The HSZG at the Green Week

The BoTiKI research project , which was launched last year, was a guest at the stand of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Protection, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN) at the Green Week in Berlin. From January 16 to 25, the stand in Hall 27 "grünerleben" of the exhibition grounds attracted numerous curious visitors who wanted to find out more about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for nature conservation and climate protection, among other things.

On January 22 and 23, the information booth was personally staffed by project leaders Dr. Clément Schneider of the Senckenberg Society for Nature Research in Görlitz and Dr. André Seeliger of the Institute for Process Engineering, Process Automation and Measurement Technology (IPM) at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences. They offered visitors a glimpse into a fascinating world that remains almost hidden from the naked eye: Living soil animals could be seen under microscopes and magnifying glasses, accompanied by videos showcasing the project’s current activities. In a relaxed, half-hour presentation, the scientists explained the motivation and goals of the BoTiKI project.

The response was consistently positive and interest was high. The project partners met a mixed audience at the stand, ranging from expert colleagues from the scientific community to citizens with a general interest in environmental issues and school classes. The immediate vividness of the live microscopy and the multimedia-supported presentation of how artificial intelligence helps to analyze the complex world of soil fauna ensured many curious questions and therefore few breaks.

From a technical standpoint, BoTiKI aims to accelerate the analysis of soil samples using an AI-supported workflow. Automatic image processing is used to detect, count, and classify the microorganisms contained in the samples. The data obtained ultimately helps to better assess soil health and determine its role in the climate system—for example, as a sink or source of greenhouse gases. These findings can provide important information for agricultural practice.

With a record-breaking 350,000 visitors, Green Week came to a successful close on January 25, ultimately providing the BoTiKI team with an excellent platform to present its work to a broad public.

Text: André Seeliger
Photos: BMUKN / Espen Eichhöfer, Clément Schneider, Marla Schulz, André Seeliger