Progress Report 2018 - TU Darmstadt
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Progress Report 2018
18 Academic Affairs
The new biomedical engineering degree course
is very popular. TU Darmstadt has attracted
Goethe University Frankfurt as a partner.
4 Summary by Executive Board
14 Academic Affairs
17 Tricky tasks
18 Run on biomedical engineering degree course
20 Demanding from the very start
22 Comprehensive protection
23 Settling in quickly
24 Generous opening hours
25 Courses offered by TU Darmstadt
26 Facts and figures
30 Research
33 Top positions in German Research Foundation ranking
34 Major projects with a promising future
35 Machine learning for agriculture
36 From human to artificial intelligence
38 Recipe against the power of quantum computers
39 Pros and cons from noise
40 Health data under lock and key
41 Faster DNA synthesis
42 The insect perfume trick
43 Innovations for waterways and buildings
44 Overcoming subject boundaries
46 Top-Level Research 43 Research
Environmental engineers design special lifts
50 Why I study here
to make waterways passable for fish throughout.
60 Cooperation and transfer
63 50 years of partnership with Lyon
64 Energy-efficient ETA factory
65 Side by side with SMEs
66 From the laboratory into practice
68 Ground mission in the lecture hall
69 Clean water
70 The mobility of the future
71 3D scanner for insects
72 New tools
73 Awakening inquiring minds with Merck 77 Life on campus
Open laboratories and exciting
74 Life on campus research were to be discovered
77 Thousands were wide awake at the “hellwach!” (“wide awake!”)
78 Urban quality science day of TU Darmstadt.
80 Climate-friendly energy centre
81 Vespa swirl
82 90 years university swimming pool
83 New cultural business with tradition
84 Facts and figures
86 Awards
89 Double peak power 64
Content
90 Postdocs with Athene Cooperation
92 Take-off in research and transfer
94 Search for matter 2.0 The ETA factory on
95 Not always platinum
campus proves it:
96 Instructive
97 Outstanding
Industrial production 89 Awards
enterprises save up to Highest-endowed international research
98 Proximity to the Nobel Prize
99 Concentrated inspirations 40 percent of energy award in Germany: The first Alexander
100 Facts and figures if they cleverly network von Humboldt professorship at
their plants and TU Darmstadt is held by the physicist
102 Campus impressions / Imprint industrial buildings. Alexandre Obertelli.
2 3
4
Summary by Executive Board
TU Darmstadt
Progress Report
2018
Summary by Executive Board
Federal Chancellor as guest Pillar of the National Research Centre
“A jewel in the crown of artificial intelligence” – this The Cyber Security Centre, which opened in Darmstadt
is how German Chancellor Angela Merkel described in 2015, will receive long-term funding from 2019 as
TU Darmstadt when she visited the university in the new Center for Research in Security and Privacy
October 2018 with Hesse’s Prime Minister Volker (CRISP). Along with the Fraunhofer Institutes for
Bouffier and found out more about robotics and Secure Information Technology and for Computer
artificial intelligence as well as the opportunities Graphics and the Darmstadt University of Applied
that digitisation offers society. The Simulation, Sciences, TU Darmstadt is a major partner in this pro-
System Optimisation and Robotics Group in the ject. The research centre of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
Department of Computer Science presented its is to be the largest in this field in Germany. Darmstadt
autonomous reconnaissance robot for search and is also Europe’s most important hub for IT security
rescue missions in the event of catastrophes or research. More than 450 scientists conduct research
accidents. on current topics of cyber security in society, business
and administration. CRISP bundles these activities.
According to current rankings, computer science
at TU Darmstadt occupies a leading position in Success in the Tenure Track Programme
Europe. It is the highest-performing in a nationwide TU Darmstadt was successful with its concept in
comparison of universities and shapes the univer- the first round of the federal and state programme
sity: Two of the six profile areas – Internet and for the promotion of young scientists (Tenure Track
Digitisation as well as Cybersecurity (CYSEC) – Programme). It successfully applied for funding for
are researching the technological foundations twelve professorships, quickly advertised the positions
necessary for digitisation. A key to the success of and completed several appointment procedures.
computer science at the TU are its excellent con- In December 2018, Assistant Professor Vera Krewald
nections with application disciplines in engineering began her research and teaching in the Department
and the humanities. It also provides important of Chemistry as the first scientist of TU Darmstadt to
impetus for the new fields of cognitive science be funded by the programme. The university wants
Summary by Executive Board
and digital humanities. to establish assistant professorships as an alternative
career path to professorships. In 2030, it will recruit
about half of its professors through assistant professor-
ships with tenure track.
“In intense international
competition, TU Darmstadt
proves that Germany
can be top of the league”.
Chancellor Angela Merkel
“TU Darmstadt gives its researchers
“This is where scientific the opportunity to work on
developments take place that questions with a long-term
are of the utmost importance Guiding hand: Chancellor Angela Merkel visited TU Darmstadt to learn more about robotics and artificial intelligence. relevance, without any guarantees
to the future”. of short-term success”.
Prime Minister of Hesse Volker Bouffier Vera Krewald, Assistant Professor for Theoretical Chemistry
6 7
Once again, the university presented its activities
at a parliamentary evening in the Hesse state
parliament, this time with a focus on spin-offs and
innovations. With their business ideas and previous
market successes, the two TU start-ups Alcan
Systems GmbH and IT-Seal GmbH were met with
great interest. IT-Seal specialises in combating
cybercrime and phishing attacks and uses simulated
Open for dialogue: Prime Minister Volker Bouffier was interested in technology scenarios in working environments. e-mail attacks to train security awareness in
everyday working life. Alcan Systems is advancing
Excellence strategy Close exchange with politicians the development of a fully electric, intelligent
In the “Excellence Strategy of the Federal Govern- In 2018, the University continued to publicly repre- antenna technology based on a liquid crystal
ment and the States”competition, TU Darmstadt sent its positions on current challenges in science design for satellite and mobile communications.
was the most successful university in Hesse in the and higher education policy. It invited leading politi-
preselection and was asked to submit two of its cians from the parliamentary groups represented in The Hesse state government met for a cabinet
draft proposals as full proposals. Unfortunately, the state parliament to a panel discussion with the meeting in the “Leap in time Lab”, a spin-off of
TU Darmstadt was not successful in the final title “(Neu)gierig auf morgen? Wie Digitalisierung TU Darmstadt, and found out more about concrete
selection. The projects “Centre for Predictive Wissenschaft und Wirtschaft verändert”(“Curious technology scenarios of future working environ-
Thermofluids – Accelerating the Energy Revol- about tomorrow? How digitisation is changing ments. In the Science Committee of the Hesse state The University in the heart of the science city Darmstadt.
