More than one hundred BioSC members gathered for the tenth BioSC Forum, the BioSC's annual internal retreat, on March 12, 2024. In numerous project talks, poster presentations, panel discussions and round tables, there were many opportunities to exchange ideas about ongoing BioSC projects and activities and further developments. There was also an overview of BioSC initiatives in the field of education and early careers. This area also included the doctoral student competition, which was held for the first time and awarded doctoral students' ideas for networking with ongoing BioSC projects.

The 30th BioSC Lecture took place on March 11, 2024 at Forschungszentrum Jülich, in cooperation with the Jülich Plant Science Seminars. Prof. Dr. Dirk Prüfer (University of Münster / Fraunhofer IME) gave a comprehensive overview of the path from the discovery of the Russian dandelion to its industrial use as a rubber source.

Wood as an innovative resource and material was in the focus of the 9th BioSC Spotlight on March 5, 2024 at the NGP2 Center for Next Generation Processes and Products at RWTH Aachen University. In an auditorium of around 50 persons, scientists from the BioSC and external experts discussed current developments for a wood-based bioeconomy.

On February 29, the members of the Bioeconomy Council NRW received their certificates of appointment from Minister Neubauer. With Prof. Dr. Monika Hartmann, Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schurr and Prof. Dr. Ralf Pude, three members of the BioSC have been appointed.

Photos: MWIKE NRW / A. Bowinkelmann

Professor Joachim von Braun, former member of the BioSC, has been appointed Ambassador for Bioeconomy and Sustainable Development by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).

Photo: IICA

In order to strengthen the bioeconomy location of North Rhine-Westphalia, the state government has decided to establish the Bioeconomy Council NRW which will be involved in developing a bioeconomy strategy for North Rhine-Westphalia over the next two years. Among the 15 experts from industry, science and civil society are three members of the BioSC, Prof. Dr. Monika Hartmann, Prof. Dr. Ralf Pude and Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schurr, as well as Prof. Dr. Stefanie Bröring, BioSC member until 2022.