News
Birds, bats and nearby forest increase cacao yield
Peru is the third largest producer of organic cacao worldwide and is also a leader in the cultivation of native cacao varieties – producing chocolate that is internationally recognized for its special flavour. An international research team led by Göttingen University quantified the benefits of birds’ and bats’ consumption of plant-feeding insects for the productivity of cacao agroforestry. They found that birds and bats doubled cacao yield despite their suppression of arthropods that also eat pests. more…
Abandoning land transforms nature
More and more people are moving from the countryside into towns, leading to a rise in the number of abandoned fields, pastures, mines, factories, and even entire villages. Yet the impact of this changing landscape – exacerbated by war and climate change – on nature is not yet entirely clear. Researchers show that abandoning lands could be both an opportunity and a threat for biodiversity. Their review highlights why abandoned lands are critical in the assessment of global restoration and conservation. more…
Stories of people who fled from Ukraine
What does it mean to flee? What do you take with you when you suddenly have to leave your home behind? Three artists, who themselves fled Ukraine due to the war and currently live in Kassel, focus on people and their stories in their work. The exhibition "Home Behind" can be seen from 5 June to 31 July 2023 in the foyer of the Kulturwissenschaftliches Zentrum (KWZ) at the University of Göttingen, Heinrich Düker Weg 14. It will open on Monday 5 June at 17:00. more…
Rapeseed and the enemy in the soil
Crops have a high nutritional value, which makes them attractive to harmful microorganisms. In fact, most pathogens can only attack specific plants and there has been much research to try to discover how fungi locate their host plants.It was thought that host plants stimulate fungal spores in soil to germinate by releasing specific sugars, amino acids and other compounds from their roots – known as “root exudates” – thereby unwittingly triggering their own infestation but new research qustions this. more…
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Further news
Pride Month: rainbow flags at the Aula building
To mark Pride Month, the University of Göttingen is raising rainbow flags on its Aula building in Wilhelmsplatz every day from 1 to 30 June 2023. This is an initiative of the AStA (general student council) which will send a signal of solidarity and support to the LGBTQ+ student community and show the values of tolerance and inclusion that the University stands for. more…
Award for leadership and improving well-being
Dr Muhammad Jawad Noon, Research Fellow in Development Economics in the Faculty of Business and Economics, has received the "Dr Judy Wasserheit Young Leader Award 2023" from the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH). This award is to honour his leadership and the impact he has had early in his career in improving the well-being of people, particularly in settings with low resources. more…