When does the lecture take place?

The lecture takes place on Sunday, November 8, 2026, at 4 PM.

Where is the event held?

The event location is Lecture Hall H 33 in the Applied Computer Science building on the campus of the University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth.

Who is giving the lecture?

The lecture is given by Prof. Sandra Calkins from the Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology focusing on Africa at the University of Bayreuth.

What topics are covered in the lecture?

The focus is on global banana production, the vulnerability of the Cavendish banana, biological diversity, biotechnological research, as well as traditional knowledge and cultivation methods in Uganda.

Is there an online participation option?

Yes, according to the event information, a livestream via Zoom is additionally provided.

What is the entry price?

For the lecture, no reliably confirmed ticket price could be determined.

Banana Lecture Uni Bayreuth 2026

Name: The End of the Banana? Diversity, Science, and Survival
Start: 2026-11-08T16:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-11-08T18:00:00+01:00
Location: Universität Bayreuth

When the Banana Disappears: A Lecture on Diversity, Research, and Global Future Issues

What happens when one of the world's most popular fruits loses its resilience? On Sunday, November 8, 2026, Prof. Sandra Calkins at the University of Bayreuth invites you to a scientifically based lecture on the future of the banana. The focus will be on biological diversity, global agriculture, traditional knowledge, and how people cope with the challenges of a changing planet.

The Cavendish Banana Under Pressure

The banana is a major staple food for millions of people in the tropics. At the same time, global trade is heavily focused on the Cavendish variety. This low genetic diversity makes large-scale cultivation vulnerable to pests and diseases from fungi, bacteria, and viruses. The lecture will explain why the future of the banana is not just a matter of taste, but also a topic of food security and global responsibility.

Science Meets Traditional Knowledge

Prof. Sandra Calkins combines social and cultural anthropological perspectives with questions from science and environmental research. The lecture will discuss international research projects that seek resilient solutions using biotechnological methods. At the same time, it will look at traditional cultivation methods and local knowledge that has been passed down through generations.

A Journey to Uganda

Particular attention will be given to Uganda, a country with an exceptionally large diversity of banana varieties. The event will highlight how closely plants, landscapes, health, nutrition, and social life are interconnected. The banana thus appears not just as a commercial product, but as part of history, culture, and everyday life.

Science Made Understandable and Societally Relevant

The event places current research in a broader context: colonial influences, capitalist production methods, global science networks, and the search for sustainable forms of coexistence. The event management of the University of Bayreuth focuses on an accessible lecture in a university context that combines academic depth with social relevance.

Lecture with Livestream

The lecture begins on Sunday, November 8, 2026, at 4 PM in Lecture Hall H 33 in the Applied Computer Science building on the University of Bayreuth campus. Additionally, participation via livestream is provided. The event experience thus combines the concentrated atmosphere of a university lecture with the opportunity to follow the content online.

Visitors can expect an informative afternoon with powerful images from global agriculture, insights into banana research, and a nuanced discussion about biodiversity, health, and survival. Those who want to understand why the future of a fruit touches global questions will experience an enlightening lecture live in Bayreuth.