After the announcement of the decision by the German Research Foundation (DFG) at the end of September,  there was good reason to celebrate at the Friedrich Schiller University in Jena: The cluster Balance of the Microverse is going to be funded through the German Excellence Strategy for seven years starting in January 2019.

On Monday, October 29, participating scientists assembled at the first general meeting of cluster members. During his opening address, speaker Axel Brakhage emphasized the success of the cluster during the selection process: “The DFG reviewers highlighted the great potential here in Jena. That is an enormous achievement for Jena as a research location. We could not have hoped for a better assessment.” But this is just the beginning, Brakhage added, of implementing the ambitious research program and thus fulfilling its aims. Subsequently, the interdisciplinary team of scientists immediately proceeded to discuss and plan the organization and future research within the Cluster of Excellence.

The Cluster of Excellence Balance of the Microverse will investigate the dynamic balance of microbial communities and the mechanisms that underly their pivotal roles in the functioning of ecosystems and complex life forms such as plants and humans. In this manner, the cluster aims at offering innovative solutions for fighting disease and remediating environmental dysbalance.

Photos and text: Alena Gold, Balance of the Microverse