iDiv celebrates 2nd anniversary at the yDiv Scientific Symposium

The 2nd annual yDiv Scientific Symposium to took place on 1 October, 2014 – the day of iDiv's two-year anniversary. This year, particular emphasis was paid on projects that are funded by the Flexible Pool instrument. yDiv doctoral researchers, along with other researchers across the iDiv consortium, presented their scientific work with talks and posters.

“The Flexible Pool is a key instrument to support collaborative projects between iDiv and its members, and to strengthen scientific networks within the consortium”, Prof. Kirsten Küsel, co-director of iDiv, said. Projects being funded by Flexible Pool reflect the nature of joint research within iDiv, and proposals can only be submitted by iDiv members. So far, 20 projects have been funded and successfully used in fostering the transdisciplinary links across the iDiv consortium: the three universities, UFZ and other partner institutions.

After the welcoming words of Prof. Küsel and Dr. Mari Bieri (coordinator of the iDiv's graduate school yDiv), the doctoral researchers and post-doctoral researchers presented their projects on a wide variety of biodiversity-related topics. Lively discussion followed each presentation. The yDiv annual symposium is an important forum for the doctoral researchers to practice their presentation skills, share ideas, and also gain valuable feedback.

In addition to the talks, researchers from yDiv, the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology presented their scientific projects in a poster session.

As a special highlight of the day, and to celebrate the two-year birthday of iDiv, the doctoral researchers of yDiv had prepared a masterful cupcake arrangement forming the iDiv logo. Mari Bieri summerized: “The yDiv annual symposium is an important forum for the doctoral researchers to practice their presentation skills, share ideas, and also gain valuable feedback.” For more information, please see the abstract book of the symposium: yDiv Scientific Symposium - Abstract Book [/pdf]