To conclude a successful 2015, students and staff from the Institute for Plant Biotechnology came together on Friday 4 December to give feedback on research progress and then to relax at the year-end function.

Biannually, all postgraduate students at the IPB are required to report on their research project progress. The research day serves as an opportunity for students to impress their peers and supervisors with research results and new scientific findings obtained from laboratorial work done during the previous six months. Staff members also use this opportunity to identify potential experimental problems and shortcomings; all in an effort to limit the time post‑graduate students take to complete their research and theses, as specified by the time frame for master's and doctoral degrees at Stellenbosch University.

The day started with a welcoming introduction by Dr James Lloyd, staff coordinator, followed by MSc and PhD student presentations, and ended with a gathering at Rusticana. Upon arrival at Rusticana, students and staff relaxed alongside the pool area in an effort to rid themselves of work-related stress that accumulated during 2015. This was followed by an excellent three-course buffet dinner. The evening ended with some enthusiastic dancing and long discussions over drinks in hand.

The IPB would like to thank Mrs Pauliane Davidse for organising a lovely evening that concluded IPB activities for 2015 on a celebratory note.