02.06.2022
On May 12, 2023, the German JSPS alumni association (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science) honored the ZALF scientist Prof. Dr. Sonoko Dorothea Bellingrath-Kimura with the JSPS Alumni Club Award 2023, the JACA award.
The JACA prize honors Prof. Dr. Bellingrath-Kimura for her commitment to scientific exchange between Japan and Germany. Scientific exchange has many facets, including joint research projects, working on common research topics and the exchange of young scientists and students. But also advising young scientists from both countries when planning a stay in the other country and working in scientific committees in both countries. Ms. Bellingrath-Kimura has contributed recognizable engagement in all possible aspects.
At present, Prof. Dr. Bellingrath-Kimura works as W3 Professor for "Land Use Systems" at the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Co-Head of Research Area 2, "Land Use and Governance" at the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF). She is dedicated to researching sustainable and smart agriculture with a focus on:
Nutrient cycling: Material flow varies greatly depending on site conditions such as soil and uneven water movement in the field. The greenhouse effect, material circulation and soil conditions and location (slope or plain) are examined.
Protein supply / legumes: The full utilization of various ecosystem service functions of legumes and their effective use as food and feed as well as a source of protein is the key to establishing sustainable agriculture in the course of climate change. Nitrogen fixation by native rhizobia has been shown to be very important for the development of soybean acreage. The influence of climate change on grain and maize cultivation and the connection between material cycles, tillage methods and meteorological conditions are being investigated in a German long-term continuous use test field.
Digitization: The DAKIS project uses the potential of digitization and field robotics to integrate ecosystem services (ES) and biodiversity into modern planning processes, production and marketing. In two test regions (Brandenburg and Bavaria), the natural potential and the social needs of ES and biodiversity are analyzed. Close cooperation exists in the digitization to the TUAT, where Ms. Bellingrath-Kimura previously participated in several projects and did research together.
The 2023 JACA Prize includes an ANA flight ticket and rail travel support during a two-week trip.