ution” and “Data Analysis for the Humanities” science and industry”). parliament, TU President Professor Hans Jürgen
which had been nominated as Clusters of Prömel and the chairwoman of the University intensified in order to facilitate more research stays
Excellence were not included in the list of funded Council, Professor Heidi Wunderli-Allenspach, for doctoral students of TU Darmstadt.
projects. Nevertheless, the university will continue “The current technological trans- summed up the progress made by the university
on its path of promoting innovation on the basis with a focus on the internationalisation strategy. Responsibility in the science city
of strong interdisciplinarity. Both projects fit
formation is historically unique The “Science City Round Table”, established on
into the research profile of TU Darmstadt and in its speed and is driven by the European network the initiative of the President of TU Darmstadt, the
Summary by Executive Board
can strengthen the profile areas “Thermo-Fluids TU Darmstadt chairs the CLUSTER network of lead- Schader Foundation and the Lord Mayor of Darm-
and Interfaces” and “Energy Systems of the
digitisation of science, society and ing European technical universities (Consortium stadt, regularly brings together top executives from
Future” as well as “Internet and Digitisation”. industry. The central topics of Linking Universities of Science and Technology universities, politics, industry, cultural institutions
the future of particular importance for Education and Research). TU President Hans and research institutes to discuss the potential of
The Executive Board of TU Darmstadt submitted Jürgen Prömel assumed the office of chairman the science city. In 2018, the heads of 37 institutions
concrete proposals to the Hesse state government for Hesse include robotics, smart for two years. CLUSTER aims at excellent teaching signed a joint memorandum. As part of this cooper-
to supplement the LOEWE research funding cities, digital medicine, space and promotes joint double degree programmes, ation, which is unique in Germany, work is being
programme of the state of Hesse financially and structured student exchanges, new ways to done to publicly highlight the assets of Darmstadt
programmatically in order to prepare Hesse’s
technologies, Industry 4.0 and doctorates and the integration of research and as a science city. The network with a scientific
universities specifically for the next Excellence FinTech. TU Darmstadt is an entrepreneurship into teaching. focus covers all stages of value creation, from basic
Strategy round in 2026. research to technologically sophisticated production.
essential actor with an inter- Partners in Canada and the USA
nationally high reputation here, The international cooperation between researchers
especially also with regard and students at TU Darmstadt and partner univer-
sities overseas was further expanded: For instance,
to the decisive key technologies the university management visited the University of “The Memorandum is a strong sign of
of artificial intelligence and Massachusetts at Amherst and its renowned College networking, trust and joint responsibility
of Engineering, as well as the University of Toronto,
IT security”. one of Canada’s strongest research universities.
in the science city of Darmstadt”.
Professor Hans Jürgen Prömel, President of TU Darmstadt Contacts with the University of Princeton were also TU President Professor Hans Jürgen Prömel
8 9
Organisation
Executive Board
University leadership team
Members
President Prof. Dr. Hans Jürgen Prömel
University strategy and structure, appointment of new professors, quality management and international relations, external representation
Vice President Dr. Manfred Efinger
Administration and financial affairs
Vice President Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ralph Bruder
Academic affairs
Vice President Prof. Dr.-Ing. Mira Mezini
Research and innovation
Vice President Prof. Dr. Andrea Rapp
Scientific infrastructure
President Vice President Vice President Vice President Prof. Dr. Matthias Rehahn
Prof. Dr. Hans Jürgen Prömel Dr. Manfred Efinger Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ralph Bruder Knowledge and technology transfer, alumni activities, fundraising
University Council University Assembly Senate
Initiatives on fundamental issues, esp. Statements on fundamental questions Provision of advice on matters of structure,
university development, involvement in of university development, teaching, studies development planning and construction
management of resources and and early career researchers, election planning, budget, research, teaching
appointment of new professors, proposal and dismissal of the Executive Board and studies, approval of university regulations,
of presidential candidates professorial appointments, honours
Members
Members Members
31 professors
Dr. Horst J. Kayser 15 students President
Chief Strategy Officer/Head of Corporate 10 research associates 10 professors
Development Siemens 5 administrative/technical staff 4 students
3 research associates
Prof. Katharina Kohse-Höinghaus 3 administrative/technical staff
University of Bielefeld, Department of
Chemistry/Physical Chemistry
Summary by Executive Board
Manfred Krupp
Director of Hessischer Rundfunk
Prof. Bernd Reckmann
Member of the Executive Board, Merck (until 2016)
Prof. Ernst Schmachtenberg
until 2018 Rector of RWTH Aachen University
Prof. Ferdi Schüth
Director at the Max-Planck-Institut für
Vice President Vice President Vice President Kohlenforschung, since 2014 Vice President
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Mira Mezini Prof. Dr. Andrea Rapp Prof. Dr. Matthias Rehahn of the Max-Planck-Society
Prof. Wolfgang Wahlster
Saarland University, Department of Computer
Science, Director and CEO of the German
Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DKFI)
Prof. Margret Wintermantel
President of the German Academic
Exchange Service, Professor of Psychology
Dr. Marie-Luise Wolff
Chief Executive Officer ENTEGA AG Darmstadt
Dr. Holger Zinke
Deputy Chairman, Supervisory Board, Brain AG
December 2018
10 11
People Research profile
25,889 students (of which 7,972 female) 6 Profile Areas:
4,947 first-semester undergraduate students Cybersecurity
Internet and Digitisation
2,688 first-semester Master’s students
From Material to Product Innovation
253 male professors (of which 13 assistant professors) Thermo-Fluids & Interfaces
55 female professors (of which 5 assistant professors) Future Energy Systems
2,593 academic employees (of which 661 female) Matter and Radiation Science
1,909 non-academic employees (of which 1,154 female)
2 Excellence Graduate Schools:
164 trainees (of which 54 female)
Computational Engineering
119 graduate assistants (of which 46 female) Energy Science and Engineering
2,885 student assistants (of which 894 female)
1 Participation in Cluster of Excellence
“The Formation of Normative Orders”
Campus
5 locations: City Centre, Lichtwiese, Botanical Gardens, University 6 LOEWE Clusters of Excellence
Stadium, August-Euler Airfield (with wind tunnel)
11 DFG Collaborative Research Centres/
250 hectares of property Transfer Units
164 buildings (incl. 14 rented)
309,291 square metres of usable space (incl. 17,414 rented)
Budget
EUR 249.9 million basic funds from the State of Hesse (excl. LOEWE)
EUR 26.5 million from Bund-Länder-Hochschulpakt (Phase II)
EUR 8.8 million other funds
EUR 169.1 million third-party funds (incl. LOEWE)
Summary by Executive Board
Upgrowth of third-party funds Sources of third-party funds
(in mio EUR) (in %)
169.1
164.7
160.3
156.9
163.5
154.4
Facts and figures
139.1
150.8 144.8
119.0
Figures rounded
12 13
14
Academic Affairs
TU Darmstadt
Progress Report
2018
Highlights 2018
Tricky tasks
1,155
places to work and relax have
Top 100:
In the engineering
sciences as a whole and
been created since 2011 by in mechanical engineering
the university in new student and physics in particular, Team Hector is world champion
learning centres. TU Darmstadt is one The Hector Rescue Robot Team of the Computer
of the most renowned Science Department won first place in the Plant
universities worldwide Disaster Prevention Challenge at the World Robot
according to the Summit. The international competition is organised
QS subject ranking. by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade
and Industry and the Japanese New Energy and
Industrial Technology Development Organization to
promote technological developments in robotics.
