On April 3, 2026, Prof. Kyle Mason-Jones from the University of Tübingen, Germany, visited the Institute, at the invitation of the CAS Youth Innovation Promotion Association.

During the symposium, Prof. Mason-Jones delivered a lecture titled “Understanding soil bacteriophages in their home”. He presented recent advances in the dispersal and ecological roles of soil bacteriophages. Following the presentation, Prof. Mason-Jones engaged in in-depth discussions with attendees on topics including bacteriophage adsorption, infection dynamics, and their ecological functions in soil environments.

During his visit, Prof. Mason-Jones also toured the Institute’s History Museum, Soil Museum, and The State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture.