Evolutionary Management of Drug Resistance
Speaker: Prof. Jens Rolff, Freie Universität Berlin

Prof. Jens Rolff is professor for Evolutionary Biology. Antibiotic resistance constitutes one of the most pressing public health concerns. His research group focuses on the evolution of long-lasting immune function in insects. They investigate the hypothesis that antimicrobial peptides in insects deal with persistent infections and/or prevent the evolution of resistant bacterial mutants. This research takes a novel approach to understand the evolution of drug resistance in pathogens, one of the most important applied evolutionary questions of our times.

Carbon Dioxide: Challenges and Opportunities for Chemistry and Society
Speaker: Prof. Biprajit Sarkar, Freie Universität Berlin

Prof. Biprajit Sarkar is a professor of Inorganic Chemistry. Greenhouse gas emissions from human activities – among others, carbon dioxide (CO2) – are drivers of climate change. The discussion on future impacts of climate change should direct political and economic strategies and decision-making processes on the local, national and global level. In his talk Prof. Sarkar will discuss the origins of the large amount of carbon dioxide currently present in the atmosphere. He will provide insights as to why CO2 is a harmful greenhouse gas. Based on his research we will learn about novel and innovative ways for carbon dioxide capture and its conversion to value-added products.