In the preliminary round, the robots had to measure
gas concentrations, operate valves, inspect an
industrial plant visually, thermally and acoustically,
Rank 78 worldwide: and initiate emergency response measures. The
The QS Graduate 2 million euros: team from the Simulation, System Optimisation and
The Federal Ministry Robotics Group, which used two flight robots and
Employability Ranking one ground robot, went to the finals as a favourite.
of Education and Research
ranks TU Darmstadt There, the robot had to dodge debris and track
honours the university’s
down accident victims, and succeeded in solving the
among the best concept tasks with flying colours.
universities. Its for teacher training in
Mathematics, On the subject of winning: The team with its exten-
graduates are valued
sive expertise in intelligent (semi-)autonomous
Information technology,
by employers robot systems has become accustomed to victories:
Natural sciences and In the RoboCup Rescue Robot League, the “Best
internationally as
Technology. in Class Autonomy Award” was won four years in
particularly qualified. a row and in 2014 the entire competition was won Celebrating success: TU team with rescue robot Hector.
for the first time ever with an autonomous robot.
In 2017, the TU won the ARGOS Challenge. Electromechanical boule players
During the winter semester, student teams at
the Department of Electrical Engineering and
Information Technology developed prototypes that
position a miniature boule ball as precisely as
possible. The robots competed against each other
Academic Affairs
in a tournament under the eyes of a jury of experts.
The specifications were strict: For example, the
devices could not weigh more than 2.5 kilograms
and the ball had to be ejected fully automatically
after a single adjustment. The budget was limited
to 75 euros. The seminar “Practical Development
500
scholarship holders of the German Academic
Methodology” trains participants in independently
solving technical tasks in preparation for their
future professional life.
Exchange Service from 82 countries debated
the digital change at TU Darmstadt.
16 17
Run on biomedical engineering degree course
The new Bachelor’s course in biomedical engineering
jointly established by TU Darmstadt and Goethe Univer-
“The cooperation between
sity Frankfurt is very popular: Around 280 first-semester TU Darmstadt and Goethe
students, roughly 40 percent of whom are women, University Frankfurt also opens
were the very first to enrol. Thanks to this cooperation,
which is unique in Hesse, students benefit equally from up a whole new dimension
the competences of the Goethe University’s Faculty of for Hesse as a business location,
Medicine and TU Darmstadt’s Department of Electrical
Engineering. About eighty percent of the courses impart
not only in teaching”.
engineering knowledge from mathematics, physics “The profiles of TU Darmstadt Professor Robert Sader,
and electrical engineering; about twenty percent are Dean of Studies Faculty of Medicine Goethe University
based on scientific-medical principles. The focus is on a
and the Goethe University
close relationship between biomedical engineering and complement each other
clinical issues. Internships and tutorials complement
perfectly in the new bio-
the theory.
medical engineering degree
In order to get to know both specialist cultures and make course. Furthermore, “Studies show that more women
them tangible, teaching takes place at both locations:
four days a week in Darmstadt, one day a week at the we are currently expanding are interested in engineering
Faculty of Medicine in Frankfurt. our biomedical engineering if it is interdisciplinary and
research activities, including involves socio-political issues”.
The TU considers the fact that about two fifths of the
first semester students in the new course are female with the Johannes Gutenberg Professor Andy Schürr, Dean of Student Affairs,
Department of Electrical Engineering and
to be an enormous success, because women are still in
University Mainz. Four new Information Technology
the minority in MINT subjects nationwide. A Master’s
programme in biomedical engineering is to be intro- professorships are being
duced in the winter semester 2021/2022, in time for created for this purpose at
the first Bachelor’s graduates.
TU Darmstadt alone”.
The TU and Goethe University developed the joint Professor Hans Jürgen Prömel,
study programme over a period of one and a half years. President of TU Darmstadt “Health is a huge topic and one
The interdisciplinary, inter-university cooperation is of the most central scientific
intended to help meet future challenges. Demand for
telemedicine, biotechnologies and intelligent biomedical challenges in the world”.
Academic Affairs
engineering solutions is increasing as a result of demo- Professor Jutta Hanson, Department of Electrical
graphic change, higher life expectancy and age-related Engineering and Information Technology
diseases. The two universities want to address the
growing significance of these topics with the new
programme.
Since 2015, TU Darmstadt, the Goethe University
Frankfurt and the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
form the strategic alliance “Rhine-Main-Universities”.
Attractive range of courses: Linking engineering sciences and medicine.
18 19Demanding from the very start
Keeping pace with energy
How can the human body become a charging
station for the smartphone? More than 300 students
of mechanical engineering and sports science
devoted themselves to this question during the
KI²VA week “Introduction to mechanical engin-
eering”. In the “Move & Use” project, 36 inter-
disciplinary and international teams searched
for ways to convert mechanical energy generated
by everyday movement into electricity and store
it in order to charge a mobile device.
The system should be able to be attached to the
body without interfering with movement and be This is KIVA
able to react to disruptions. The students also KIVA stands for compet-
had to create a business model. A jury of experts ence development
evaluated the degree of innovation. The teams through interdisciplin-
were accompanied by scientists from the depart- ary networking from
ment and by project tutors. the very start. With
interdisciplinary and
A good solution was offered by the “Power2go” technical projects in
team, which combined a knee orthosis with an the starting phase of
efficient mechanism for using excess energy. The university studies, the
solution “Hike up your phone” can be retrofitted TU has set standards
to a hiking backpack. A rope system converts nationwide to improve
the excess energy when lowering the leg, and study conditions and
a magnetic mechanism provides additional safety. teaching quality.
