Beans, Science and Conversation: Dinner4Zero Brings Citizen Science to the Table

Plant beans in your own garden and help advance cutting-edge research? That is exactly what the European Citizen Science project INCREASE invites the public to do. It will be the focus of this month’s Dinner4Zero on Wednesday, 20th of August, from 18:00 – 21:00 CEST at the ‘Make Science Halle’ research ship.

Guest speaker Dr Kerstin Neumann, scientist at the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research in Gatersleben in Germany, will introduce participants to the INCREASE project, which distributes bean seeds to volunteers across Europe. Citizen scientists plant, observe, and report on their beans, contributing valuable data to explore the genetic diversity of this important crop. The project’s innovative approach has already earned recognition, winning the European Union’s Grand Prize for Citizen Science in 2024.

At Dinner4Zero, guests and researchers will share the table and ideas. Together they will explore questions such as: What makes a successful citizen science project? How can both researchers and the public benefit? And what motivates people to get involved? The evening takes place in the unique setting of Halle’s floating citizens’ research lab. Culinary highlights include a free three-course, fully plant-based menu, with beans taking centre stage in honour of the evening’s theme. (Guests with allergies or intolerances are asked to indicate this when registering.)

Event details
Wednesday, 20th of August 2025
18:00 - 21:00 CEST
Make Science Halle Research Ship
Anleger 5, An der Saalepromenade, 06114 Halle (Saale), Germany

About Dinner4Zero
Dinner4Zero is a monthly culinary encounter organised by the new Science Cube - Competence Center for Science Communication and supported by the STARK programme. As part of Halle’s annual theme year curated by science2public e.V., Dinner4Zero is dedicated to “building bridges” between science and society. Each dinner menu serves as both a culinary experience and a conversation starter about the future of food, enriched by short impulses from guest researchers.

Participation is limited to 20 guests per dinner. Registration is required at: www.sciencecube.de

Post-event note: We had a great time at Dinner4Zero! Check out the pictures of the event here!

Make Science Halle Research Ship in Halle, Germany - location of the Dinner4Zero event