Category: ENG_NEWS
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New greenhouse experiment investigates the role of soil biota in ecosystem functioning
In mid-May, we started a new greenhouse experiment in the Soil Ecology Working Group, which aims to study the impact of soil biodiversity and species’ ecological niches on ecosystem functions. The soils used in the experiment come from 50 fields in Southern Estonia, which have previously been studied within the framework of the FunFarm project.…
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Celebrating Sarkal’s 2nd prize for his poster!
We are thrilled to share some wonderful news from the soil ecology team – our PhD student Sarkal Jyakhwa has been awarded 2nd prize in the poster competition at the conference “MSCA in Estonia: Strengthening Research through International Talent”, held on 20 May 2026 in Tartu, Estonia. This was a landmark event: the very first MSCA…
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Soil ecology working group enjoyed a spring field trip in Taevaskoja
On May 5, 2026, the soil ecology working group went on a spring field trip to the hiking trails of Taevaskoja. Sunny weather and birdsong provided a refreshing change from the daily office and classroom work. The trip actively focused on observing spring nature. Among other things, we managed to see a common slow worm…
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The Soil Ecology Team Shared Its Knowledge at the Agricultural Fair Maamess
The Annual Agricultural Fair Maamess took place in Tartu from April 23–25, 2026. This year, 40,192 people visited the fair, and we were one of the fair’s 448 exhibitors. For the first time, the soil ecology team had a booth at the fair to share information about soil life and health. Fair visitors could explore…
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Prof. Maarja Öpik awarded national Order of the White Star
Ahead of the anniversary of the Republic of Estonia, President Alar Karis recognized 203 outstanding people with national decorations, including Academician, Director of ÖMI and Professor in Molecular Ecology Maarja Öpik. Prof. Maarja Öpik was awarded the Order of the White Star of the Republic of Estonia, 3rd Class. Prof. Öpik focuses her research on…
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Bringing Green Thinking to January: Soil Ecology Workshop at Northern Roots Forum
During the dark and cold days of January, the Northern Roots Forum on Regenerative Agriculture brought warmth, inspiration, and collaboration to the farming community. Spanning two days, the forum gathered hundreds of farmers, researchers, and agronomists to share knowledge, experiences, and practical solutions for building resilient agricultural systems. A highlight of the event was the…
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Jaak Pärtel received II prize at the national student research paper competition
This month, good news just keeps coming! We are very pleased to announce that Jaak Pärtel received the 2nd prize at the natural sciences field for his bachelor’s thesis “Global Distribution and Abundance of Mycorrhizal Fungi” at the 2025 national student research paper competition. Jaak’s bachelor’s thesis was based on DNA samples isolated from soil…
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Maarja Öpik elected as Academician of the Estonian Academy of Sciences
We are proud to announce that our institute’s director and professor of molecular ecology, Maarja Öpik, has been elected as an academician in the field of soil science by the General Assembly of the Estonian Academy of Sciences. As an academician, Maarja aims to strengthen dialogue between science, society, and policymakers, advocate for better research…
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Inga Hiiesalu-Vahter introduced the Agroecology centre of excellence at the National Science Forum TeadusEST
On December 4, the Estonian Research Council organized the national science forum “TeadusEST 2025: Competition at the top of Estonian Science is Fierce”, which focused on Estonian centres of excellence and the evaluation of science. At the event, Inga Hiiesalu-Vahter introduced the centre of excellence AgroCropFuture, “Agroecology and new crops in the future climates”, where…
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The mobile biology class visited Viimsi Gymnasium
On November 28, 2025, a career day was held at Viimsi Gymnasium, where, among other organizations, the Mobile Biology Class of the University of Tartu was invited. They conducted a workshop on cutting bacterial DNA with enzymes. During the workshop, students were able to learn about the latest bioscience methods and hear about various applications…