Technology for Humanity

At the 2026 Science Camp:us organized by Nordakademie Hochschule der Wirtschaft, BlueMat spokesperson Prof. Patrick Huber had the exciting opportunity to work directly with a group of young people passionate about science. The five-day residential camp in Elmshorn was aimed at students aged 14 to 16 and is organized by the university. It brings together young people with a strong interest in science and technology.  Participants could choose from a variety of workshops and projects, exploring topics such as biology, mathematics, robotics, and artificial intelligence. During the week, they stayed overnight on campus, experimented, built, conducted research, and worked together on practical tasks – creating an inspiring atmosphere that fostered curiosity and hands-on problem solving.  This approach is also pursued by BlueMat, the first Cluster of Excellence at TU Hamburg, which is committed to interdisciplinary learning through research, experimentation, and collaboration. Patrick Huber was particularly impressed by the active participation of the young people in the “Island of the Future” workshop, where the students experienced sustainability firsthand – from energy generation and storage to the planning of an energy self-sufficient island. More information: https://www.tuhh.de/bluemat/homepage

As part of an international practical program on the topic “Global Responsibility and Youth in Action,” a student delegation from the Xiuzhong College of Tsinghua University in Beijing visited the Hamburg University of Technology (TU Hamburg). The college focuses on sustainable development, the energy transition, and German-Chinese cooperation in research and innovation. The visit centered on scientific exchange regarding sustainable technologies, circular economy, and climate protection, as well as strengthening international cooperation between the two universities. The eleven-member delegation was accompanied by Dong Mengxue, supervisor at the Management Center for Colleges of Tsinghua University, and Zhang Shizhao, doctoral candidate at the School of Environment and team coordinator.   At TU Hamburg, the guests were introduced to selected research priorities. To start, Prof. Kerstin Kuchta from the Institute for Circular Resource Engineering and Management (CREM) presented research approaches to the circular economy and sustainable resource management. Subsequently, the students gained insights into the Cluster  of Excellence BlueMat – Water-Driven Materials – from Prof. Patrick Huber. This cluster researches novel materials whose properties are controlled by water. Another program highlight led the delegation to the CampusLab Circular Economy of the UNU Hub Engineering to Face Climate Change. There, practical research and teaching formats were presented that convey innovative solutions for the circular economy and dealing with the impacts of climate change.   With this visit, TU Hamburg underscores its international orientation and commitment to scientific dialogue on major future challenges. The exchange offered students and researchers from both universities the opportunity to learn from each other and to develop joint perspectives on sustainable technologies and global responsibility.   About Tsinghua University and Xiuzhong College   Founded in 1911, Tsinghua University in Beijing is one of the most prestigious technical universities in China, with around 62,000 students – including over 23,000 doctoral candidates. Xiuzhong College is an interdisciplinary institution for undergraduate students dedicated to educating future specialists and leaders in sustainable development. Research and teaching focus, among other areas, on climate change, renewable energy, smart cities, environmental and resource management, as well as global sustainability governance.

