Stefan Vogel (1925-2015) was probably the most influential German pollination biologist of the 20th century. Among his greatest contributions to the field, are the first in-depth analyses and description of some of the most specialized plant-pollinator mutualisms known to science. These include highly specialized pollination systems that are unique and yet widespread among some of the most diverse flowering plant groups, such the perfume flower pollination syndrome in orchids and the oil flower pollination system that evolved independently in eleven plant lineages worldwide.

His outstanding and yet visionary research approach was characterized by interdisciplinarity including aspects of chemical ecology, plant histology and physiology, animal behaviour, evolutionary biology and biogeography involved in plant-pollinator mutualisms, providing a much-needed framework for the study of plant-pollinator co-evolution that still serves as a reference for excellence in the field.

Following his footsteps, the German pollination biology community organizes every other year a symposium with oral and poster presentations and plenty of opportunity for networking. Scholars from all over the world, especially from European and South American countries, where Stefan Vogel’s work most influenced pollination ecology research, come together to present and discuss their work and draft new collaborative proposals in light of recent methodological advancements and central research questions in pollination ecology and evolution.

🗓️ When: November, 14 (Saturday, 9am - 6pm) &
15 (Sunday, 9am - 4pm) 

📍 Where:  Technical University of Munich (TUM) Campus, Freising, Bavaria, Germany

Address: Emil-Ramann Straße 2, 85354 Freising, Germany 

🗒️ Types of contributions 

• Posters  

• Oral presentations (20 mins) 

Please note:

- due to limited time slots, applications for oral contributions will be selected by the symposium's scientific committee and decisions will be sent to applicants by September 30th

- the option of presenting a poster will be given as an alternative to oral contributions that cannot be accommodated in the schedule 

- all contributions need to be accompanied by an abstract (300 words max) 

- please submit abstracts, indicating type of intended contribution in the subject (talk/poster) to vogelsymposium2026@gmail.com

- abstract submission deadline has  been extended until August 15, 2026