Insights and outlooks: biology and food sciences at the Hannover site
‘In another life, I would study biology again,’ says State Secretary Schachtner with conviction after taking an expert look at the various facets of current biological research and innovation during a tour on 22 April 2024 and even getting hands-on with experiments.
The suggestion to engage in a more detailed exchange with university lecturers in the fields of biology and food science at Leibniz Universität Hannover arose during the public event series ‘The night that creates knowledge’ in November last year. Schachtner, who holds a degree and habilitation in biology, is a zoologist and, prior to his position as President of Clausthal University of Technology and his current position as State Secretary in the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture, held a professorship at the Philipps University of Marburg, where he worked very successfully on the Tribolium castaneum beetle; he continues to publish on important issues relating to this species, which is considered an important genetic model system for insects.
The biologists at Leibniz University Hannover (LUH) were delighted to welcome their expert dialogue partner from the world of politics: at specially set up ‘stations’ on the Herrenhausen campus, they gave him an insight into current research projects in plant biology, microbiology, cell biology, biology didactics and food science. The biology department is currently undergoing a comprehensive reform process - which has already found expression in the appointment of excellent young colleagues who will significantly shape the future of biology in Hanover.
The enthusiasm of the LUH lecturers involved and Professor Schachtner's interest were clearly noticeable during the exchange. The event, which lasted almost three hours and was also attended by the President of LUH, Professor Volker Epping, and the Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Professor Stefanie Heiden, was supplemented by a short lecture on the subject of cryo-electron microscopy and a presentation on projects in the field of food science. In a concluding discussion round, the political and financial framework conditions for research in the fields of biology and food science were discussed. The visible appreciation and interest shown by Professor Schachtner was received with gratitude by all participants.
Prof Dr Stefanie Heiden
Prof Dr Hans-Peter Braun
