Third „Plants and People“- Conference in Potsdam-Golm

Future Plan[t]s – A PhD symposium focusing on plant research and careers

September 25, 2015

In September 2015, the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology (MPI-MP) held its third “Plants and People” conference. Following 12 months of intensive preparation, the organising committee, consisting of nine doctoral students from the MPI-MP, put together a successful program following the theme of “Future Plan[t]s”.

16 top scientists from around the world, including four MPI-MP alumni, lectured on the theme of their personal research, while additionally providing insightful details on their career progression and development. The program was enriched by a balanced mix of early-career and established researchers, males and females, and speakers from both academic and industrial spheres. A panel discussion, entitled “The Future of Science and the Future of me” rounded off the conference.

Approximately 120 participants, from Plant Research Institutes in Berlin-Brandenburg, Cologne and Rostock, learned that a linear resume is a rarity, and that an exciting job outside of academia is a possibility. These successful scientists furthermore encouraged participants to stay faithful to their ideas and dreams, and to fight for personal goals in a world of nay-sayers. These goals should extend to work-life balance, an issue highlighted by both men and women panellists.

In addition to the presentations from invited speakers, the audience themselves had the opportunity to discuss their scientific research, in the form of a poster display. This opportunity was seized by 36 participants, two of whom were awarded a prize for their poster and communication skills.

This extremely well-organized conference was made possible by the IMPRS "Primary Metabolism and Plant Growth" of the MPI-MP, as well as the sponsors Roboklon, Macrogen, Biolabs and Sigma-Aldrich. We look forward to the next "Plants and People" conference in 2017!