Life Sciences in Interdisciplinary Dialogue

With its first interdisciplinary symposium on Food, Nutrition and Health, the Faculty of Life Sciences: Food, Nutrition and Health at the University of Bayreuth's Campus Kulmbach showcased both its scientific progress and the successful establishment of the faculty. More than 100 registered guests attended the event at the Alte Spinnerei, while additional participants were able to follow the presentations online via livestream.

The participants were welcomed by Prof. Dr Corina Vlot-Schuster, Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Dr Stephan Clemens, Founding Dean of the Faculty, and Prof. Dr Stephan Retsch, Vice President of the University of Bayreuth.

Among the guests were numerous representatives from politics, industry and academia, including Jonas Gleich, District Administrator of the Kulmbach District, Dr Ralf Hartnack, Lord Mayor of the City of Kulmbach, Henry Schramm, President of the Upper Franconia District Council, Wolfram Brehm, Managing Director of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce for Upper Franconia Bayreuth, and Tanja Schwerdtle, President of the Max Rubner Institute.

The symposium focused on the research activities of the professors based at Campus Kulmbach. In total, twelve of the faculty's fourteen members presented their areas of expertise and provided insights into current research on nutrition, health, food, public health, data science and sustainable food systems. One of the highlights of the event was the presentation by Prof. Dr Aldo Faisal, who also introduced participants to his visualisation laboratory. The symposium demonstrated the faculty's broad thematic scope and its interdisciplinary approach. At the same time, the event provided an important platform for academic exchange and for strengthening networks with partners from politics, healthcare and industry.

Looking back on the faculty's development, Dean Prof. Dr Corina Vlot-Schuster drew a positive conclusion: “Through this symposium, we are showcasing what has been built at Campus Kulmbach over the past years: a faculty with exceptional scientific breadth that brings together nutrition, health and food sciences in an interdisciplinary way. The exchange within our faculty, and with guests from academia, politics and professional practice, creates important momentum for research, teaching and societal impact.”