Whether in the production of pharmaceuticals and edible fats, algae production, or wastewater treatment: the chemical and pharmaceutical industries rely on massive reactors where gases and liquids interact. However, the internal flows within these large-scale facilities are extremely complex. Predicting how liquids behave in a small laboratory device and transferring this to factory dimensions is highly challenging. Consequently, making the necessary predictions for enlarging such facilities – the so-called scale-up – remains difficult. Using turbulence research to achieve the optimal industrial model This is where the research of Prof. Martin Obligado begins. Obligado is a Professor of Fluid Mechanics at Centrale Lille Institute in France. Following his physics studies in his home country of Argentina, he previously conducted research at the renowned Imperial College London and Grenoble Alpes University. At the Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), he is now investigating how turbulent energy is produced, transferred, and dissipated within swirling liquids. "In simpler terms, we want to understand how the motion generated by individual bubbles is connected to the large-scale circulation and mixing observed throughout a reactor," explains Prof. Martin Obligado. "A better understanding of these mechanisms could ultimately contribute to more reliable models for industrial reactors." In industrial facilities, gas bubbles stir up liquids very irregularly. Large circulation patterns coexist directly with much smaller turbulent structures created by bubble wakes. To make these swirling motions visible down to the smallest detail, the project combines cutting-edge optical measurement techniques. These include laser-based velocity measurements, high-resolution endoscopy, and highly sensitive miniature flow sensors. The experimental facilities at TU Hamburg provide optimal conditions for this work, according to the Humboldt Fellow: "The equipment at TU Hamburg makes it possible to investigate whether physical mechanisms and modelling approaches developed in small facilities remain valid when the reactor size is increased." Collaborative Research Centre SMART Reactors Since July 2026, Obligado has been strengthening the team at the Institute of Multiphase Flows at TU Hamburg, led by Prof. Michael Schlüter. Over a three-year period, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation is funding a total of nine months of research work, which the scientist is dividing into three separate guest visits. The fellowship is closely integrated into the scientific environment of the Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) 1615 "SMART Reactors for Future Process Engineering". Coordinated by TU Hamburg, this research consortium investigates how chemical reactors can operate autonomously and respond flexibly to changing operating conditions using intelligent sensors, 3D-printed materials, and artificial intelligence. While the Hamburg researchers focus heavily on material and reactor development, Prof. Obligado contributes his physical knowledge of turbulence. His data will help significantly refine the CRC's computer-based models. About the funding The Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowships offer exceptionally qualified scientists from all over the world the opportunity to carry out a long-term research project in cooperation with an academic institution in Germany. The monthly fellowship can be flexibly divided into up to three stays within three years. Both postdocs and experienced researchers from all disciplines are eligible to apply. Further information: Humboldt Research Fellowship

A celebrated anniversary at Hamburg University of Technology: For the tenth time, the Olin Poster Award was presented at the Institute for Systems Process Engineering—and this year, the award went to an all-female student team. The award marked the conclusion of the “Development of Process Engineering” module and is presented annually in cooperation with the chemical company Olin. Deborah Nnko, Isabel Schmidt, Finja Stadtler, Jannie Stadtler, and Ester Kezia Styne impressed the judges with their outstanding poster on the design of a biodiesel plant and were each awarded 250 euros in prize money by the sponsor, Olin. From Idea to Plant: Practical Process Development as a Team The goal of the course is to apply theoretical expertise to specific industrial challenges. In the group project that runs throughout the semester, students go through all the key steps of real-world process development: from creating flow diagrams to mass and heat balance calculations and final cost assessment. In addition to the purely technical aspects, the project also focuses on economic and environmental considerations. The project teams summarize their results in a poster, which is presented at the end of the semester during a traditional “poster party.” During the subsequent technical discussion, the award winners impressed the six-member jury with their in-depth understanding of the process and creative ideas for further developing the plant. About Olin Olin is a U.S.-based chemical company and a global leader in the production of chlor-alkali products, chlorinated organics, and epoxy resins. These products form the basis for numerous applications, ranging from clean energy and clean water to sustainable materials, as well as components in smartphones, wind turbines, hydrogen pressure vessels, and automotive and aircraft components. In Germany, Olin operates production sites in Stade, Rheinmünster, and Baltringen.

A new study published in Nature Food reveals that land degradation is already having measurable impacts on global food production, highlighting an urgent need for investments insustainable land management. The international research team, including Professor Nima Shokri, Director of the Institute of Geo-Hydroinformatics (GHI) at Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), provides the first comprehensive global assessment quantifying how land degradation affects crop productivity. Using high-resolution global datasets on soils, land degradation and agricultural production, the researchers found that every 10 percent increase in land degradation is associated with an approximately 2 percent increase in crop yield gaps – the difference between the yields farmers currently achieve and what is realistically attainable under local conditions.

