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IPPS9 - Side Events & Satellite Meetings
In addition to the main IPPS9 conference & the pre-conference Training School, there will be a variety of workshops, satellite meetings, and other events. This guide will help you find activities that match your interests.
IPPN Satellite Meetings & Workshops:
- Organized by IPPN Working Groups & affiliate groups.
- Open to all attendees (note: some workshops have own registrations).
- Offer insights into current research through invited talks, in-depth discussions, hands-on training.
- Please note that conference workshops are held at the Palms by Eagles (conference venue).
- During registration you will be asked to provide information on the workshop/satellite meeting you wish to attend. Please remember to restrict your attendance to only these workshops which do not overlap in time.
- If you registered before workshops had been announced, you may state your preferred workshops by simply updating your registration.
Important Notes:
- All these activities are free to attend for registered attendees (unless stated differently).
- Not all pre-conference events are available for online participation. Look for the meeting link below the workshop description if online participation is an option.
- For questions, contact the IPPN Office .
Jointly organized by:
IPPS9 Workshops & Satellite Meetings
Kick-off Event: Pan African Plant Phenotyping Network
Summary:
The inaugural kick-off event for the newly established Pan-African Plant Phenotyping Network (PanAPPN) will take place at the conclusion of the NNF Innovation Sprint pre-conference training school and coincide with the opening day of the 9th International Plant Phenotyping Symposium (IPPS9). Hosted by the African Plant Breeding Association (APBA), this event serves as a platform to formally initiate a call for participation directed toward African researchers, scientists, and stakeholders active within the plant phenotyping domain.
Conceived as a community-driven, grassroots initiative, PanAPPN aims to establish an inclusive and democratically structured network that inter-links plant phenotyping practitioners and associated stakeholders across the African continent. The primary objective of this kick-off meeting is to present the foundational concept and strategic vision of the Pan-African Plant Phenotyping Network to the international scientific community. Furthermore, the agenda will dedicate significant focus to the collaborative deliberation of the network's organizational purpose and the formulation of its governance framework. To ensure institutional sustainability and immediate operational capacity, a critical component of the proceedings will involve identifying and nominating suitable candidates to constitute the network's initial Board of Directors. All interested researchers and practitioners are encouraged to attend and contribute to the establishment of this scientific initiative.
Contact: Prof. Michel Ghanem, Dr. Philipp von Gillhaussen, Dr. Erik Alexandersson
Time: Full day (15:15 - 17:00)
Remote access: No
Location: Palms by Eagles, Room: tba
IPPS9 Workshops & Satellite Meetings
Partnerships Roundtable for Phenomics Acceleration in Africa – Learning about each other
Summary:
In this workshop-style roundtable at IPPS9, we want to open a dialogue between the global phenotyping community and West African agricultural realities. The aim is to better understand local challenges, existing capacities, and ongoing R&D activities in the region, and to explore where phenomics can contribute in a practical and scalable way. The discussion will focus on climate resilience, seed and variety selection, farmer-led innovation, and crop-relevant phenotyping pipelines adapted to African agro-ecological and socio-economic contexts. We aim to bring together researchers, solution builders, African research and breeding actors, farmer organizations, industry/value-chain stakeholders, NGOs and donors, with the goal of identifying concrete collaboration opportunities, pilot ideas and partner matches.
Contact: Dr. Astrid Junker
Time: Full day (14:45 - 17:30)
Remote access: No
Location: Palms by Eagles, Room: tba
Root Phenotyping Working Group Assembly: Root Anatomical Phenotyping
Summary:
A working group assembly open to anyone interested in root phenotyping. The meeting with feature a seminar, discussions, a phenotyping demonstration, and executive committee elections.
Contact: Dr. Hannah Schneider, Dylan Jones, Dorota Kawa
Time: 17:45 - 20:45
Remote Access: Yes
Location: Palms by Eagles, Room: tba
IPPS9 Workshops & Satellite Meetings
The Science of Phenomics – Defining a New Scientific Discipline
Summary:
Driven by the IPPN Working Group on the Science of Phenomics, this focused workshop is dedicated to formally establishing Phenomics as an independent scientific discipline, distinct from its practical applications in plant breeding, agronomy, or ecology. The central proposition defines Phenomics as the discovery and study of natural phenomena through the integration of technology, physics, engineering, mathematics, and computer sciences.
The session will bring together the phenomics community to collaboratively advance the Working Group’s primary objectives. Participants will work to define core scientific questions unique to the discipline by analyzing exemplary phenomics studies. The workshop will also focus on forming the phenomicist identity, delineating the precise skill sets and training required for this new class of scientist, and discussing methods to promote Phenomics as a distinct science. Additionally, the session will develop foundational educational concepts, featuring lightning talks from experts, including Dr. Sindhuja Sankaran and Dr. Ethan Pickering, along with NAPPN Travel Award Winners, to showcase studies that bridge applied biology with advanced data science and artificial intelligence or machine learning (AI/ML).
