Our picture of the week (Photo: Jörg Overmann) shows soil sampling in the Okavango Delta in southern Africa. The freshwater marsh is famous for its biological diversity which is, however, under threat: The Okavango Delta is a global hot-spot for increasing climate change and impending land use conflicts. In 'The Future Okavango' project (TFO) an international research consortium aims to develop innovative concepts and strategies to meet these challenges. In April, researchers from the Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures in Braunschweig spent three weeks on a scientific excursion to Namibia and Angola in the context of the project. The researchers investigated the microbial impact of changed soil management on soil fertility in order to make recommendations for sustainable land use management. The results are expected to be highly transferable to other regions. More information here.

The Leibniz Association comprises 86 institutions conducting application-oriented basic research and providing scientific infrastructure. In total, around 16,800 people work for Leibniz institutions – including 7800 scientists and researchers. The annual budget amounts to just under 1.4 billion euro.

The Leibniz Association is characterized by the variety of subjects and disciplines treated in the institutions. This variety allows, in particular, to bridge the gap between the humanities and social sciences as well as natural sciences, life sciences and engineering. The research museums in the Leibniz Association preserve and explore the natural and cultural heritage. They also showcase research and are places of learning, thus eliciting fascination for science.