Happy 25th Anniversary, ELLS!

Around 430 participants from all 13 ELLS universities accepted the invitation from L’Institut Agro to attend this year’s ELLS General Assembly & Forum and the Scientific Student Conference (SSC) of the Euroleague of Life Sciences Universities (ELLS). Once again, BOKU was strongly represented, with 23 staff members and 17 students taking part.
ELLS stands for 25 years of “Collaboration, Trust and Shared Experiences” – a message emphasised by Christoph Schneider, Rector of the University of Hohenheim, in his opening address. Anna Gerstenbauer from BOKU, the newly elected Chair of the ELSA (Euroleague Students Association), highlighted the important role students play in driving the changes ahead – not only in the field of education.
2026 is a milestone year for ELLS: In July, the application for European University Alliance funding was approved, making ELLS one of only 20 funded European University Alliances. The main objective of this ELLS project is to empower students to help secure a sustainable food future for Europe. This means strengthening exchange and collaboration between ELLS universities at all levels, providing academic staff with even more opportunities for joint development, cooperation and innovation, and creating additional opportunities for students to become actively involved.

During meetings of the various Subject Areas, Support Teams and governance bodies, participants discussed the next steps and priorities for the alliance’s development. They also explored ways to increase the network’s visibility and external impact. BOKU Rector Eva Schulev-Steindl and Andreas Melcher presented BOKU’s Cluster for Development Research and Africa-UniNet as a best-practice example of collaboration between an ELLS university and African countries.

At the opening of the ELLS Scientific Student Conference (SSC), students and staff were given a glimpse into the past 25 years of ELLS through a short film (see above). The International Relations team also took to the stage to answer quiz questions – and did a great job! Margarita Calderón-Peter, Head of BOKU International Relations, who has been involved in ELLS since its beginnings and has played an active role in its development, was presented with an “ELLS Crown” on behalf of the team.

The programme continued with a keynote by Nicolas Roux (CGIAR), an expert in international agricultural cooperation. His presentation, entitled “Seeds, Science and Solidarity: Four Decades of International Cooperation for the Future of Agri-Food Systems”, introduced this year’s theme of the Scientific Student Conference (SSC): “Sustainable Life Sciences: What ELLS for the Future?”
More than 180 students from all 13 ELLS universities presented their Bachelor’s and Master’s theses, preliminary PhD research findings and other projects across eight thematic sessions. The topics were diverse and international in scope, ranging from virus-induced genome editing to African Elephant Space Use.
Beyond the informal exchanges during coffee breaks, dedicated “Let’s Discuss” sessions provided further opportunities to share opinions and experiences and, of course, exchange contact details. In light of current developments, students from the organising group behind the student protests in Montpellier were also given the opportunity to share their perspectives on the current situation at French universities. Like schools, these institutions are facing considerable financial difficulties. The students discussed their views with fellow ELLS students and staff members.

From BOKU’s perspective, the student conference was once again a great success:
Four of the 17 Awards for Best Presentations went to BOKU students:
Session “Sustainable Agriculture – The Art and Science of Growing Food”:
Elia Noa Pflügelmeier (oral presentation): “Sustainable feed, healthier livestock”
Linda Wernsperger (poster): “Participatory approaches to understanding farmer-prioritised breeding objectives in Ethiopia and Ghana: a comparative and intersectional gender analysis”
Session “Wood ELLS Is There – From Seed to Canopy”:
Martina Wilfinger (poster): “Seasonal versus drought-induced osmotic adjustment in Vitis vinifera cvs. Riesling and Blaufränkisch: Cultivar differences and carbohydrate dynamics”
Session “Earth’s Health – Powering the Future with Nature”
Sebastian Dold (poster): “Statistical Approach to Glide Activity of Different Regions Using Swiss, US and Austrian Data”

In addition, one of the three ELLS Prizes for Excellent Master’s Theses went to a BOKU student: Paula Henzl.

Congratulations to all the award winners and, indeed, to all presenters for their outstanding achievements, commitment and enthusiasm!

We are already looking forward to welcoming you to the next ELLS Conference, taking place from 23 to 25 September 2027 in Warsaw, Poland. We warmly invite you to join us!

Conference Website

www.euroleague-study.org

www.boku.ac.at/ells

25 Years ELLS at the International Days at BOKU

We kindly invite you to the presentations of the English and International Master programmes as well as to the Euroleague of Life Sciences Universities (ELLS) at BOKU as part of the
International Days !

When? Wednesday, November 25, 2026 from 10:30-12:00 (CET)

25 year ELLS will be one of the topics at the International Café, November 24, 13:30-16:30, Aula Schackhöferhaus
We look forward to seeing you and your friends!

Poster Exhibition: “25 Years of ELLS at BOKU”

What is the Euroleague of Life Sciences Universities (ELLS)? What does ELLS have to offer, and what is BOKU’s connection to the Alliance?
Discover an overview of ELLS, personal experiences and anniversary greetings.

Exhibition dates:

• Campus Tulln: 3–17 November
• Schwackhöferhaus Foyer: 23 November – 1 December
• Muthgasse Foyer: 2–17 December