“WonderSchuh” uses the rolling process and
the forward motion of the foot when walking to
accelerate a permanent magnet that induces
a current in a coil.
Business games for local transport
During their interdisciplinary KI²VA project week,
Academic Affairs
190 students of politics and industrial engineering
took on the role of a consulting company. The
aim was to develop a coherent and sustainable
transport concept for local public transport.
In 16 groups, the students designed a business
model including a financial plan. They had to deal
with existing structures in the city of Darmstadt Starting studies with energy and fun: Project “Move and Use”.
and examine the interests of stakeholders and
their forms of organisation. The teams were Professor Andreas Pfnür (Institute of Real Estate First place went to the team “Darmstadts Multi-
supported by technical and team tutors as well Management) and Professor Markus Lederer modale Zukunft”. Second and third place were
as internal and external experts. (Institute of Political Science) praised the secured by students with ideas for “sky capsules”
“innovative mobility concepts” of their students. and a suspension railway.
20 21Comprehensive protection Settling in quickly
Every winter semester, around 250 international
students begin their Bachelor studies at the TU. The
free preliminary course “PreCIS”, which is tailored
to their needs and lasts several weeks, helps them
to prepare for German university life as well as the
new culture and language. The programme, which
was launched as a pilot project, was developed in
2017 by TU Darmstadt as part of the KI²VA project
to improve quality in teaching. With growing
success: In the winter semester 2018/19, the course
was already attended by 26 first-semester Bachelor
students. They had been selected from around one
hundred applicants according to fixed quotas from Good marks
departments such as Computer Science, Business in the ranking
Administration/Industrial Engineering or Electrical The TU’s Bachelor
Engineering and Information Technology with students assess their
the new biomedical engineering degree course. degree programmes
predominantly posi-
One of the special features of “PreCIS” is the tively. The subjects
language course – the training concentrates on biology, chemistry,
German as a scientific language and the specialist mathematics, physics
Good ideas for effective rescue operations. terminology of mathematics. Additionally, there is and computer science
vocabulary from the “university realm” and study- as well as political
Humanitarian mission Better harvest relevant key competence training. Another plus science and geosciences
130 students from business administration/ Harvest yields are threatened worldwide by pests are the Buddies: For the whole of the first semester, are consistently ranked
industrial engineering and sociology degree courses and pathogens. Previous defence strategies aimed at specialist assistants support the newcomers in in the top and middle
have developed concepts for humanitarian missions creating resistant strains and chemical or biological matters about life inside and outside the university. Benefits from intensive support: Mohammad Amin Ali. group in the CHE
in an interdisciplinary project in the introductory control. A new approach could be genome editing University Ranking
phase of their studies. In small groups, the using the “gene scissors” CRISPR/Cas. This is a topic 2018. One of the
participants designed technical aids, instructions that 120 students from the Department of Biology biggest strengths is
for do-it-yourself products and app developments. and the Institute for Sociology dealt with during the the support for new
KI²VA project week. They presented their solutions students.
The students were supported by the aid organi- to a jury that also included economic experts.
sation Cadus, which organises humanitarian aid
Academic Affairs
missions in Iraq and Syria and specialises in the The winner was a group that wanted to introduce a
development of open source projects for self-help. virus antibody into the manioc genome to protect
Special incentive and motivation of the project the manioc from the Cassava mosaic virus in Ghana.
work: The best ideas of the TU groups were able Second place went to a concept for improved maize
to be put into practice. cultivation in Ethiopia. Here, CRISPR/Cas should
remove the immunity of the pest larvae of Spodop- “I have already set up a WhatsApp group with
The award-winning concepts included a tripod with tera frugiperda against a maize toxin. Third place
pulley mechanism that could be used to lift debris, went to students who wanted to use the natural my Buddy Alex, who is a 3rd semester computer
and an innovative tent concept that could be set up resistance of Bolivian potatoes to potato blight. science student. I can turn to him when I get stuck.
quickly as a mobile operating theatre in crisis It is hoped that the use of CRISPR/Cas increases
regions. the yield.
That’s really a big help”.
Mohammad Amin Ali, student of computer science from Syria
22 23Generous opening hours Courses offered by TU Darmstadt
Bachelor Master
Applied Geosciences Applied Geosciences
Applied Mechanics Architecture
Architecture Autonomous Systems
Building Technology Biomolecular Engineering
Biology Business Administration/Industrial Engineering
Biomedical Engineering • specialising in Civil Engineering
Biomolecular Engineering • specialising in Electrical Engineering and
Business Administration/Industrial Engineering Information Technology
• specialising in Civil Engineering • specialising in Mechanical Engineering
• specialising in Electrical Engineering and Business Information Systems
Information Technology Chemistry
113
degree programmes
• specialising in Mechanical Engineering
Business Information Systems
Chemistry
Civil Engineering and Geodesy
Computational Engineering
Computer Science
Civil Engineering
Computational Engineering
Computer Science
Distributed Software Systems
Educational Sciences – Education in Processes
of Global Technologicalisation
Digital Philology Electrical Engineering and Information Technology
Electrical Engineering and Information Technology Energy Science and Engineering
Environmental Engineering Environmental Engineering
History with a Focus on Modern History German Linguistics
Geodesy and Geoinformation
13
Information Systems Technology
Governance and Public Policy
Materials Science
History
Mathematics
Information and Communication Engineering
Mechanical and Process Engineering
Information Systems Technology
Mechatronics
International Cooperation in Urban Development
departments Pedagogy
International Studies/Peace and Conflict Research
Physics
Internet and Web-based Systems
Political Science IT Security
Psychology Linguistic and Literary Computing
Psychology in IT Materials Science
Sociology Mathematics
5
Learning centre in the old main building. Sports Science and Computer Science Mechanical and Process Engineering
Bachelor of Education (Teaching’s degree) Mechanics
Building Technology Mechatronics
Opened in early 2018, the learning centre in the New learning centres have been established at a Body Care Paper Science and Technology – Paper Technology
