JI 100 - A Year of Centenary Celebrations
This website is a record of the events and activities held during the John Innes Centenary Celebrations which took place between August 2009 and July 2010. Activites ranged from the production of a commemorative beer to the holding of an international science symposium.
Events and News from the Centenary Year
| JULY 2010 - Official Centenary events end | |
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JULY 2010 'Blooming Snapdragons' - play depicting the struggle of pioneering women scientists performed @ The Royal Institution, London |
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JUNE 2010 The John Innes Centre presented a gift of a JI rose bush to a number of the science institute’s partners and supporters at a special evening at Peter Beales Roses, Attleborough. |
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MAY 2010 Official Launch of the 'John Innes' rose at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show |
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MARCH 2010 'Blooming Snapdragon's performed @ the Forum, Norwich. William Bateson was the first Director of the John Innes and in researching the history we came across the remarkable story of Bateson’s Ladies, unsung heroes in the development of the new science of genetics. |
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MARCH 2010: JI Centenary Exhibition goes on display at the Forum, Norwich |
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JANUARY 2010: Discussion supper on the Economic Impact of Plant and Microbial Science from the JIC was held at House of Lords. Invited guests joined The Earl of Selborne for dinner and discussions. |
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OCTOBER 2009: JI Centenary Beer, 'John Innes 100', to be launched at the Norwich Beer Festival. The beer, an English style India Pale Ale, was brewed by the Thornbridge brewery who used floor-maltings from barley grown in Norfolk with an age old brewing technique. It is currently available from various pubs around Norwich including the Fat Cat and The Unthank Arms. |
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SEPTEMBER 2009: Discovery Day, the first 'open day' for over 20 years at the John Innes Centre. Over 1700 visitors walked freely around the site following a designated route. Along the way they visited labs, looked at demonstrations and took part in hands on activities in a wide range of topics from the molecules of life to finding out about the famous John Innes Composts in the potting shed. |
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SEPTEMBER 2009: John Innes Alumni Day. The event brought together former staff to share their memories, catch up with what goes on today, and of course to have some fun. The day of reminiscing was hosted by Professor Sir John Beringer |
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SEPTEMBER 2009: Centenary Symposium ‘Genetics 100 Years On’. The Symposium reflected on the various areas of human interest that have been transformed by a genetic approach, examining where these areas are now and where they might be in the next 100 years. The event opened with The Bateson Lecture which was presented by Professor Sir Paul Nurse. View The Bateson Lecture 'Genetic transmission through the cell cycle' by Professor Sir Paul Nurse View Presentations from the 'Genetics: 100 Years On' Symposium |
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SEPTEMBER 2009: History of Genetics One Day Meeting. This focal event celebrated 100 years of John Innes science examining the legacy of William Bateson, who coined the term ‘genetics’ and played a central role in the development of early genetics in Britain. View Presentations from the 'History of Genetics' Conference |
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SEPTEMBER 2009: A comprehensive Timeline is published on this website. The later decades are still under development but we hope it will give you an insight into the workings of the John Innes throughout its 100 years. |
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AUGUST 2009: On Saturday 1st August Mike Ambrose and Sarah Wilmot attended an event at the John Innes Park in Merton, Surrey where residents celebrated the centenary of the park opening to the people of Merton as a gift from John Innes. The Park is bordered by John Innes’ former home, the Manor House that was the original site of the John Innes Horticultural Institution when it opened in 1910. Peter Innes, representing the John Innes Foundation, was in attendance at the unveiling by the Deputy Mayor of Merton of a commemorative rose bed, with specimens of the new John Innes rose donated by the JIC. |
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NOVEMBER 2008: Centenary Celebrations Begin! 'John Innes' rose bed planted |














During the centenary year we held an online poll to find what people thought was JI's most significant contribution from the past 100 years. From the100's of votes cast, a clear winner emerged...
John Innes Rose