Speed dating with science

If you don’t ask, you’ll never know – as Sesame Street taught us. With ‘Book a Scientist’, you have the chance to spend 25 minutes talking to an expert from the Leibniz Association and asking everything you’ve always wanted to know about your favourite topic. The LIB is also taking part with four researchers.

To share information about research at the LIB, we not only organise our own events but also take part every year in the Leibniz Association’s “Book a Scientist” series. Here, you can “book” a scientist from a wide range of topics and learn more about their research in a one-to-one conversation. The 25-minute discussions take place online.

The LIB will be taking part on Tuesday 29 September 2026 with the following topics:

Prof. Dr Andreas Schmidt-Rhaesa
Biology course for Ukrainian students

“Comprehensive knowledge of species and ecosystems is essential for assessing, restoring and conserving damaged natural habitats. Due to the war, teaching in Ukraine is mostly conducted online. However, practical aspects are essential when learning about species. As the organiser of field courses run by the University of Hamburg with students from the University of Kharkiv (Ukraine), I will share my experiences and insights and provide an outlook.”

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Dr Francisco Jesus Ruiz-Ruano Campana
The secret chromosome of songbirds: evolution and function

“Did you know that two-thirds of bird species carry a secret ‘ghost’ chromosome? This germline-restricted chromosome is essential for reproduction, yet is absent from normal cells such as blood or muscle. Far from being junk DNA, it has spent 50 million years evolving genes that shape bird development and resolve genetic conflicts. During the session, I’ll explain how this strange chromosome came about and why birds retain it solely for the production of sperm and eggs.”

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Dr Ralph S. Peters
How do we discover unknown animal species right on our doorstep?

“We should all be familiar with Germany’s animal species! Most people would certainly agree with this, or at least think that we’ve long since done so. However, it is only by knowing the species and their requirements that we can truly research, protect and raise awareness of our native biodiversity. However, there are still many native species we do not yet know about, or about which we know very little. You can find out which ones these are, how to change that and why it’s important by talking to me.”

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Felix Deiß
Butterflies as pollinators and their key habitats in Germany

“Pollinators are indispensable for nature, agriculture and food security. Yet many populations are in sharp decline. This is where the LEPO project comes in: it brings together research and policy to effectively protect butterflies and moths. To this end, researchers analyse the data, host plants and key conservation areas. Join me for a discussion to find out how these building blocks ensure conservation and which policy instruments are effective.”

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The “Book a Scientist” website provides an overview of all participating scientists from the Leibniz Association .