Life Sciences in focus: 2025 BayWISS doctoral colloquium at HNU
The colloquium, which took place from 30 June to 1 July, focussed on professional development, scientific exchange as well as interdisciplinary networking between doctoral candidates. A particular highlight was offered by the workshop "Explaining Science with Images", which provided participants with practical tools for vividly and effectively visualizing complex research topics.
The Joint Academic Partnership "Life Sciences and Green Technologies" supports doctoral projects in life and environmental sciences and focusses on the areas sustainable agriculture and forestry, climate change, environment, biodiversity, food security and management of natural resources.
Dr. Michaela Stegmann from University of Applied Sciences Weihenstephan-Triesdorf (HSWT) organized this year's colloquium in close cooperation with Robin Renoth from and at Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences (HNU). Robin, knowing the area well, offered the international participants, who conduct their research at several different Bavarian universities, a short city tour of Ulm the previous evening.
Interactive workshop on the visualization of science
In the workshop “Explaining Science with Images”, Dr. Johannes Richers, who holds a doctorate in natural sciences and design, imparted well-founded basics of graphic design and visual communication – specifically tailored to the needs of researchers. The aim was to sharpen the understanding of the impact of visual representations in scientific contexts and to strengthen the ability to visualize research topics clearly and effectively.
Practical implementation and interdisciplinary exchange
On the second day, the focus lay on the practical application of the workshop content: the doctoral students each dedicated 45 minutes to visualizing their own research projects – be it digitally, on a flipchart or in the form of a collage. In the exchange round, the resulting visualizations were jointly reflected upon.
Prof. Dr. Elmar Buchner, Vice President for Research and Research Career Development at HNU, closed the event by addressing the participants with a plea for open-ended research. He emphasized the social relevance of life sciences and encouraged the young scientists to pursue their doctoral projects with a sense of responsibility and scientific curiosity.