first basement floor of the old main building is total of 16 locations on the campus in recent years. Chemical Engineering and Biobased Fiber Materials
fields of study Computer Science Philosophy
entirely to the students’ taste. At the central location Another centre is already on the official opening Physics
Electrical Engineering and Information Technology
on the city centre campus they can find around list: When the Department of History and Social Metal Engineering Political Theory
Psychology
135 learning workstations on 420 square metres. Sciences moves back into the city palace, it will be Joint Bachelor of Arts Psychology in IT
Several group work rooms make it possible to work able to provide 200 learning workstations there. Business Administration and Economics Sociology
Computer Science Sports Management
with particular concentration. The centre is open Digital Philology Sports Science and Computer Science
daily from 8 am to 10 pm. German Studies Technology and Philosophy
Academic Affairs
History Technical Biology
Musical Culture Traffic and Transport
The space had become vacant after the relocation Philosophy Tropical Hydrogeology and Environmental Engineering (TropHEE)
of various operational workshops to the Ernst- Political Science Visual Computing
Sociology
Neufert-Halle. Construction workers gutted the Master of Education (Teaching’s degree)
Sports Science
rooms and renovated them from the ground up. Catholic Religion
In addition to the learning centre on the basement Lehramt an Gymnasien (Teaching’s degree) Computer Science
Biology Ethics
level, modern seminar rooms as well as office Chemistry German
and laboratory space were created. Computer Science History
German Mathematics
History Physics
Mathematics Politics and Economics
Philosophy/Ethics Protestant Religion
Physics Sports Science
Sports winter semester 2018/19
24 25University
25,889 Students
7,635
Students in
8,614
Master’s students and State Library
first subject-related semester
in 2018 2018
Students
Departments Foreigners *
Total Women
in % in %
of which
Master’s **
of which
Master’s in % 1.37 million visitors
Law and Economics 3,612 22 % 14 % 930 26 %
History and Social Sciences 2,949 53 % 9% 950 32 % 616,000 users of the
Human Sciences 1,355 62 % 9% 453 33 % reading room
Mathematics 793 34 % 9% 242 31 %
Physics 1,119 24 % 8% 208 19 %
Chemistry 1,017 39 % 8% 267 26 %
532,031 items borrowed
Biology 831 64 % 8% 182 22 %
Materials and Earth Sciences 1,142 31 % 31 % 466 41 % 26,609 requests for information
Civil and Environmental Engineering 2,167 38 % 18 % 746 34 %
Architecture 1,347 57 % 27 % 625 46 % Around 5.05 million: the number
Mechanical Engineering 2,801 12 % 21 % 1,131 40 %
of individual pages
Electrical Engineering and Inf. Technology 2,087 18 % 39 % 655 31 %
Computer Science 3,681 14 % 22 % 1,241 34 %
of the digital collection accessed
Fields of Study
Mechanics 188 15% 22 % 79 42 % Around 1 million: the number
Computational Engineering 282 18 % 17 % 96 34 % of times the library's publication
Information Systems Engineering 246 14 % 16 % 71 29 %
service (TUprints) was accessed
Mechatronics 154 6% 27 % 154 100 %
Energy Science and Engineering 118 23 % 28 % 118 100 %
Total 25,889 31 % 18 % 8,614 33 %
Source: Data Warehouse / Excludes individuals with leave of absence, includes doctoral students, excludes those on second degree courses. Assignment based
on first subject, winter semester 2018/19. / * Foreigners refer here to all individuals with foreign citizenship, even if they obtained their university entrance
qualifications in Germany./ ** Master’s = all except Master of Education, preparation for Master’s included
Collection:
Students in first subject-related semester
Undergraduate degree courses* Master’s degree courses ** 4.6 million printed works,
Departments Total Women
in %
Foreigners
*** in %
Total Women
in %
Foreigners.
*** in % of which 2.3 million
Law and Economics 935 23 % 15 % 305 25 % 15 % are books and journals
History and Social Sciences 510 56 % 6% 301 59 % 11 %
Human Sciences 197 70 % 12 % 160 58 % 4% 510,822 electronic media
Mathematics 140 39 % 6% 79 41 % 9%
Physics 376 40 % 17 % 66 23 % 5%
(excluding magazines)
Chemistry 173 41 % 7% 86 44 % 6%
Biology 175 72 % 10 % 49 59 % 4% 28,257 continuously published
Materials and Earth Sciences 163 37 % 7% 154 25 % 55 % journals,
Civil and Environmental Engineering 343 40 % 15 % 231 42 % 22 %
Architecture 150 62 % 11 % 181 61 % 29 %
of which 25,759 are electronic
Academic Affairs
Facts and figures
Mechanical Engineering 306 12 % 19 % 369 12 % 29 %
Electrical Engineering and Inf. Technology 626 26 % 32 % 204 19 % 65 % 13,695 manuscripts
Computer Science 705 19 % 17 % 339 13 % 15 %
Fields of Study
Mechanics 37 22 % 8% 17 12 % 59 %
3.47 million Euro of expenditure
Computational Engineering 61 16 % 8% 29 21 % 45 % on acquisitions, of which
Information Systems Engineering 50 28 % 22 % 19 5% 11 % almost 2.4 million Euro
Mechatronics 64 6% 16 %
on electronic media
Energy Science and Engineering 35 17 % 29 %
Total 4,947 34 % 15 % 2,688 32 % 23 %
Source: Data Warehouse / Excludes individuals with leave of absence, doctoral students, and those on second degree courses. Assignment based on first
223 books and
subject. Summer semester 2018 + winter semester 2018/19. / * Bachelor’s at university, Bachelor of Education, Joint Bachelor, Lehramt an Gymnasien-
supplementary teacher’s training **Master’s at university, Master of Education, preparation for Master’s ***Foreigners refer here to all individuals with
427 graphics restored
foreign citizenship, even if they obtained their university entrance qualifications in Germany
26 27International students* at TU Darmstadt Doctorates
China
Total of 3,568 from 116 countries in winter semester 2018/19, including ...
932
4,257
graduates in 2017
total: 447 / Women: 26 % / Foreigners:* 19 %
Departments
India 270 Law and Economics
Pakistan 164 total: 23 / Women: 26 % / Foreigners: 4 %
Iran 144
History and Social Sciences
Syria 138
Turkey
Tunesia
Vietnam 82
134
126
2.126
14% of students
studying for Bachelor degrees are
total: 19 / Women: 42 % / Foreigners: 0 %
Human Sciences
total: 10 / Women: 60 % / Foreigners: 10 %
Egypt 76 foreign nationals. Mathematics
Bulgaria 70 total: 13 / Women: 15 % / Foreigners: 0 %
Cameroon 70
780
Russian Fed. 67 Physics
total: 41 / Women: 22 % / Foreigners: 20 %
Spain 64
Indonesia
Brazil
61
58
Europe
With 3,681
students, Computer Science
Chemistry
total: 41 / Women: 24 % / Foreigners: 17 %
Biology Source: Data Warehouse /data:
is the most popular department total: 32 / Women: 72 % / Foreigners: 9 % graduation in 2017
Asia calendar year; “heads”,
at TU Darmstadt. Materials and Earth Sciences i.e. first subject only
total: 33 / Women: 33 % / Foreigners: 42 % (individuals assigned to
266 392 Civil and Environmental Engineering
departments and fields
of study based on first subject).
total: 35 / Women: 26 % / Foreigners: 23 %
39%
* Foreigners refer here to all
America
individuals with foreign
Africa Architecture
citizenship, even if they
total: 9 / Women: 56 % / Foreigners: 67 %
obtained their university
of students in the department
Mechanical Engineering entrance qualifications in
of Electrical Engineering and Information total: 100 / Women: 11 % / Foreigners: 10 % Germany.
