News

CEPLAS Graduate School begins training phase at IPK in Gatersleben

Ten CEPLAS graduate students are spending their introductory week at the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) in Gatersleben. During their stay, they will explore the institute’s research infrastructure and meet with more than 20 scientists.

Yu Guo receives the 2026 Gatersleben Research Prize for his work on the evolution of wild plant to cultivated barley

How did wild barley become one of humanity’s oldest cultivated plants? Dr Yu Guo has used genetic evidence to trace this history. On 6 October 2026, he was awarded the Gatersleben Research Prize for his outstanding doctoral thesis as part of the IPK’s Institute Days. The Gatersleben Association for the Promotion of Crop Research (Gemeinschaft zur Förderung der Kulturpflanzenforschung…

Grünes Labor feiert Jubiläum

Rund 6.000 Schülerinnen und Schüler kommen jedes Jahr ins Grüne Labor nach Gatersleben. Mit einer Festveranstaltung wurde das 20-jährige Jubiläum dieses in Deutschland einzigartigen Schülerlabors gefeiert.

published on 4. September 2026

“Nitrogen is not a niche topic”

Anne Krapp was a keynote speaker at “Nitrogen 2026”. In this interview, she talks about the conference, the importance of this field of research and her experiences at INRAE in France.

Anne Krapp and Nicolaus von Wirén at the "Nitrogen 2026" in Gatersleben

published on 2. September 2026

Multi-million investment at the IPK

The IPK is set to take the next major step in the much-needed refurbishment of its research campus. Funding of 22.5 million euros has been secured for a new greenhouse complex in the Genetics Department. Saxony-Anhalt’s Minister for Science, Armin Willingmann, presented the grant notification today.

Sachsen-Anhalts Wissenschaftsminister Armin Willingmann (links) und Nicolaus von Wirén, Geschäftsführender Direktor des IPK, beim Rundgang durch den alten Gewächshauskomplex.

published on 31. August 2026

Zwischen Ackerschlepper und Drohne

Die Versuchsfelder haben für die Forschung am IPK eine hohe Bedeutung. Neben klassischen Landmaschinen kommen dort auch modernste Versuchstechniken wie Drohnen zum Einsatz. Unsere Schülerpraktikantin Lena Heinze war bei einem Drohnenflug in Cochstedt dabei.

Daten von den Drohenflügen über die Versuchsfelder sind für die Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftler am IPK von großer Bedeutung.

published on 19. August 2026

Visiting the IPK with a hemp plant

Students from Leibniz University Hannover recently completed a student internship at the IPK. Hardy Rolletschek, head of the ‘Assimilate Allocation and NMR’ research group, explains what they did, how the collaboration came about, and what he hopes to gain from it.