Apply for a travel scholarship: https://forms.gle/enXCnVM6VRamnn5w9
Become a working group member: https://forms.gle/wkkFXymuAyAegMrm8
Contact: Dr. Alexander Bucksch
Time: 14:45 - 17:45
Remote Access: No
Location: Palms by Eagles, Room: tba
IPPS9 Workshops & Satellite Meetings
Seed & Germplasm Phenotyping: From Seeds to Signals - Hands-on Phenotyping for Real Decisions
Summary:
This interactive workshop addresses the critical gap of translating phenotyping outputs into actionable decisions for genebanks, breeding programs, and seed systems. Rather than focusing on complex data-generation or analytical pipelines, the session emphasizes the practical interpretation of visual, structural, and spectral signals regarding seed viability, regeneration, and utilization.
The 2.5-to-3-hour session is structured around hands-on demonstration stations and a realistic decision simulation. Participants will rotate through stations showcasing RGB imaging, X-ray imaging, and multispectral outputs, comparing these technological signals directly with biological outcomes like germination. Working in small groups, attendees will then engage in a simulation to navigate real-world operational constraints—such as limited seed availability, time, and resources—to evaluate trade-offs and justify their management choices. The workshop concludes with a synthesis discussion on pathways to routine operational adoption.
Convened by seed phenotyping and genetic resource experts Dr. Kioumars Ghamkhar and Dr. Fiona Hay, the event features contributions from institutions and industry leaders including AfricaRice, IITA, ICARDA, Videometer, LemnaTec, and Phenolytics. The session is designed for genebank managers, seed scientists, plant breeders, phenomics researchers, and industry stakeholders working at the interface of conservation and crop improvement. Ultimately, participants will leave with a transferable framework and improved capacity to interpret phenotyping signals, understand method limitations, and integrate these tools effectively into applied workflows.
Contact: Dr. Kioumars Ghamkhar, Dr. Fiona Hay
Time: 14:45 - 17:15
Remote Access: No
Location: Palms by Eagles, Room: tba
Phenotyping in Controlled Environments – Advancing Fundamental Knowledge and Supporting Innovations in Plant Breeding
Summary:
This workshop, organized by the IPPN Controlled Environment Plant Phenotyping Working Group (CePPG), examines the integration of advanced controlled-environment plant phenotyping techniques to elucidate complex physiological traits, enhance breeding efficiency, and accelerate climate-resilient crop improvement. Utilizing maize (Zea mays) as both a critical staple crop for African food security and a primary genetic model system, the session addresses the fundamental bottleneck of translating high-throughput phenotypic data from controlled greenhouse or growth chamber settings to variable, stress-prone African field conditions. The thematic framework builds upon recent methodological advancements at the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK Gatersleben), specifically drawing on their integration of non-invasive multi-spectral imaging, automated deep-learning data processing, and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to map natural genetic variation under combined abiotic and nutrient stresses. By evaluating these cutting-edge frameworks alongside recent paradigms in non-destructive below-ground root system architecture (RSA) phenotyping, the workshop aims to establish robust strategies for optimizing early vegetative trait extraction. Ultimately, participants will discuss how these high-throughput technological pipelines can be effectively scaled and translated into actionable, localized breeding programs to rapidly deliver stress-tolerant, resource-efficient maize varieties that bolster sustainable crop production and food security across the African continent.
Contact: Dr. Thomas Altmann, Dr. Kerstin Neumann
Time: 17:15 - 19:45
Remote Access: Yes
Location: Palms by Eagles, Room: tba
IPPS9 Workshops & Satellite Meetings
Early Career Professionals Network General Assembly
Summary:
The Early Career Professionals Network's General Assembly is the annual meeting of the Early Career Plant Phenotyping Network, bringing together early-career researchers working in plant phenotyping, crop physiology, imaging, modelling, data science, and related fields.
Why is this relevant at IPPS9? The general assembly provides a dedicated space for ECPs to connect, exchange experiences, and discuss current challenges and opportunities in the plant phenotyping space to strengthen their involvement in the broader phenomics community and ensure that the perspectives of PhD students, postdocs, technicians, and industry professionals are represented at the international stage.
Who is your target audience? Our target audience is the early-career professionals attending IPPS9 as well as anyone interested in supporting, mentoring, training, and community-building activities in plant phenotyping.
What will be done? During the general assembly, we will introduce the mission and ongoing activities of ECPN since its launch, present future initiatives, and discuss opportunities for collaboration. Crucially, the new board elections will be held, and the new coordination team will be announced during this session! We invite participants to join the network and encourage them to become actively involved.
Who is organising this & what for? This event is organised by the ECPN board team to strengthen and inspire the ECP phenomics community.
Whether you want to run for a board position, join a working group, or simply meet peers in your field, we warmly invite you to join us!
Contact: Rhianna McAneny, Carlos Robles
Time: 16:45 - 18:00
Remote Access: yes
Location: Palms by Eagles, Room: tba