Q-Retreat 2026
Building on the success of last year’s IRTG 2843 "Q-Retreat" in Queensland and our first Q-Retreat in Quedlinburg in 2024, this year's organising team in Giessen will do their best to match the high standards set by the UQ team in 2025. You can look forward to an exciting programme, including the first IRTG mini-conference, organized by the students themselves. They will present progress and achievements of the IRTG over the (dare we say it?) first three years of Accelerating Crop Genetic Gain. Haven't we grown up fast?!
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In addition to interesting keynotes and a Rhine Valley vineyard hiking tour on Germany's "Fronleichnam" holiday, there’s plenty more to discover, so check out the programme below. Be aware they are subject to change!​
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Pre-retreat programme
28.05.
Half day field excursion – Rauischholzhausen farm
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Departure from the main car park (Leihgesterner Weg), Campus Natural Sciences at 9:30 / or at 9:45 in front of Hotel Steinsgarten
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Field excursion to JLU's Rauischholzhausen field station, tour of cereal/oilseed/legume variety trials along with sorghum and faba bean trials with IRTG breeding lines, DroughtSpotter XXL and more.
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Back in Giessen at around 2:00/3:00 pm​
29.05.
Whole day excursion – KWS Talent Campus event at KWS Saat, Einbeck​
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Departure from the main car park (Leihgesterner Weg), Campus Natural Sciences at 6:45 / or at 7:00 in front of Hotel Steinsgarten
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KWS Talent Campus (information)
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Back in Giessen at around 8:00 pm
Q-Retreat 2026 Programme
01.06.
Morning – Phil I Seminar Building II (Room 011)​ (directions)
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Welcome address by JLU Vice President Wencke Gwozdz
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Welcome and Review of the IRTG – Rod Snowdon & Ian Godwin
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Living Statistics
Afternoon – Phil I Seminar Building II (Room 011)​
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Guest speaker to be confirmed
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Panel Discussion: “Publication experiences – writing a paper”
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Keynote lecture: “Career pathways and research in the CGIAR system”
– Dr. Damaris Odeny, Principal Scientist for Genomics, Pre-breeding and Bioinformatics -
"Who wants to be a Millionaire?"
Evening – Conference Venue (Room 011)​
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Casual buffet dinner and drinks​​
02.06.
Morning – Phil I Seminar Building II (Rooms 203 & 204)​
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Accelerating Crop Genetic Gain mini conference
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2 Sessions (1 advanced talk (20 min + 10 min discussion) 3 PhD talks (10 min + 3 min discussion)
Afternoon – Conference Venue (Rooms 203 & 204)​
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Accelerating Crop Genetic Gain mini conference
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1 Session (1 advanced talk (20 min + 10 min discussion) 3 PhD talks (10 min + 3 min discussion) + 1 Poster Session (A0 portrait format)
Evening – JLU Faculty Club, Restaurant Heyligenstaedt​
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Meet and chat with JLU President Prof. Katharina Lorenz
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Socialise with snacks and drinks
03.06.
Morning – Phil I Seminar Building II (Room 203 & 204)​
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Accelerating Crop Genetic Gain mini conference
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2 Sessions (1 advanced talk (20 min + 10 min discussion) 3 PhD talks (10 min + 3 min discussion)
Afternoon – Phil I Seminar Building II (Rooms 203 & 204)​
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Social programme – to be advised
Evening – Schiffenberger Talstation​
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Conference Dinner
04.06.
Whole day excursion – Hiking tour in Rheingau ​vineyards
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Departure by bus from Hotel Steinsgarten (8:30 am)
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Arrival at Bingen and boat ride to Assmannshausen
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Chairlift up to the Niederwald Monument
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Hiking tour through Rheingau vineyards - walking, talking, wine and grapejuice
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Pizza at Drinks at Hochschule Geisenheim University (Eibinger Weg 1) at about 4 pm
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Bus returns to Giessen at about 6 pm
05.06.
Morning – Phil I Seminar Building II (Rooms 203 & 204)​
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Mid-term report writing excercise for PhD students and postdocs
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PI meeting with SAB (parallel)
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PI meeting about mid-term report/review preparation
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Student meeting with SAB
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Final wrap up
Locations
Phil I Seminar Building II
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Restaurant Heyligenstaedt
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Schiffenberger Talstation
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IFZ Building (Department of Plant Breeding)
Image: JLU-Pressestelle / Rolf Wegst
If you have any questions regarding the scientific programme, please contact Joshua or Rica-Hanna. For questions regarding catering & accommodation please contact Marie.
Looking forward to seeing you all here in June to have great time.
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GaLiGrü
Your Organising Committee