Technology are foreign nationals. **Excluding PhD graduates. The
Electrical Engineering and Inf. Technology diagram still contains Diploma
total: 53 / Women: 19 % / Foreigners: 36 % and Magister qualifications so
that the number may be larger
Computer Science than the sum of the Bachelor,
total: 38 / Women: 11 % / Foreigners: 18 % Masters and teaching qualifi-
Australia 3
25% of students
studying for Master's degrees are
cations
*** includes Joint Bachelor,
except Bachelor of Education
**** except Master of Education
***** Lehramt an Gymnasien,
foreign nationals. Bachelor of Education,
Master of Education
* Foreign students who obtained their university entrance qualifications outside of Germany.
Degree courses in highest demand
Top 5 Bachelor’s degree courses Top 5 Bachelor’s degree courses for international students*
Graduations
Number Number Graduates (total)** Graduates (Bachelor)*** Graduates (Master)**** Graduates (teaching
Subject Subject degrees)*****
of students of students
Computer Science 2,218 Computer Science 183 Departments total Women Foreigners* total Women Foreigners* total Women Foreigners* total Women Foreign.*
Mechanical and Process Engineering 1,427 Mechanical and Process Engineering 175 in % in % in % in % in % in % in % in %
Business Administration/Industrial Electrical Engineering and Information Law and Economics 542 20 % 7% 276 23 % 7% 265 16 % 6%
Engineering – specialising in Mechanical 1,255 Technology 138 History and Social Sciences 424 55 % 7% 135 47 % 9% 169 60 % 6% 74 57 % 1%
Engineering
Human Sciences 206 70 % 8% 95 77 % 9% 82 68 % 7% 26 54 % 0%
Civil Engineering and Geodesy 880 Business Administration/Industrial
Engineering – specialising in Mechanical 78 Mathematics 181 39 % 6% 83 31 % 5% 83 42 % 7% 15 60 % 0%
Electrical Engineering and Information Engineering
659 Physics 160 14 % 3% 91 13 % 2% 65 14 % 3% 4 25 % 0%
Technology Mechatronics 61
Chemistry 162 38 % 3% 85 34 % 2% 67 37 % 1% 9 67 % 22 %
Biology 149 68 % 5% 80 69 % 5% 45 64 % 2% 22 77 % 14 %
Academic Affairs
Facts and figures
Top 5 Master’s degree courses Top 5 Master’s degree courses for international students* Materials and Earth Sciences 184 32 % 27 % 50 34 % 0% 134 31 % 37 %
Number Number Civil and Environmental Engineering 449 38 % 12 % 191 43 % 4% 241 34 % 18 %
Subject Subject
of students of students Architecture 287 53 % 24 % 158 55 % 13 % 125 53 % 38 % 4 0% 0%
Mechanical and Process Engineering 1,117 Distributed Software Systems 296 Mechanical Engineering 613 10 % 14 % 267 12 % 9% 343 8% 17 % 1 0% 0%
Architecture 586 Mechanical and Process Engineering 234 Electrical Engineering and Inf. Technology 321 12 % 37 % 140 9% 16 % 171 14 % 57 %
Computer Science 554 Electrical Engineering and Information Computer Science 429 10 % 31 % 167 7% 7% 261 12 % 46 %
206 Fields of Study
Business Administration/Industrial Technology
Engineering – specialising in Mechanical 498 Mechanics 34 24 % 12 % 9 22% 0% 24 25 % 17 %
Engineering Information and
Communication Engineering 144 Computational Engineering 22 9% 5% 3 0% 0% 19 11 % 5%
Electrical Engineering and Information
444 130 Information Systems Engineering 47 4% 19 % 30 0% 23 % 17 12 % 12 %
Technology Materials Science
Mechatronics 30 13 % 33 % 30 13 % 33 %
Energy Science and Engineering 17 41 % 12 % 17 41 % 12 %
Source: Data Warehouse; excludes individuals with leave of absence and those on second degree courses, winter semester 2018/19.
Total 4,257 30 % 15 % 1,860 30 % 8% 2,158 27 % 22 % 155 57 % 4%
28 2930
Research
TU Darmstadt
Progress Report
2018Highlights 2018
Installation of
The first Top positions in German Research Foundation ranking
update 12.1. DFG collaborative
research centre in which
was urgently required: The Secure all three Rhine-Main
Mobile Networking Labs Research Universities (TU Darm- The engineering sciences at TU Darmstadt are
Team at TU Darmstadt laid bare
stadt, Goethe University outstanding. This is underlined by the Funding
Frankfurt and Johannes Atlas 2018 of the German Research Foundation:
a security vulnerability in the
Gutenberg University When it comes to attracting German Research
iPhone operating system iOS, which Mainz) are significantly Foundation funding in the engineering sciences,
affected more than half a billion involved was approved TU Darmstadt ranks fourth in a nationwide
Apple devices. Attackers were able in 2018: The title is comparison. In computer science it even moved
“Regulation of DNA Repair from seventh to first place. This leap is closely
to trigger system crashes using
and Genome Stability”. linked to the performance of the two profile areas
commercially available hardware cyber-security and internet and digitisation.
and without physical access.
The top ten places of German Research Foundation
awards by subject also include other disciplines of
TU Darmstadt: Heating technology ranks second,
mechanical engineering and production technology
fourth. TU Darmstadt also ranks among the top
2,500
students from a vocational school
ten in electrical engineering, materials engineering,
materials science, systems engineering and mathe-
matics.
in Baden-Württemberg benefit from
TU Darmstadt: Technology education Together with the Goethe University Frankfurt
experts develop teaching concepts and the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz,
for digitised working environments TU Darmstadt is one of the strongest scientific
in the Industry 4.0 age. regions in Germany. The three universities joined
forces to form the Rhine-Main Universities alliance
and have raised a total of 457 million euros from
the German Research Foundation in the funding Strong funding: Profile area Thermo-Fluids & Interfaces.
period 2014 to 2016. This is more than 6 percent
of German Research Foundation funding, which
years of successful research in the DFG Priority Programme “Fuels Produced
6
went to a total of 216 universities. Compared to the
Regeneratively Through Light-Driven Water Splitting”: Teams from TU Darmstadt
period 2011 to 2013, the Rhine-Main Universities
are working on technological foundations for the energy revolution.
increased their German Research Foundation
funding by almost ten percent.
