Vienna, 11 March 2022
200 years Gregor Mendel: Of peas, cows and people
In celebration of the 200th anniversary of Gregor Mendel, who has laid the foundation of the science of genetics, a science-to-public symposium highlighting the relevance of genetics and genomic research in applied sciences such as plant breeding, animal breeding and human medicinal genetics was held at BOKU - University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna.
The symposium was organized by Gábor Mészáros, Hermann Bürstmayr and Johann Sölkner in the framework of the Interreg project nr. ATCZ278, G.J. Mendel's legacy to science, culture, and humanity, co-financed by Interreg Austria-Czech Republic. DE: ATCZ278, G.J. Mendels Vermächtnis für Wissenschaft, Kultur und Menschheit CZ: ATCZ278, Odkaz G.J. Mendela vědě, kultuře a lidstvu.
Scientific contributions were given by Brigitte Poppenberger (Munich, DE), Sebastian Michel (Vienna, AT), Tosso Leeb (Bern, CH), Alessandra Stella (Milano, IT), and Johannes Zschocke (Innsbruck, AT). Günther Mayr (ORF Wissenschaftsredaktion, Vienna, AT) delivered a featured talk on science communication and the role of public media. As an add-on, PhD-students of the doctoral college AgriGenomics presented their research in a poster session.
As a marvellous artistic intro to the symposium, members of the Jagdhornbläser*innengruppe der BOKU "Gregor Mendel" performed a superb selection of horn music.
About 70 participants attended the symposium in presence and over 100 participants were watching through live stream.
The largest pea (Pisum sativum L.) seed of the world had a stop in Vienna that day as well, reminding people that the garden pea has been Gregor Mendel's principal research plant.
The largest pea seed of the world at BOKU university, Vienna
Giant pea from Brno
Symposium participants gathering around Mendel's pea
Symposium participants gathering around Mendel's pea
Symposium participants gathering around Mendel's pea
Jagdhornbläser*innengruppe der BOKU "Gregor Mendel"
Gábor Mészáros (BOKU project representative)
Symposium participants
Student's view from Hörsaal VI
Interreg project nr. ATCZ278, G.J. Mendel's legacy to science, culture, and humanity, co-financed by Interreg Austria-Czech Republic. DE: ATCZ278, G.J. Mendels Vermächtnis für Wissenschaft, Kultur und Menschheit CZ: ATCZ278, Odkaz G.J. Mendela vědě, kultuře a lidstvu.