Students from the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) of Savannah and Los Angeles visited the IPB on May 15 and learned about selected research projects at the institute. The visit was organized through the STEM LAUNCH program of the non-profit exchange organization Cultural Vistas. The program, which is a part of the New Transatlantic Synergies initiative, is intended to provide faculty and students with the chance to network with experts and decision-makers and to gain insight into career and educational paths in Germany.
This year, the STEM LAUNCH program included a 14-day study trip to Berlin and Halle, where participants visited leading research institutions, start-ups, and universities, but also met with decision-makers at the federal, state, and municipal level, to learn how German politics and society are shaped. Generally, these study trips focus on the natural sciences. This years’ strip in particular, aimed to strengthen the sister city partnerships between Halle (Saale) and Savannah, as well as Berlin and Los Angeles.
At the IPB, the students of economics and natural sciences were first given an overview of our research and infrastructure by Managing Director Alain Tissier followed by a presentation about selected metabolomics and bioinformatics projects by Steffen Neumann. Finally, there was a short tour of the greenhouses and premises. All participants were extremely open-minded, cheerful, and eager to discuss.
Cultural Vistas is a non-profit exchange organization that promotes international understanding and global cooperation between people and institutions. The organization was founded in 1963. The European office in Berlin offers a wide range of programs in Europe and the United States, including professional exchange programs, customized internships with companies from all industries and sectors, and study tours on globally important topics. These exchange programs open doors for transatlantic exchange while providing participants with exceptional chances for career advancement.
Historically black colleges and universities, HBCUs, are educational institutions located in the United States that were founded before 1964 and originally served to educate African Americans. Today, there are around 105 colleges and universities of this type.