Over
1,500
materials scientists from all
over Europe came together
Research
at the Materials Science and
Engineering Congress (MSE)
at TU Darmstadt. Many TU
researchers participated in
the 50 symposia, 150 sessions
and numerous plenary lectures.
32 33Major projects with a promising future Machine learning for agriculture
The state research programme LOEWE enhances the profile of TU Darmstadt. Professor Kristian Kersting.
Two new LOEWE research clusters Ten million euros for CROSSING In 2018, the number of people suffering from This knowledge would make it possible to grow
In June 2018, scientists at TU Darmstadt were again Since 2014, the collaborative research centre malnutrition rose to 821 million – one in nine more resistant plants and combat diseases more
awarded funds from the State Offensive for the CROSSING at TU Darmstadt has been focusing on people is affected. At the same time, demand for efficiently – the basis for precision farming,
Development of Scientific and Economic Excellence cryptography-based security solutions. The German food is rising and climate change is leaving more which would enable higher yields to be achieved
(LOEWE). Starting in 2019, the State of Hesse Research Foundation has extended its funding and more soil infertile. on existing farmland. The project is funded by the
supports two new LOEWE research clusters with and is supporting CROSSING from 2018 to 2022 Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture. Partners
4.65 million euros each over a period of four years: with a further ten million euros. The SFB/Trans- Kristian Kersting, professor of machine learning, are the University of Bonn and the Aachen-based
The International Centre for Nuclear Photonics, regio projects on soft matter and on gas networks, and his team see an opportunity to improve company Lemnatec.
coordinated by the physics professors Markus Roth in which TU Darmstadt is involved, are also nutritional conditions with artificial intelligence
and Joachim Enders, uses the laser technology to continuing. (AI). “First of all we want to understand what
develop new radiation sources that are suitable to physiological processes in plants look like when
investigate the composition of matter as well as for Simulation in the centre they suffer stress”, says Kersting. “Stress occurs
many technical applications. In the second LOEWE Computational engineering combines engineering, when they do not absorb enough water or are
research clusters, the project FLAME, twelve TU mathematics and computer science with computer infected with pathogens”. The researchers teach
Research
research groups from the fields of materials science simulations. Since May 2018, the Centre for a software to recognise stress patterns by means
and geosciences, chemistry as well as electrical Computational Engineering, which is integrated of a mechanical learning process. As the AI can
engineering and information technology are into the TU structure as a cross-sectional area consider more data than a human, it may discover
working on functional materials for energy storage orthogonally to the departments, has been bundling stress indicators unknown to researchers.
under the leadership of Professor Andreas Klein. all activities of the young discipline.
34 35From human to artificial intelligence
Three questions for ... A robot learns to help
In the KoBo34 project, researchers from the fields
Professors Constantin Rothkopf and Frank Jäkel, of intelligent autonomous systems (Department of
Centre for Cognitive Science. Computer Science) and psychology of information
processing (Department of Human Sciences) teach
How does cognitive science differ from a humanoid, two-armed robot how to intuitively
the emerging field of artificial intelligence? interact with a human being. The robot should learn
Cognitive science investigates perception, thinking to help older people in their everyday lives so they
and action and understands these processes as can maintain their independence for as long as
information processing. Artificial intelligence, possible. For the harmonious interaction of man
on the other hand, develops intelligent computer and machine, it is crucial that both the actions of
programs. Although cognitive science is concerned the robot and those of the human are predictable
with similar methods, it wants to understand for the respective partner.
natural intelligence in the first place.
The machine should recognise human intentions
What role does this understanding play through movement patterns, viewing directions,
for future technologies? gestures or verbal expressions. For humans, on
A classic example are human “mistakes”: Are we the other hand, the machine acts predictably when
simply dealing with “errors” here or rather with it executes familiar, seemingly natural movement
the effects of human information processing? patterns and provides clues to its intentions
The answer has fundamental consequences for the and also if there are uncertainties, such as with
development of technical systems. For instance, regard to the action desired by humans. Building
if we understand human abilities more precisely, on basic skills, a technical layperson, for example
we can transfer them better to intelligent systems a geriatric nurse, teaches the robot new skills
and also improve the interaction between man through imitation learning.
and machine.
Professors’ dialogue: Frank Jäkel (left), Constantin Rothkopf.
How does the profile of cognitive science at
TU Darmstadt differ from that of other research
institutions?
The Centre for Cognitive Science brings together
experts whose research focuses on computer
modelling of adaptive behaviour in both technical
systems and humans. This simultaneous focus
on models of human and artificial intelligence is
a specific strength.
Research
Cooperative assistance: Robotics in the domestic environment.
36 37Recipe against the power of quantum computers Pros and cons from noise
The project “ArgumenText” at the Ubiquitous
Knowledge Processing Lab of the Department
of Computer Science develops methods for the
automatic recognition of arguments in large
heterogeneous text sources. This allows the pros
and cons of any topic to be filtered from the noise
of the internet. A demonstrator of the bilingual
search system is publicly accessible at www.
argumentsearch.com. If you enter the keyword
nuclear energy, for example, you will receive almost
one hundred arguments for and against nuclear
power from a wide variety of websites after just
a few seconds. The respective sources are linked.
Using neural networks, the system first examines
which online texts are relevant for the respective
topic and then scans them for arguments. In order
to decide whether a statement is an argument at
all and whether it is on the pro or contra side, the
search engine considers not only individual words,
but also grammatical structures, contexts and
semantics. The algorithms required for this are
developed by the team of the lab. “The challenge
was to make a system trained for one type of text
transferable to any text form”, says Dr. Christian
Stab, who manages the project together with Dr.
In the quantum cryptography lab in the Physics Department. Johannes Daxenberger. Scientific texts, for example, Experts in Argument Mining: Johannes Daxenberger,
raise arguments completely differently from social Christian Stab and Tristan Miller (from left to right).
