg Vogel, Lucas Wick, Matthias Kästner, Sara König, Steffen Schlüter

54 IP1-B2: Workshop "What do we mean by inter- and transdisciplinary research and how to do it?"

Inter- and transdisciplinary research approaches are becoming more prominent and are increasingly required by funding agencies. Hmm, the latter is something about stakeholders, right? In fact, do we really know what inter- and transdisciplinarity means and how to apply it in our research? This workshop aims to provide researchers with more conceptual clarity and gives illustrative examples from current UFZ projects that aim to work transdisciplinary. Group discussions will address the challenges for transdisciplinary research and generate insights for implementing it.

Speakers: Michael Beckmann, Julian Rode, Salina Spiering, Stephanie Jahn

55 IP2-B1: Workshop "What the Water Analytics in Magdeburg can do!"

In this workshop we want to share our experience - on i) Trace element analytics (ICP-OES and ICP-MS), ii) Basic and nutrient analytics (N and P compounds photometrically with Continuous Flow Analyzer, major cations and anions with ICS and C sum parameters with carbon analyzers Dimatoc and VarioEL), iii) Pigment analytics (HPLC and Chlorophyll-a photometric according to DIN) as well as iv) Chemometrics to analyse and evaluate analytical data - and to look for new potential co-operations. As a special feature we want to address LISA-lims as our own laboratory information and management system connected to the data management portal of the UFZ.

Speakers: Andrea Hoff, Wolf von Tümpling

56 IP3-B1: Lab tour & Workshop "Multiple Stress for pollinating insects"

Pollinating insects like bees fulfil crucial ecosystemic functions but are under multiple stress caused by biodiversity loss of food sources, the loss of breeding places, and chemicals used for plant protection in agriculture. The ongoing activities at the UFZ range from aspects of biodiversity of bees, the impact of chemicals on bee's health, the modelling of colony growth of honeybees to the utilisation of honeybees for assessing the available pollen sources. Here we will present an overview of the actual UFZ activities with demonstrations from the various research topics.

Speakers: Martin von Bergen, Oliver Schweiger, Susanne Dunker, Tiffany Knight, Volker Grimm

57 IP3-B2-1: Lab tour "Automated imaging of zebrafish embryos"

The assessment of morphological alteration is a common endpoint for the assessment of chemical effects in the zebrafish embryo model. Typically, it was assessed by an observer-biased microscopical observation. Benefitting from our CITEPro platform, we have developed a medium-throughput approach that builds on automated positioning and imaging of embryos and a subsequent unbiased image-based assessment. In the lab tour the automated imaging and the use of artificial intelligence for feature annotation will be demonstrated.

Speaker: Stefan Scholz

58 IP4-B1: Lab tour "Biotechnikum – Standard and downgraded yeast cultivation techniques using residual materials for the production of organic acids."

The labtour takes place through the technikum of the UBZ and will show the microbiology laboratory and the standardised stirred tank bioreactors in different scales. Yeast processes and their bio-products like citric acid are explained with the focus on the use of different substrates. In addition, the importance of substrates from residues and by-products will discussed and leads on to the establishment of non-sterile processes. This simplification of process control and performance enables the use of downgraded technology and is demonstrated with an Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC).

Speakers: Andreas Aurich, Steffi Hunger

59 IP4-B2: Lab tour "White hydrogen at SoMA"

Biofilm cultivation for the continuous production of "white H2".
Laser laboratory: demonstration of membrane chips for O2/H2 extraction, demo of microscale O2 and pH analysis

Speakers: Christian Dusny, Jörg Toepel

60 IP4-B3: Lab tour "ProVIS Tour 1: Prospects of nanoSIMS applications"

Sample preparation, instrumentation and approaches for single-cell and subcellular SIMS-imaging (nanoSIMS und ToF-SIMS) with preservation of cell structure and chemical composition will be introduced during the tour. Fluorescent labelling via FISH technique and the following microscopic investigation for cell phylogenetic identification and quantification of cell abundance in various environmental samples e.g. soil, water will be explained and showed. Consequent use of laser microdissection system for single cell mapping for further correlative analyses will be demonstrated. Overall, the full workflow from environmental microbial sample to isotope labelling and single cell analyses/imaging to correlate microbial function with identity will be described and showed.

Speakers: Hryrory Stryhanyuk, Niculina Musat

61 IP4-B4: Lab tour "ProVIS Tour 2: Electron microscopy at ProVIS"

High-resolution microscopes provide insight into the structure of microscopic objects. At ProVIS the scanning electron- and helium-ion microscopes are embedded in the correlative workflows alongside with microanalytical techniques, such as SIMS. During the tour the participants will learn about applications in (environmental-)microbiology, the basic principles of the microscopes, sample preparation techniques as well as image registration of correlative microscopy data. It is planned to give participants the opportunity to operate the scanning electron microscope.

Speakers: Matthias Schmidt, Niculina Musat

62 IP4-B5: Lab tour "Laboratory for stable isotope analysis"

The LSI has know-how in the analytics of light element stable isotopes (HCNOS and Cl) for more than 25 years. It offers most modern laboratory equipment, holds several methodological patents and acts as reference laboratory. Core competences are online component specific isotope analyses (CSIA). The experience at LSI is applied in a large variety of process studies (e.g. visualization of biogeochemical processes, differentiation and understanding of reactions and mechanisms).

Speakers: Matthias Gehre, Steffen Kümmel

63 IP4-B6: Lab tour "UFZ Green Roof Research"

During the tour, green roof research at the UFZ will be presented. Using the four green roofs (retention green roof on a carport, as well as extensive, intensive and wetland roof on the Research Green Roof), visitors will be explained how green roofs are constructed, what functions they can take on in urban areas and what contribution UFZ Green roof research makes to the development of multifunctional green roofs.

