Public Outreach

Welcome to the Press and Public Relations Group of the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research.

The institute started public relations work in 1990. A demonstration garden of important agricultural and horticultural plants was established. Thus the public at large especially pupils had the chance to learn about the research activities in the institute and current developments related to plant sciences and agriculture in a broad societal context.

In 1996 the project KölnPUB was initiated together with the university of Cologne in order to enable pupils and teachers to conduct molecular experiments.

In 2006 the "WissenschaftsScheune" (Science Barn) followed at  MPIPZ, which was awarded the special Gregor Mendel Prize in 2016: "As an extracurricular learning location, the Science Barn awakens curiosity for research on plants by looking at, touching and trying them out, and inspires people for biological and agricultural connections". The “Verein der Freunde und Förderer des Max-Planck-Instituts für Pflanzenzüchtungsforschung“ supervises the activities in the Science Barn on our farm and the neighboring demonstration garden. A long-standing cooperation exists here with the Institute for Biology Didactics at the University of Cologne in the training of student teachers.

The MPIPZ is member of the "Kölner Wissenschaftsrunde" and offers regular events in the institute and in the science barn as part of the KinderUni Köln, Girlsdays, "Maustüröffner-Tag" and the Open Garden Gate ("Offene Gartenpforte").

Please inform yourself at our website about upcoming events and do not hesitate to contact us: prag@mpipz.mpg.de

• We help you to find the right interview partner for subjects covered by our scientists at the institute
• We inform you about our current research activities in form of press releases
• We coordinate visitor programs and guided tours through the institute, the science barn and the demonstration garden