Due to rapid progress in the development of super- stressing the importance of these proofs of author- media. Argument Mining, the recognition of
fast quantum computers, common encryption and ship. XMSS is safe and sustainable, says Buchmann. linguistic arguments by means of computer science,
digital signatures could become insecure within just This is because it does not use complex mathemat- is becoming increasingly important in the digital
a few years. Researchers are therefore developing ical problems as security hurdles, which are only humanities.
new methods that are supposed to be immune ever assumed to be uncrackable. XMSS relies solely
to an attack by a quantum computer, so-called post- on hash functions, which are digital fingerprints
quantum cryptography. of files that use current cryptographic methods as
a second hurdle in addition to the mathematical
A method for securing digital signatures, developed problems. However, that is not a weakness: “We
at TU Darmstadt, is now ready for online use. were able to mathematically prove that our method
The international body IETF, which develops is safe as long as it is the hash function”, Buchmann
Research
standards for data traffic in the network, has emphasizes.
officially recognised the XMSS (eXtended Merkle
Signature Scheme) procedure. The method guarantees that no two files have the
same fingerprint. If the function used is cracked
“Without secure digital signatures, the internet by hackers, which does happen, it can be quickly
would have to be switched off”, says Professor replaced. XMSS is thus part of the armour against
Johannes Buchmann, head of the developers, the quantum computer.
38 39Health data under lock and key Faster DNA synthesis
Together with researchers from Lawrence Berkeley
National Laboratory, TU Darmstadt biology students
Sebastian Barthel and Sebastian Palluk have devel-
oped an enzymatic process for the rapid synthesis
of DNA sequences. They published their method in
June 2018 in the journal “Nature Biotechnology”.
The enzymatic process is intended to replace the
chemical method for DNA synthesis in the long
term. The established technique works well for
short DNA strands of up to 150 building blocks,
but errors multiply as the length increases.
The new DNA synthesis is based on an enzyme from
our immune system that sequences DNA building
blocks extremely quickly and without a template.
Because of this ability, the enzyme has been
discussed for decades in connection with DNA
synthesis. However, in order to generate defined
sequences, it had to be coaxed to add only one DNA
building block per reaction. The German-American
team succeeded. The simplified DNA synthesis
could facilitate the biotechnological production of
numerous products, from food to fuel, and drive
pharmaceutical research.
Security ensured for decades is indispensable for the storage of health data. Sebastian Palluk (left) and Sebastian Barthel in the laboratory.
The electronic patient file has been discussed for back and forth between clinics and server operators
a long time. But what about the long-term security with quantum computer-resistant encryption. In
of the data? Since the computing capacities of the future, the researchers want to add another level
attackers are becoming ever greater and their of security: quantum key exchange. The scientists
attacks better, it can be assumed that all previously involved in CROSSING are working on this in their
encrypted data will be exposed in 20 years at own quantum laboratory at TU Darmstadt.
the latest. Together with Japanese and Canadian
partners, the employees of the collaborative
research centre CROSSING at TU Darmstadt have
developed a prototype that securely stores sensitive “The ability to artificially produce DNA has
health data for the long term. The encryption remained almost static over the past decade.
Research
is based on a division of the original data set to
different servers, so that individual parts do not “All encryption methods used This promising first demonstration of an
make sense on their own. The division is renewed today will become insecure in enzymatic process for DNA synthesis finally
regularly. The integrity of the data is secured
through signatures that even future quantum
the coming years and decades”. brings movement into this field”.
computers cannot crack. In addition, the Canadian Professor Johannes Buchmann, Spokesperson of the Professor Beatrix Süß, Synthetic Genetic Circuits Research Group
industrial partner, ISARA, protects the data sent collaborative research centre CROSSING at the Department of Biology
40 41The insect perfume trick Innovations for waterways and buildings
Agriculture needs more environmentally friendly
solutions for crop protection. Pesticides are not
a good choice because they also harm beneficial
insects, reduce biodiversity and pollute soils and “When the
groundwater. Our planet is already suffering as a elevator goes
result of these pollutants. The European SUSPHIRE
project, in which the three TU Darmstadt professors into operation,
Heribert Warzecha, Professor of Botany, Andreas thousands of
Jürgens, Professor of Chemical Ecology and Alfred
Nordmann, Professor of Philosophy, are involved, fish can be
pursues a completely different concept: Plant transported
protection through confusion. The pests are to be
irritated by the unorthodox use of sex pheromones
daily to the
to such an extent that they miss the tight upper reaches
time window for mating and no longer produce of the Ruhr
offspring. Female insects normally use sex
pheromones to invite males to mate. during
spawning
Warzecha and his colleagues will use gene transfer
to modify plants in such a way that they will also season”.
produce pheromones. They want to use the plants Professor Boris Lehmann,
as bio-factories for the production of pheromones Institute for Hydraulic
for sprays or traps. However, the long-term goal of and Water Resources
the consortium is to bring the pheromone-producing Experiment in the university’s hydraulic engineering laboratory.
plants into the field together with the crop plants.
The sexual attractants would then no longer have An elevator for fish Bricks and façades from the 3D printer
Andreas Jürgens, Janine Gondolf, Heribert Warzecha (from left). to be isolated, but could be released directly into An EU Directive specifies that rivers must be pass- TU Darmstadt is the first German university to
the environment by the plants. However, such able for fish from the estuary to the source from investigate the entire range of applications of 3D
applications with genetically modified plants are 2027 onwards. Professor Boris Lehmann from the printing in the construction industry. Professor Jörg
currently subject to strict regulation. Institute for Hydraulic and Water Resources wants Lange, head of the Institute for Steel Construction
to control the Ruhr barrage of Lake Baldeney with and Mechanics of Materials, sees applications
an elevator that is to be installed in a disused pump- particularly in façade and connecting elements. For
ing station. The difference in height between the instance, two steel girders are currently connected
upper and lower water is almost nine metres, and at by welding on steel brackets; in future, these could
the same time there is no space for a conventional be printed directly onto the girders. Another oppor-
fish ladder by the riverbank. But do fish find their tunity lies in the freedom of form. This makes it
way into the elevator? The researchers led by easy to print curved or delicately shaped bricks.
Lehmann, who initially still worked at the Karlsruhe Initial tests with glass were also successful. In order
Institute of Technology, simulated the flow con- to establish 3D printing in the construction industry,
Research
“Because each insect species synthesizes its own perfume ditions and estimated the migration corridors of TU researchers are also investigating whether
the fish. The investigations resulted in an elevator printed components are just as durable and resilient
to prepare for mating, pheromones can be used very model with two adjacent elevators. While one is as conventional ones.
specifically to create confusion and to lure away individual in operation, the fish gather in the other. Laboratory
tests with fish showed that the system works well.
species, and thus for plant protection”.
Professor Heribert Warzecha, Department of Biology
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