The first congress of the SFB 1280 will take place in April 2018. As in the predecessor of this SFB, the FOR 1581 research group, the design is completely in the hands of the Young Scientists. What is new this time is that the SFB’s graduate school will be brought together in this symposium. Today the coordinator visits the students of the BIOME to discuss the current planning and take up open wishes. This kick-off congress will be led by the IGSN Graduate School in Bochum; if the congress functions half as well as the cooperation with BIOME, it will be very successful.