Guided tours of the hall and workrooms enabled guests to learn about what will be going on in the building and meet the people who will be based there, while there were also opportunities for dialogue and one-to-one encounters. One visitor, who lives directly opposite, said: “I think it’s important for neighbors to talk to one another,” and she would expect the same of the University as she would of other local residents.
For another visitor, the tour was also a trip back into his own past, as he himself had studied agricultural sciences at the University of Bonn many years ago before going on to do a doctorate in the same subject. The tour of the center brought back memories of his time as a student and old research projects, so it was no surprise that he felt like he was “coming home” in a way during his visit.
Working safely with plants and soils
Auch konkrete Fragen der Nachbar*innen kamen zur Sprache. Eine Besucherin wollte beispielsweise wissen, wie verhindert wird, dass mit Pflanzen oder Bodenproben aus anderen Teilen der Welt unbeabsichtigt fremde Organismen freigesetzt werden. Die Projektleitung Dr. Alina Klaus, Geschäftsführerin Dienstleistungsplattform Pflanzenversuche (DLP) konnte Entwarnung geben: Importierte Pflanzen und Böden werden zunächst unter kontrollierten Bedingungen gelagert und untersucht. Erst nach einer entsprechenden Kontrolle dürfen sie für Forschungsvorhaben und Analysen genutzt werden. Für Bodenproben aus Ländern außerhalb der Europäischen Union ist im Gebäude ein eigener, den gesetzlichen Anforderungen entsprechend ausgestatteter Lagerbereich vorgesehen.
Sicherheit spielt auch bei der Verarbeitung heimischer Versuchspflanzen eine wichtige Rolle. So ist der Raum, in dem künftig unter anderem Pflanzenmaterial gedroschen und gemahlen wird, besonders geschützt. Die baulichen und technischen Vorkehrungen sollen verhindern, dass feiner Getreidestaub eine Staubexplosion auslösen kann.
Im Proben- und Vegetationszentrum werden künftig Pflanzen, Wurzeln und Böden aufbereitet und für weitere Untersuchungen in den Laboren vorbereitet. Das Gebäude gehört zur Dienstleistungsplattform Pflanzenversuche und wird instituts- und fakultätsübergreifend genutzt. Es schafft damit moderne Bedingungen für Forschung und Lehre – etwa für Versuche zur nachhaltigen Nutzpflanzenproduktion, zum Umgang mit Trockenstress, zur automatisierten Untersuchung von Pflanzen oder zum Einsatz von Robotik und digitalen Technologien in der Landwirtschaft.
Turning research findings into building materials
During the tour of the Grünes Haus, it became clear that, rather than merely being the subject matter of research, sustainability also played a key role in the construction process itself. This is because parts of the building were constructed using timber frames and insulated with natural materials, in this case wood shavings. Meanwhile, solar panels on the roof generate electricity to power an air-to-water heat pump, among other things. Any electricity that is not needed in the Sample and Vegetation Center itself will be fed into other University buildings.
Construction materials made from miscanthus, also known as silvergrass, are another special feature. The use of this fast-growing grass as a renewable raw material has been studied at Klein-Altendorf Campus, the University of Bonn’s very own test site, for many years now. Among other things, the new center includes demonstration areas that use miscanthus-based insulation materials and render, thus putting the faculty’s research findings directly into practice.
The outdoor areas have also been designed with the environment in mind: “We’ve installed around 50 boxes around the building to give birds more spaces to nest in the heart of the city,” explained Faculty Manager Dr. Birgit Hoegen. Habitats have also been created for a variety of insects, including a sandarium, dry stone areas and green facades.
The visit organized for local residents demonstrated that the new building is intended as more than just a center for cutting-edge agricultural research. By extending its invitation, the University of Excellence also opened its doors to its neighbors to provide insights into its work. During the conversations, it became clear just how much interest there is in this, especially among locals. “Thank you for putting up with the inconvenience caused by the building work,” Dr. Hoegen said as the event drew to a close. She finished with a request: “Please do continue to keep an eye on us and our Grünes Haus!”
... Press release of the University of Bonn:
