Science, especially when publicly funded, should be visible to and approachable by the public. We not only need to inform about our work in general or act as multipliers in public discussions, but we, as active researchers, should also lead discussions on controversial topics, informing about technical developments and supporting evidence-based decision making. To take our share in this, we engage in different formats, some of them are listed here:
FLINTA in Life Sciences (18.11.2025)
Beatrice Lace was invited to contribute to the lecture series “FLINTA in the Life Sciences,” where she reflected on her scientific career and her experiences as a woman in research, sharing insights into the opportunities and challenges that shaped her path. The event was organized by the Biology Student Council (Fachschaft Biologie) at the University of Freiburg.
Parliamentarian Breakfast in Stuttgart (12.11.2025)
Thomas and Jürgen Kleine-Vehn, speaker of our Excellence Cluster CIBSS, advertised plant sciences and reported on approaches of Freiburg researchers towards a more sustainable agriculture in front of several members of the Baden-Wuerttemberg state parliament. This event was organized by the rectorate of the University of Freiburg. (Photo: Stefan Rensing, Vice rector of the University of Freiburg)
Cross-disciplinary research in CIBSS (10.11.2025)
Three CIBSS research teams spanning the fields of immunology (Susanna Minguet), synthetic biology (Winfried Römer) and plant molecular biology (Thomas Ott) succeeded in collaborative efforts to resolve and utilize lectin proteins to control infections in humans and plants. This story was recently highlighted by “ZEIT für X” as an example for cross-disciplinary interactions. (Photo: Michael Spiegelhalter / University of Freiburg)
Green Biotech @Studium generale (20.11.2024)
The University-wide Studium generale is running since many years to provide insights into state-of-the-art science in Freiburg or information on larger societal debates. Thomas was involved in the organizing team running a lecture series on “Green Biotechnology – Chances for Sustainability?”. He also gave a public lecture on “mutations, gene scissors and transgenes”.
Visit of state secretary Sabine Kurtz (04.09.2024)
Thomas joined a team of scientists and members of the rectorate to inform the state secretary Sabine Kurtz on progress within the multinational ENSA project, with of Excellence Cluster CIBSS being a partner, to generate self-fertilizing crops. (Photo: Jürgen Gocke / University of Freiburg)
Discussion with Noble Laureate Prof. Joachim Frank (10.06.2024)
We welcomed and honored Prof. Joachim Frank from Columbia University who won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 2017 for his groundbreaking work on image processing in cryoEM. Thomas had the pleasure to lead the discussion with early career scientist from our University, where Prof. Frank provided all kinds of insights into his career, his opinions on publications and funding systems, etc. (Photo: Klaus Polkowski/University of Freiburg)
Parenthood in STEM (16.04.2024)
Having taken long parental breaks himself and advocating gender equity in science, Thomas joined a podium discussing on how the juggling between parenting and an international research career can work.
Interview on EU discussion about NGT1 plants (12.02.2024)
Thomas gave an interview to the German “Laborjournal” (page 10) on the current debate within the EU to change the legal framework for the use of so called NGT-1 plants. Part of the statement was also picked up by the German main news “tagesschau”.
Disputation on the use of green biotechnology in organic farming (13.05.2023)
As a closing event the conference “Hans Jonas: The principle of responsibility” Thomas discussed publicly with the Freiburg organic winegrower Andreas Dilger on the use of modern biotech approaches in conventional and organic farming. The discussion was led by Joachim Boldt.
Foundation of a non-profit association (27.04.2023)
Together with a number of other professors from the Faculty of Biology, Thomas founds the non-profit association “Förderverein Biologie” to foster the dialog between scientists and the public, to empower early career researchers and to support network events.
Are self-fertilizing crops possible? (21.09.2021)
Is autonomous fertilization of crops possible? Together with the information platform transGEN and Science Slammer David Spencer we assembled a short video explaining our approach and the potential impact. Have a look at it on Youtube (in German only).