Succesful summer schools at Wageningen Academy

This summer, multiple summer schools were organized by Wageningen Academy, part of Wageningen University & Research (WUR), regarding plant topics. There were three totally different summer schools, differing in topic and target group.

Green genetics
A unique cooperation between different seed companies and the WUR, this summer school is organized for 3th/4th year BSc students, in order to get them familiar with and enthusiastic about the breeding sector. Participants are highly motivated students, as they sacrifice a week of their holidays to participate. The program is a mix between lectures given at the WUR campus and visits to different seed companies, both ornamental and food crop companies. Earlier editions of this summer school showed that participants often indeed choose a career in this sector and a minor or even MSc at the WUR.

Protected horticulture
This summer school is an invitation to learn from the highly productive and progressive Dutch plant sector. Participants came from all over the world. In two weeks, participants learned everything about protected horticulture and explored important topics such as crop, climate and root zone management in further detail. Lectures at the Campus of Wageningen were combined with practical case work and company visits. As it was a two week course, the “social factor” was just as important, with evening sessions, dinners and a nice barbecue.

Plant phenotyping
This year, the program was organized for the first time at the WUR campus. The program is a collaboration between The University of Nottingham and the WUR. In four days, the diverse group of participants, 22 nationalities and half from industry learned everything about the latest imaging techniques in plant phenotyping. During the course there was plenty of time for practical experiments, questions, discussions and social interaction with the teachers from Nottingham, WUR, guest speakers and sponsors.

Next year these summer schools will take place again. Would you like more information about the 2016 edition or summer school programs? Read the full articles at the Wageningen Academy page. Contact information can be found there as well, if you are interested or have questions.

Publication date: Fri 16 Sep 2016