Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM
Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM
Blick über den Tellerrand September 2026
© KI-generiert / Fraunhofer ITWM
Blick über den Tellerrand September 2026

Blick über den Tellerrand (Thinking Outside the Box)

Our »Looking Beyond the Horizon« event in September 2026 is titled »Mushrooms – A Source of Hope for Biotechnology.« The speaker is Prof. Dr. Eckhard Thines, professor of biotechnology and microbiology at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) and scientific director of the Institute for Biotechnology and Drug Research (IBWF).

© KI-generiert / Fraunhofer ITWM

Series of Talks »Blick über den Tellerrand«

Our series of lectures is held in German.

Once every month, the Fraunhofer ITWM opens its doors and invites everyone who is interested to broaden their horizon. The interdisciplinary lecture series »Blick über den Tellerrand« of the Felix Klein Center for Mathematics presents different perspectives on a wide spectrum of topics in the area of science and technology.

Exciting experts from a wide range of fields will speak and discuss with the guests. Everyone is cordially invited and admission is free. The event will take place on site at the Fraunhofer Center and will also be broadcast virtually.

»Blick über den Tellerrand« (Thinking Outside the Box) in September 2026: Mushrooms – A Source of Hope for Biotechnology

 

Thursday, September 29, 2026
5pm – 6:30pm

The lecture will be held in German.

Mushrooms should actually be the losers of evolution. They cannot run away when environmental conditions are adverse, and they are unable to photosynthesize to produce nutrients. And yet these unassuming organisms are ubiquitous and incredibly adaptable when environmental conditions change rapidly. Furthermore, they produce highly efficient natural compounds.

In biotechnology, the capabilities of these organisms have been researched very successfully in recent years and translated into practical applications. The range of applications is diverse, from enzymes for laundry detergents to active ingredients for use in human medicine. There is strong evidence that we have only scratched the surface and that these unassuming organisms hold the potential for new forms of therapy.

About the Speaker

Prof. Dr. Eckhard Thines (Prof. Dr. Eckhard Thines, Professor of Biotechnology and Microbiology at JGU Mainz and Scientific Director of the IBWF Mainz)

Prof. Dr. Eckhard Thines has been a professor of biotechnology and microbiology at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) since 2012. From 2020 to 2026, he served as dean of the Department of Biology. Since 2010, he has also been the scientific director of the Institute for Biotechnology and Active Substance Research (IBWF). His research focuses on microbiology, biotechnology, and the development of sustainable active ingredients and biological processes for plant protection and environmental applications. Since 2023, he has also served as the State Coordinator for Biotechnology in Rhineland-Palatinate and has made significant contributions to fostering collaboration among science, industry, and politics in the field of the life sciences.

The event will be moderated by Prof. Dr. Karl-Heinz Küfer. He is the speaker for the Felix Klein Center for Mathematics and head of the »Optimization« division and »Optimization in the Life Sciences« department at the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM.

Participation Options:       

  1. On site in the lecture hall of the Fraunhofer ITWM,
    Fraunhofer-Platz 1, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany  
  2. By video conference via Microsoft Teams: https://s.fhg.de/tellerrand-2026-09

More Information: https://www.felix-klein-zentrum.de/BudT-2026-09-en

 

Technical Hints

After you have clicked on the Microsoft Teams link, a browser window will open – if you are not yet using Microsoft Teams – and you will be asked How would you like to join your Microsoft Teams meeting? You can use Microsoft Teams via a browser (e.g. Chrome) or you can download the Windows app to your desktop or install the Microsoft Teams app on your smartphone or tablet.

»Blick über den Tellerrand« (Thinking Outside the Box) is an interdisciplinary lecture series of the Felix Klein Center for Mathematics with changing topics. 

If you have any questions, please contact Sylvia Gerwalin, e-mail: sylvia.gerwalin@itwm.fraunhofer.de, telephone: 0631-31600-4424.