From October 22 to 24, 2025, our institute hosted a joint conference (Combined Workshop) of two Working Groups of the World Poultry Science Association (WPSA). A total of 112 participants from 23 countries across all continents came to Berlin to exchange insights on current topics in poultry incubation and physiology. The scientific leadership of the event was in the hands of the two Working Group chairs, Dr. Roos Molenaar (Wageningen University – Incubation and Fertility) and PD Dr. Barbara Tzschentke (IASP – Physiology), who developed a diverse program comprising nine sessions. Topics ranged from the influence of incubation factors on embryonic and post-hatch development, optimization of practical incubation temperature profiles, in-ovo sex determination, gut health and microbiome, to potential causes of hatching problems in practice, and much more.

A remarkable aspect of the workshop was the strong interest from industry: more than half of the participants represented poultry companies, and 17 sponsors provided financial support to ensure the success of the event.

A key target group of both the WPSA and the Combined Workshop is the next generation of poultry scientists. The organizers explicitly aimed to inspire and support upcoming experts in the field. In addition to offering students and early-career researchers the opportunity to present their work to an international audience, this goal was supported through the Nick French Award and a NextGen Grant. Seven young participants applied for the Nick French Award, named after the keynote speaker of the workshop. The award was ultimately presented to Luisa Kosin (Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh) for her work “Red and green light increase non-visual, extra-retinal photoreceptor mRNA expression in the chick brain at hatch.”
The four winners of the NextGen Grant came from Togo, Brazil, the United Kingdom, and Israel.

A special highlight of the three-day event was the 50th anniversary celebration of the Incubation & Fertility Research Group (IFRG), commemorated with a gala dinner and cultural program.
The final conclusion of the Combined Workshop:
“Great science, great atmosphere, excellent food, and three full days of collaborations between industry and research in universities and companies.”
(Zehava Uni, Vice President of WPSA, Jerusalem)

We sincerely thank all sponsors of the event as well as our dedicated organizing team—PD Dr. Barbara Tzschentke, Arlette Harder, and Julia Goydez—for the excellent preparation and execution!

‍