Welcome

Calling all visionary female researchers!

Do you have an innovative idea that could change the world? The feminno program is here to help you bring that vision to life! Join a dynamic community of like-minded women and gain access to experienced mentors who will guide you in refining and launching your startup.

Why wait for the perfect moment? This is your chance to turn passion into progress. Apply now and take the next step in your entrepreneurial journey with confidence and support. Join the 10- days feminno training and embark on a journey of discovery and growth. We teach you all you need to get started with your spin-off!

Get training around business models, pitching, fundraising, leadership and more. Connect with innovation experts to learn about the latest trends and breakthroughs in female-led innovation.
Connect with like-minded scientists from diverse backgrounds, industries, and disciplines.
Benefit from mentors who provide guidance and support, helping you navigate through the Swiss entrepreneurship ecosystem
Attend inspiring Workshops and Panel Discussions to boost your creativity, learn practical skills, and be part of a dynamic community.

Apply here by July 31, 2025: https://blogs.ethz.ch/feminno/application/

Fachtagung Dialog Grün 2025

Join us on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at ETH Zurich (Audimax, HG, F30) for the Fachtagung Dialog Grün (in German), where experts from research, practice, and policy come together to bridge knowledge gaps and explore innovative solutions for sustainable agriculture.

Discover groundbreaking approaches to reduce environmental impacts of crop protection and connect with key stakeholders and foster collaboration.

See the program

PSC Annual Report 2024

We are pleased to announce the publication of the Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center’s Annual Report 2024!

This past year has been a dynamic and productive one, marked by groundbreaking research, innovative education initiatives, and impactful outreach efforts. Discover how the PSC has advanced plant and environmental sciences and fostered dialogue between science, policy, and society.

📖 Read the full report here:PSC Annual Report 2024 (PDF, 9 MB)

PSC Newsletter

The PSC Newsletter offers information on latest research highlights, education, network events, new members, and outreach activities.

PSC Newsletter latest edition (PDF, 10 MB)

previous PSC Newsletter

subscribe to PSC Newsletter

Science Highlights

Global influence of soil texture on ecosystem water limitation

Wankmüller, F.J.P., Delval, L., Lehmann, P. et al., Nature 635, 631–638 (2024).

Soil texture is a key factor in shaping ecosystem responses to water stress. This study shows that sandy soils make ecosystems more sensitive to drying, while clayey soils increase sensitivity to atmospheric demand. These findings emphasize how soil properties shape plant resilience to climate change.

Read article More about Read article
Trade-off between investment in plant defense repertoires and growth

Giolai, M., Laine,A., Science386,677-680(2024).

This study highlights the trade-off between growth and immune defense in wild plants, revealing that species with larger molecular defense repertoires exhibit slower growth. However, this trade-off is not observed in agricultural plants, emphasizing the impact of domestication on plant defense strategies.

Read article More about Read article
A landscape-scale view of soil organic matter dynamics.

Doetterl, S., Berhe, A.A., Heckman, K. et al., Nature Reviews Earth & Environment 6, 67–81 (2025).

Understanding soil formation and biogeochemical complexity at the landscape scale is essential for improving predictions of soil organic matter dynamics and carbon sequestration. Addressing data gaps and incorporating diverse soil processes into models will enhance global projections of soil carbon stocks and their role in climate change mitigation.

Read article More about Read article
Plant pattern recognition receptors

Snoeck, S., Johanndrees, O., Nürnberger, T. et al., Nature Reviews Genetics (2024).

Advances in genomic and pangenomic analyses are deepening our understanding of plant immune receptors (PRRs) and their role in plant–pathogen co-evolution. Leveraging these insights, along with protein structure prediction and receptor engineering, offers new opportunities to enhance disease resistance and promote sustainable agriculture.

Read article More about Read article
Landscape diversity promotes landscape functioning in North America

Mayor, S., Altermatt, F., Crowther, T.W. et al., Commun Earth Environ 6, 28 (2025).

Landscape-level diversity, measured by the number of ecosystem types, enhances primary productivity, stability, and long-term greening trends across North America. These effects occur independently of local species diversity, highlighting the importance of ecosystem interactions at broader spatial scales.

Read article More about Read article

Additional Information

Join us for the Fachtagung Dialog Grün that will be held on June 10, 2025 at ETH Zurich, Audimax (in German).

The Fachtagung aims to bridge knowledge gaps between research, practice, and policy while promoting innovative approaches, collaboration, and sustainable agricultural systems. It will showcase solutions to reduce environmental impacts from plant protection products and farming practices.

📌 Present your research on sustainable plant protection with a poster at the Fachtagung.
Ideas, methods, or approaches that have not yet been field-tested are also welcome.
Submit your poster abstract (max. 300 words) via email to Romy Kohlmann and take the opportunity to showcase your work to a broad audience.