The Bavarian Science Forum's (opens in a new window)(BayWISS) specialist forum for collaborative doctorates is currently made up of ten collaborative colleges (VK), which act as topic-specific platforms and networks for young and experienced researchers and strengthen scientific exchange between Bavarian universities of applied sciences and universities. In the VK “Life Sciences and Green Technologies” (opens in a new window), doctoral projects from the life and environmental sciences are supported in the areas of sustainable agriculture and forestry, climate change, environment and biodiversity, food security and management of natural resources. On the HNU side, doctoral students Pia Drechsel and Robin Renoth are active members of the group.
This year's annual colloquium for doctoral students was organized at HNU under the direction of Dr. Michaela Stegmann (Coordinator of the Joint Academic Partnership “Life Sciences and Green Technologies”) and in close cooperation with Robin Renoth. On the evening before the event, Robin Renoth offered the participants a short guided tour of Ulm; on Monday and Tuesday, the focus of the event was on the professional qualification and interdisciplinary networking of the doctoral students.
Interactive workshop on the visualization of science
In the interactive 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. The first, theoretical part highlighted the historical role of images in science and introduced key elements of design theory, including typography, color, layout and the selection of suitable tools. In the second part, the participants received application-oriented instructions on how to develop and implement their own illustration ideas - for example for planned publications or presentations. In particular, they were encouraged to critically reflect on the connection between research and visual language and to design them in a targeted manner.
Practical implementation and interdisciplinary exchange
On the second day of the event, the focus was 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 subsequent exchange round, the resulting visualizations were jointly reflected upon and the various projects were discussed in an interdisciplinary manner.
Life sciences: research with social responsibility
At the end of the doctoral colloquium, Prof. Dr. Elmar Buchner, Vice President for Research and Early Career Development at HNU, addressed 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.
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Robin Renoth
