Global Outline
Rhizosphere 4 ran over five days at the Maastricht Conference Center (MECC), combining keynote lectures, parallel scientific sessions, poster presentations, and social events. The program was designed to foster exchange across disciplines in soil ecology and rhizosphere research.
| Day | Date | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday | 21 June 2015 | Opening ceremony, keynote address by Anton Hartmann, welcome reception |
| Monday | 22 June 2015 | Keynote lectures, parallel sessions, poster pitches |
| Tuesday | 23 June 2015 | Keynote lectures, parallel sessions, roundtable discussions |
| Wednesday | 24 June 2015 | Parallel sessions, poster sessions, conference dinner |
| Thursday | 25 June 2015 | Closing sessions, excursions |
Keynote Addresses
Keynote lectures were scheduled throughout the week, beginning with Anton Hartmann (Helmholtz Center Munich) on Sunday, 21 June. His talk, “From the foundations of rhizosphere research in the 19th century to the present high tech bioanalytic based research approaches,” set the stage for the scientific program. Additional keynote speakers presented on subsequent days.
Full speaker profiles and presentation titles are available on the Keynote Speakers page.
Parallel Sessions
Twelve parallel session tracks covered the breadth of contemporary rhizosphere science:
- Symbiosis — Convenors: Barbara Reinhold, Erik Limpens
- Root Turnover — Convenors: Luke McCormack, Alexandra Weigelt
- Nutrient Acquisition — Convenors: Hans Lambers, Jianbo Shen
- Signaling
- Rhizosphere Microbiome
- Climate Change
- Food-web Interactions
- Human Pathogens in the Rhizosphere
- New Methods and Concepts
- Below and Above Ground Interactions
- Water Relations
- Root Endophytes
Detailed session descriptions and convenor information can be found on the Parallel Sessions page.
Poster Pitches & Roundtables
Dedicated poster-pitch slots gave early-career researchers the opportunity to present flash talks before the main poster sessions. Roundtable discussions provided an informal forum for debating emerging topics and methodologies in rhizosphere ecology.
Social Program
The social program included a welcome reception on the opening evening, a mid-week conference dinner, and excursions on the final day. These events offered attendees the chance to network and explore the Maastricht region.