In the framework of a collaboration project between Hochschule Geisenheim University (HGU) and the University of Thessaly (UTH) called ZuGAbe, a summer school on Cover Materials for Greenhouses will take place between the 24^th and the 30^th of September 2018 in the Department for Agricultural Sciences of UTH in Volos.

The ZuGAbe project (Greek-German Research and Teaching Network focusing on Productivity, Future and Environmental Compatibility of Protected Cultivation) is funded from the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) from means of the German Federal Foreign Office. The summer school “Cover Materials for Greenhouses” is an action within the ZuGAbe collaboration and includes for all participants no course fees! The official language of the summer school will be English.

Scholarships of 665 €, 745 € and 905 € for bachelor, master and PhD students respectively, are available for approximately eight applicants. Granting of scholarships will be based on criteria such as number of completed semesters and marks.

From the 24^th until the 27^th of September, the course will focus on aspects and properties of cover materials for greenhouses such as light transmission, climate and pest control as well as plant responses under different cover materials, virtual plants and insect screens including a visit to a local greenhouse. On the 28^th, building capacity workshops, such as scientific writing will take place, while during the weekend (29^th and 30^th), two more excursions, one to greenhouses and one to Meteora or Pilio will be organised.

Any student, early-stage researcher (PhD, Postdocs) or young professional (technical staff and extension people with a bachelor or master degree) in the agricultural industry are eligible to apply. Applications are due to 15 July 2018 and should include a CV and a letter of motivation.

Please, send your application until 15 July 2018 by email to Evelyn Dimkou (evelyn.dimkou(at)hs-gm.de). For further information contact Evelyn Dimkou (evelyn.dimkou(at)hs-gm.de or +49 6722 502 440).

External lecturers

• Evelia Schettini, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Science, University of Bari: Solar radiation & physical principles of light; photo selective cover materials & transmission
• Josef Tanny, Agricultural Research Organisation, Volcani Center, Tel Aviv: Insect screens
• Manolis Kykrilis, Plastika Kritis - producer of masterbatches and agricultural films: Films & plastic films
• Stephan Lück, Greenhouse construction and energy saving SME: Energy screens & energy efficiency
• Markus Elsner, Senior Editor at Nature Biotechnology: Scientific writing

Lectures from UTH

• Nikolaos Katsoulas, Associate Professor, agricultural constructions & greenhouses: Global situation of protected cultivation & plant responses on microclimate
• Constantinos Kittas, Emeritus Professor, agricultural constructions: Climate control
• Thomas Bartzanas, Director of Research, agricultural engineering: Microclimatic responses to cover materials
• Evthimia Levizou, Assistant Professor, plant physiology: Plant responses on light conditions

Lectures from HGU

• Johannes Max, Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition: Greenhouse structures & cover materials
• Katrin Kahlen, Deputy Institute Director, Department of Vegetable Crops: Virtual plants
• Frederik Langner, PhD, Research Associate: Cover materials & greenhouse energy efficiency
• Christine Becker, Postdoc, Research Associate: Pest control
• Christiane Jost, Research Administrator at HGU: Funding opportunities

For further information please contact Evelyn Dimkou (evelyn.dimkou(at)hs-gm.de or 06722-502440).