JI 100 Celebrations

In 2010 it will be 100 years since the John Innes Horticultural Institution was founded at Merton.  The centenary will be marked by a year of celebrations beginning with a launch conference in September 2009. This will reflect on the various areas of human interest that have been informed by a genetics approach, and where these areas are now. There will be a retrospective exhibiton on the work of John Innes scientists from the early days to the time of the creation of the Centre at Norwich highlighting their outstanding contribution to genetics, plant science and microbiology, and their importance to the advance of horticulture, agriculture, biotechnology and medicine.

Other celebratory plans include an Alumni weekend, special Friends of JIC (FoJIC) events and themed exhibitions. The centenary year will close in July 2010 with events in London and Norwich focussing on the ground-breaking work of JIC’s leading young scientists and will look forward to the next 100 years of excellence in biological research.  

JI 100 Update

Joining Gordon Rowley from right to left were his former JI colleague and friend Ellis Marks; Steve Rawsthorne, Science Operations Manager at JIC; Peter Beales of Beales Roses; Peter Innes; Sarah Wilmot, JI 100 Outreach Curator and Brian Snoad, also a former colleague and friend from Bayfordbury days

The first Centenary event took place on the 17th November 2008 when Peter Innes, JIF Trustee, joined Gordon Rowley, 87, former ‘Keeper of the Roses’ when JI was at Bayfordbury, Herts, to ceremonially plant a  new ‘John Innes’ rose bed on the JIC site at Norwich. The ‘John Innes’ rose was bred by Peter Beales Roses, Attleborough and will be formally launched at Chelsea 2010 to commemorate the 100-year legacy of John Innes.

Registration is now open for the launch events in the John Innes Centenary programme, beginning with a Centenary Symposium ‘Genetics 100 Years On’ which will open with a prestigious History of Genetics Day on Wednesday 9th September. ‘JI Alumni Day’ will follow on Saturday 12th September, bringing together former staff to share their memories, catch up with what goes on today, and of course to have some fun. A ‘Discovery Day’ for the general public on Sunday 13th September will complete the launch celebrations. A timetable of other planned events, which run until July 2010, is available on the Centenary Website.

http://www.jic.ac.uk/centenary

For further information please contact Dr Sarah Wilmot, JIC Outreach Curator - sarah.wilmot@bbsrc.ac.uk