Speaker: Lucie Moeller

64 IP4-B7: Lab tour "The phytotechnicum as a platform for research on bioremediation with constructed wetlands"

Speaker: Uwe Kappelmeyer

65 IP5-B1: Lab tour "A methodological zoo to explore and monitor the critical zone"

What happens beneath the Earth’s surface? Monitoring and exploration technologies are essential for the observation of both natural and anthropogenic influenced processes and their impacts in the subsurface. Conventional sampling methods often lack adequate spatial and temporal resolution, so MET develops and tests application-oriented methods, technologies and strategies. In our lab tour we will introduce cosmic ray sensing as well as direct push-based and geophysical techniques.

Speakers: Steffen Zacharias, Ulrike Werban

66 IP6-B1: Workshop "Negative Emission Technologies (NETs) – friend or foe for transformations towards sustainability?”

The 2015 Paris Agreement and the IPCC reports emphasized the importance of carbon dioxide removal in global emission pathways. Negative Emissions Technologies (NETs) that capture carbon from the atmosphere and remove it from the system have since been in the spotlight. NETs range from innovative, engineered technologies, to well-known biological approaches like afforestation. To understand the potential contribution of NETs to meeting global emissions targets, we need to examine the opportunities and constraints for deploying these technologies.
IP6 has a range of research activities on NETs, from studying conceptual approaches to climate policy to developing specific tools for on-the-ground implementation. We analyse policy representations of NETs, assess their potential contribution to decarbonisation, and explore factors influencing their feasibility as well as trade-offs/synergies with other sustainability goals and how to deal with them in the design of the relevant regulatory framework. Furthermore, we study societal perceptions of carbon dioxide removal technologies and design options for context-appropriate monitoring systems for CO2 storage.
In this workshop, we will introduce the topic of NETs and present some highlights of our research in order to prepare the ground for a further discussion with the participants on exciting cross-IP research questions related to NETs.
The workshop will take place in Room 101, Building 4.0. It is expected to last one and a half hours, with about 30 minutes of input from IP6 researchers, about 30 minutes of discussion at specific topic tables and a joint plenary discussion in the last 30 minutes.

Speaker: Daniela Thrän

67 IP3-B2-2: Lab tour "Automated imaging of zebrafish embryos"

The assessment of morphological alteration is a common endpoint for the assessment of chemical effects in the zebrafish embryo model. Typically, it was assessed by an observer-biased microscopical observation. Benefitting from our CITEPro platform, we have developed a medium-throughput approach that builds on automated positioning and imaging of embryos and a subsequent unbiased image-based assessment. In the lab tour the automated imaging and the use of artificial intelligence for feature annotation will be demonstrated.

Speaker: Stefan Scholz

68 IP3-B2-3: Lab tour "Automated imaging of zebrafish embryos"

The assessment of morphological alteration is a common endpoint for the assessment of chemical effects in the zebrafish embryo model. Typically, it was assessed by an observer-biased microscopical observation. Benefitting from our CITEPro platform, we have developed a medium-throughput approach that builds on automated positioning and imaging of embryos and a subsequent unbiased image-based assessment. In the lab tour the automated imaging and the use of artificial intelligence for feature annotation will be demonstrated.

Speaker: Stefan Scholz

12:30 Lunch break

Plenary: What does it mean to...

Conveners: Elisabeth Marquard, Ilona Bärlund

69 ...be part of the the Bioeconomy Council?

Speaker: Daniela Thrän

70 ...manage highly integrative and societally relevant research on complex themes like flood events and flood protection?

Speaker: Christian Kuhlicke

Christian Kuhlicke im Resonator Podcast zu "Klimasichere Kommunen und Städte"

71 ...be involved in IPBES?

Speaker: Ralf Seppelt

IPBES Assessment Guide_Full.pdf

72 ...work for the European Topic Center on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

Speaker: Markus Weitere

ETC Inland, Coastal and Marine waters

European Topic Centre on Inland, Coastal and Marine waters (ETC-ICM) (UFZ Website)

73 ...believe in your idea: microbubbles against microplastics?

Planet Earth is 4.6 billion years old. Humans only needed 72 years to produce about 9.2 billion tons of plastics. Only 9 % have been recycled since. In 2016 alone, 23 million tons of plastics entered the ocean. No one knows exactly how much plastics are currently in our lakes, rivers and ocean. Serious studies place the number at 196 million tons. Of this, 43,000 tons are microplastics that float in the surface ocean. The amount of microplastics at depth is unknown. Horrible numbers with catastrophic effects for the ecosystem.
MicroBubbles GmbH was founded in April 2021 as a 100 % daughter company of the German Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovation (SPRIND). The start-up is based in Leipzig with multiple research and development sites around Paderborn (OWL). The research is focused on tackling the microplastics problem with innovative technology and pilot plants across scales that are being developed in-house. The ultimate goal is to remove microplastics and micropollutants from any water – surface waters, dams, rainwater retention ponds, waste waters, rivers, lakes and oceans.
In his talk, Roland Damann will report on how MicroBubbles GmbH will reach this goal and how his idea became a business.

Speaker: Roland Damann (SPRIND)

Plenary: Conclusion by Scientific Manager of UFZ

Convener: Rolf Altenburger

74 iDiv Local Member Committee at UFZ

UFZ scientists already involved in iDiv or potentially interested to become involved are invited to this event. Just pass by.

Speaker: Stan Harpole