The Impact of Climate Change on the Cultivation of Wine, Fruit and Vegetables to be the Focus of Research Work
With the establishment of a French-German doctoral program "Climate Impact Research on Special Crops and their Processing Products", Geisenheim University and the Université de Bordeaux, together with the associated Australian partners (University of Adelaide and Australian Wine Research Institute), intend to pool their competences in this field even more purposefully in future. The participating institutes have been working together on viticultural and enological topics in the BAG Institute (Bordeaux-Adelaide-Geisenheim) since 2010. The establishment of a joint doctoral program proves the success of the existing initiative and further strengthens the links between the individual institutes.
The graduate school, which is already looking for suitable candidates, will be funded by the Franco-German University (DFH) for four years from January 1, 2018.
"Climate change and food are among the most pressing issues of our time, for which we must find global solutions. The combination of the Bordeaux, Geisenheim and Adelaide locations is ideal for mapping the diverse issues in the context of three climatically diverse regions in both hemispheres. Thanks to different focal points of competence and research at the individual institutions, we can create great synergy effects," says Prof. Dr. Hans Reiner Schultz, President of Geisenheim University. "It is essential that our doctoral students are able to identify and solve the problems of science and practice in the future thanks to a progress-oriented and science-led education. We would therefore like to thank the DFH for its financial support," adds Prof. Dr. Alain Blanchard, Director of the Institut des Sciences de la Vigne et du Vin at the Université de Bordeaux.
From 2018, the French-German graduate school will initially accept one doctoral student per main location and year. They will complete their doctorate in a Cotutelle procedure between Bordeaux and Geisenheim and spend about half of their working time at both locations. If the research topic allows it, the project can also be carried out in Adelaide. In addition, the young scientists will be networking with each other and with external speakers in regular meetings. The doctorate is awarded jointly by Hochschule Geisenheim University and the Université de Bordeaux. DFH funding includes mobility assistance for doctoral candidates in the foreign phase, support for guest lecturers at partner universities and the organisation of subject-specific workshops.
