Last Lectures Prof. Dr Roland Hoffmann-Barnsen and Prof. Dr Martin Guericke

In the first week of July, two Last Lectures were held. Prof. Roland Hoffmann-Barnsen, Professor of Arable and Crop Production in Organic Farming, and Prof. Dr Martin Guericke, Professor of Forest Growth Science, are both retiring from the university after nearly two decades of dedicated service.

Prof. Roland Hoffmann-Barnsen delivered his Last Lecture on 1 July, describing it at the outset as “a completely ordinary” lecture. The title of his talk was: “Potential Agronomic and Crop-Based Levers for Adapting to Climate Change.”

He focused particularly on the question of which crops and measures can cope with increasingly dry springs and summers. His academic interest in water scarcity began early in his scientific career. His doctoral thesis at Humboldt University in Berlin was titled: “Sensitivity to Water Stress in Five Selected Tropical and Subtropical Grain Legumes.” His postdoctoral thesis (Habilitation) continued in this vein with a focus on: “Utilisation of Forgotten Genetic Resources: Possibilities and Perspectives of Reintroducing Proso Millet (Panicum miliaceum) into Organic Farming.” These themes are especially relevant today in the context of climate change: identifying and using more climate-resilient crops in agriculture.

After various academic and professional appointments, Hoffmann-Barnsen joined HNEE in 2008. Over the years, he assumed several important roles, including Vice Dean, Head of study programme, and member of the Faculty Council. He also served as Scientific Director and Coordinator of the university’s teaching and research farm at Gut Wilmersdorf, and was responsible for overseeing the landscape ecology laboratory.

Prof. Martin Guericke gave his Last Lecture the following day, on 2 July. In his last lecture, he looked back with humour and insight, offering clear suggestions for future development in teaching and in the university community. Like Hoffmann-Barnsen, he addressed the issue of climate change, emphasising the need to involve society in meaningful discourse during times of change and adaptation.

Teaching and the advancement of forestry education have always been at the heart of Martin Guericke’s work. As a long-serving Head of the study programme, he was known for his empathy and his genuine interest in individual students. His commitment to continually improving forestry education was accompanied by clarity, relevance, and practical focus in his teaching. During his time at HNEE, he established a strong network within the forestry profession that not only provided many students with topics for their final theses, but often served as a stepping stone to their professional careers. For Guericke, dialogue with practitioners is an essential part of his application-oriented teaching approach. A particular highlight of his work was the Summer School on Continuous Cover Forestry, in which his vision of forestry education—centred on action-based learning, future relevance, and collaborative work with students—was brought to life. His strong engagement with forest education was also reflected in his long-standing role as Chair of the relevant examination board. Beyond his academic duties, Prof. Guericke also served in leadership positions including Dean and Vice Dean, and was an active member of both the Senate and the University Executive Board. In all these roles, he was a committed advocate for well-founded, expert-driven decision-making.

Looking Ahead - What lies ahead for the two retirees?

Roland Hoffmann-Barnsen plans to devote more time to a lifelong passion that has stayed with him since childhood: driving tractors.

Martin Guericke, meanwhile, intends to embrace the savoir vivre—savouring life, particularly the culinary delights and lifestyle of France.