Excellence gets recognized: from brilliant final theses and new solutions for industry to team spirit lived out on campus, the interdisciplinary Karl H. Ditze Prize at Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH) once again honored the impressive scope of student achievement this year. TUHH President Prof. Andreas Timm-Giel and the chairman of the Karl H. Ditze Foundation, Rüdiger Schramm, honored three individual academic achievements and one student initiative in the Karl H. Ditze lecture hall. The total prize money amounted to 6,000 euros. Reducing Data for Shorter Computing Times The ceremony opened with Carla Roskothen. She is studying computer engineering as an undergraduate and received the prize for the best bachelor's thesis. Roskothen focused on the computer-based preprocessing of data. The goal of her thesis was to mathematically simplify complex and time-consuming computing tasks. To do this, she applied a theoretical reduction method that limits the problem size to a much smaller core, allowing the computer to theoretically solve the task faster. Roskothen examined this using the example of the so-called number partitioning problem, in which a set of numbers must be divided as evenly as possible. She chose the programming language Rust for the implementation. In practice, she demonstrated that this reduction can massively shorten the runtime of the subsequent Korf algorithm. Her work also provided an important practical insight: a highly complex sub-approach that is popular in theory actually slowed the computer down in tests and proved rarely necessary in everyday use. Smart Control for Complex Machines In the master's thesis category, mechatronics student Fritz Engeln impressed the judges. He addressed a central problem in modern control engineering: to proactively adapt the future behavior of complex systems such as power grids and wind turbines, experts often use purely data-driven models based on measurement data. However, existing physical prior knowledge about the system is frequently left unconsidered. Engeln developed a new method that closes this gap. He designed mathematical filters for the input and output data, allowing physical prior knowledge – such as known natural frequencies of the system – to flow directly into a data-driven model. System trajectories are represented via a structured matrix. By incorporating this prior information, the influence of disturbance variables on the prediction decreases significantly, while the accuracy of the state description increases. Blackberry Structure vs. Milk Powder Clumps The prize for the best doctoral thesis of the year went to Dr. Kathrin Kramm. Her work at the Institute of Particle Process Engineering and Particle Technology was conducted in collaboration with the food company Nestlé. Kramm researched how plant-based milk powders can be dissolved more easily in water. Until now, mixing oat, pea, or soy powder has often produced unattractive clumps, making everyday use more difficult. The researcher showed that this problem can be solved through targeted particle design. By controlling process conditions and material properties, she combined primary particles into larger, porous agglomerates resembling the shape of a blackberry. This morphology improves wetting and dissolution behavior. Through four years of research, she also provided mathematical models showing how this structure can be transferred directly from the laboratory to industrial production scale. Great Commitment to the Perfect Start of Studies Alongside research, social engagement also took center stage. To mark the 25th anniversary of the program, the tutor initiative “StartING@TUHH” was honored. There, senior students help first-year students in weekly tutorials to make connections and master self-organization in their studies. In this way, the initiative has already successfully guided more than 20,000 first-year students into the “university cosmos,” as AStA chair Anna Miora Gerull emphasized in her tribute. The tutors' commitment goes far beyond duty: their work often develops into years-long, voluntary networks reaching around 80 percent of all first-year students. About the Prize The Karl H. Ditze Foundation supports Hamburg universities and funds non-profit and social projects. Foundation funds are used at TUHH to support students through the Deutschlandstipendium scholarship, among other things, and to fund student projects. The foundation awards the Karl H. Ditze Prize at TUHH for outstanding bachelor's and master's theses and dissertations, student initiatives, or students who have made special contributions to TUHH.

With a grant of 7.2 million euros received, ECIU University, an alliance of the European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU), will begin its next phase in November 2026. 11 universities are set to continue building the digital campus and pursuing innovation in higher education for the next two years. 

Shortly after receiving the prestigious Humboldt Research Award, Professor Alberto Guadagnini, an expert in groundwater hydrology and hydrogeology and Vice Rector for Research at the Politecnico di Milano, visited TU Hamburg (TUHH). As part of the award, he is collaborating with Professor Nima Shokri, head of the Institute of Geo-Hydroinformatics at TUHH, on new stochastic and process-based methods for predicting groundwater quality, soil salinization, and reactive transport processes in complex subsurface systems. In the course of this collaboration, Prof. Guadagnini gave a lecture on the “Complexity of Mineral Dissolution at Water-Rock Interfaces.” He explained how minerals dissolve unevenly when in contact with flowing water. Quantification of these processes is markedly significant to address the evolution of landscapes, groundwater, and chemicals dissolved therein. Using calcite as an exemplary mineral and cadmium as a dissolved chemical, he showed that metals dissolved in groundwater imprint dissolution processes by masking particularly active areas and altering the morphology of the mineral-water interface. “Quantitative analyses grounded on a combination of nanoscale imaging techniques and probabilistic modeling approaches provides new insights and enables quantitative and more robust predictions,” Guadagnini said. The scientist emphasized that understanding these processes taking place at the nanoscale can help improve models for water-rock interactions, dynamic evolution of properties of groundwater bodies and pollutant migration therein. This could have critical implications for environmental and resource protection as well as for understanding of long-term Earth evolution processes. His research has significantly advanced quantitative understanding of groundwater flows, contaminat transport therein, and geochemical processes in complex natural systems. A Helpful View into the Smallest Structures “Understanding these nanoscale processes can help develop more robust models for water-rock interactions, pollutant transport, and geochemical changes. This is important for environmental protection, resource use, and understanding long-term changes in the Earth subsurface,” emphasized Alberto Guadagnini. What began a year ago with a memorandum of understanding between TU Hamburg and Politecnico di Milano has since evolved into concrete collaborations, new contacts, and promising ideas for joint projects. This is an impressive example of how European partnerships create opportunities for impactful research. Numerous researchers from Politecnico di Milano and TU Hamburgare already closely networked and successfully working on joint projects. Most recently, a successful online workshop has been organized, featuring six parallel sessions with about 40 participants in total (including both Vice Presidents for Research, the President of TU Hamburg, and Prof. Guadagnini). Founded in 1863, Politecnico di Milano is considered one of Europe’s leading technical universities, with 12 departments and approximately 48,000 students. Politecnico di Milano and TU Hamburg share the same key guiding principle: Technology for Humanity!

