FABI Director, Prof. Bernard Slippers attended the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Research Award Symposium in Bamberg, Germany from 19-22 March as one of ten recipients of this prestigious Award in 2026. The three-day symposium was an opportunity for exchange across disciplines and borders, featuring round table discussions and scientific lectures. Experts shared insights from a wide range of fields – from material science to psychology and health policy to molecular biology, and more.

Bernard presented a seminar on the plight of global forests under pressure from invasive pests and pathogens, and climate change, specifically about the 'Silent Threats: How latent pathogens reshape forest health in a changing climate'. He says that was an honour to receive the Humboldt Research Award as part of the Germany Global Minds initiative during the event and that he was deeply inspired by this symposium and the Alexander von Humboldt foundation and community in general. The central thesis of the work of the namesake of the foundation was that 'everything is interaction'. Bernard says that this spirit was alive at the meeting and is extremely relevant to today's world.