It is with great enthusiasm that we announce a new seminar series for the Plant Sciences Group of Wageningen University and Research.

Plant science thrives in the Netherlands, with Wageningen University and Research as one of the hotspots when it comes to cutting-edge techniques, talented researchers and enthusiastic students. We all share an interest in plant life and yet we often are insufficiently aware of the expertise and ideas of our colleagues.

That’s why we will, like Ritzema Bos did in his time, bring together plant scientists at different career stages and from manifold disciplines for a returning seminar series. 

We will invite high-profile speakers to Wageningen to give lectures on plant science that will be of interest to all of us. Lectures are open to everyone;

Who was Jan Ritzema Bos?

We owe much of our knowledge and work today to a handful of founders of plant science research in the Netherlands. One of these founders was Jan Ritzema Bos, born in 1850.

He was both a phytopathologist and zoologist and brought the science community together within the ‘Royal Society for Phytopathology, now Royal Netherlands Society of Plant Pathology, see www.knpv.org.

He worked as a professor in Amsterdam from 1895 until 1906, after which he moved to Wageningen where he became the first director of the newly founded Institute for Phytopathology. In 1918, he was appointed as professor at the newly founded National Agricultural College, which later became Wageningen University and Research, with special attention for plant pests. His life was dedicated to science and bringing researchers of different disciplines together.

October 29, 2024: Professor Dr. John McKay & Prof Dr. Xinguang Zhu

In this special Ritzema Bos seminar featuring two speakers, Dr. John McKay from Colorado State University and Dr. Xinguang Zhu from the Chinese Academy of Sciences will present cutting-edge research on plant adaptation and photosynthetic efficiency.

Dr. John McKay is a professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, focusing on the genetics of local adaptation in natural plant populations. His research explores how plants adapt to environmental stresses, such as drought, by examining genetic traits and their evolutionary history. In his talk, Crop PAN-genomes and the Genetics of Adaptation, Dr. McKay will delve into the genetic mechanisms behind adaptation and discuss its implications for crop breeding and conservation.

Dr. Xinguang Zhu is a leading scientist in plant systems biology, renowned for his work on improving photosynthetic efficiency in crops. As a principal investigator at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dr. Zhu has developed multi-scale systems models that identify new strategies for enhancing photosynthesis, with a focus on optimizing the Calvin-Benson cycle and engineering C4 photosynthesis in crops. His talk, Systems Biology Guided Improvement of Photosynthetic Efficiency, will highlight advancements in crop productivity and sustainability, offering solutions to global agricultural challenges.

Together, Dr. McKay and Dr. Zhu will provide valuable insights into the future of plant science, combining genetics and systems biology to address critical issues in agriculture and environmental adaptation.

June 25, 2024: Professor Kevin M. Folta

Kevin M. Folta is a professor in the Horticultural Sciences Department at the University of Florida.

From 2007 to 2010, Folta played a key role in the project to sequence the strawberry genome, and he continues to delve into photomorphogenesis in plants and the compounds that influence strawberry flavor. As a science communicator since 2002, Folta has been particularly active in discussions about biotechnology. In 2017, he was elected as a fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry.

Folta’s research group focuses on two primary areas: leveraging light to control plant traits and using genomics to identify molecular markers for essential fruit-plant characteristics. His work on photomorphogenesis explores how light can be used to influence plant growth and quality, aiming to maximize genetic potential without chemical or genetic modifications. In strawberry genomics, Folta has identified key compounds responsible for flavor, with the goal of breeding more flavorful varieties through traditional methods.

As an advocate for effective science communication, Folta offers workshops to teach scientists and farmers how to better engage with the public. He hosts the “Talking Biotech” podcast, where he discusses advancements in agricultural biotechnology and other scientific issues with experts. His outreach efforts aim to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and public understanding, promoting informed discussions about controversial topics such as GMOs and genetic engineering.

April 2, 2024: professor dr. Viola Willemsen

Viola Willemsen is the chair holder and professor of Cell and Developmental Biology at the Plant Sciences Group of Wageningen University & Research.

For years, Viola Willemsen worked at Utrecht University, as a PhD candidate, postdoctoral researcher, and university lecturer. For her doctoral research, she studied pattern formation and polarity during embryogenesis and root formation of Arabidopsis. In 2012, Willemsen moved to WUR to work as a university (associate) professor. Over the past 3 years, she has been serving as an interim chair holder for the Plant Developmental Biology cluster, of which Cell and Developmental Biology (formerly Cell Biology) is a part. On the 1st of May 2023, Viola Willemsen was appointed as chair group leader and professor of Cell and Developmental Biology

Within the chair group that Willemsen leads, researchers study how cells adapt their identity, examining the dynamic functioning of cellular processes in relation to cell communication, cell growth, cell division, polarity, and the genetic networks involved.

October 14, 2019: professor Malcolm Bennett

Malcolm Bennett is a Professor of Plant Sciences at the University of Nottingham (UK) and his together with his team he researches the hidden half of plants.  Over the past decades they have characterized many of the regulatory signals, genes and mechanisms that direct root growth and development.

Malcolm’s team uses a systems biology approach to study root development. They have for example elucidated how roots respond to gradients of water availability, termed hydrotropism, and how hormones such as auxin control root growth and branching. Their work is funded by prestigious grants from the EU and UK.

Malcolm’s work is highly appreciated by the international community, bringing him among the top 1% most highly cited plant and animal biologists world-wide.

April 2, 2019: professor Nick Talbot

Nick Talbot is Executive Director of The Sainsbury Laboratory. His research is focused on the biology of plant diseases and he utilizes a range of cell biology, genetics and genomics approaches in his work.

Nick is interested in fungal infection-related development and understanding how fungi are able to invade plant tissue and suppress plant immunity. His main contributions have been associated with understanding the biology of plant infection by the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. Nick received his PhD in Molecular Genetics from the University of East Anglia.

After a period of postdoctoral research at Purdue University in the USA he moved to the University of Exeter, becoming Professor of Molecular Genetics in 1999, Head of the School of Biosciences in 2005, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor in 2010. He joined The Sainsbury Laboratory as Executive Director in 2018. He has authored more than 160 publications.

He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology in 2010, a member of EMBO in 2013, a member of the Academia Europaea in 2014, and a Fellow of The Royal Society in 2014.