From Thesis projects to starting a career: students, academics and businesses engage in dialogue

The Agile Design Lab (ADL) is ready to be discovered! The motto is research and learning by hands on experience and experimentation. Like the billiard table, where balls are played using a self-constructed striking unit. Or a 3D printer that, filled with chocolate, prints delicious figures, as well as a washing station for small plastic ducks. Here, the numbered yellow toys are cleaned for their next race on the water. With the ADL, the Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH) opens a new place for innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and application-oriented research. Together, the Institute for Smart Engineering and Machine Elements (ISEM) and the Institute for Organizational Design and Collaboration Engineering (ODCE) have created a modern working and research environment where students, scientists, companies, and start-ups are invited to jointly develop ideas, build prototypes, and bring innovations faster into practice. With the ceremonial opening by Prof. Nikola Bursac (ISEM), Prof. Tim Schweisfurth (ODCE), TU President Andreas Timm-Giel, Vice President Irina Smirnova, as well as numerous sponsors—such as Christoph Birkel, Managing Director of the Tempowerk Technology Park—the ADL is now officially inaugurated as a place of encounter. An Open Experimental Space The ADL is designed as a so-called “Living Lab” — an open experimental space where new products and working methods are not only developed but also directly tested and further developed together with future users. Before every process, the question arises of how an innovation comes about and how an innovation process can be accompanied to derive general principles. In the end, creative processes are meant to emerge in the Agile Design Lab and new solutions found—solutions that would not be possible in either an engineering lab or a business lab alone. The ADL is designed so that ISEM provides the technical framework and ODCE delivers the methodology, such as field experiments, observation, and causal-analytical designs. “Innovations arise where ideas can be quickly tried out, tested, and improved. That is exactly why we created the Agile Design Lab. Here, concepts become tangible as prototypes within a very short time, are tested, feedback is gathered from customers, and based on the insights gained, continuously further developed. This shortens the path from idea to product and makes research directly experienceable,” says Prof. Bursac. Prof. Schweisfurth also sees the new lab as an important building block for the strategic development of TU Hamburg: “The Agile Design Lab combines research, teaching, transfer, and science communication in one place. Students work here together with companies and researchers on real-world issues. This not only creates innovative solutions but also valuable learning experiences and new impulses for science and society.” The Lab and Its Equipment Are Already in Active Use Since the completion of the lab, seminars and lectures for students have already been taking place here, but the equipment is also used by school pupils: Workstations equipped with electronics and tools, as well as extensive technical equipment with 3D printers and laser cutters, enable ideas to be put into practice within a short time. The infrastructure is complemented by modern workshop and presentation areas that provide spaces for user feedback, tests, and agile teamwork. Moreover, the Agile Design Lab sees itself as a platform for knowledge and technology transfer. Companies can develop innovative solutions together with researchers and students, start-ups receive support in implementing new business ideas, and public events make current research accessible to a broad audience. At the opening, the staff presented the ideas behind the lab as well as the individual research topics and projects at 17 exhibition booths. During the fair, the numerous visitors—refreshed by a large buffet—gathered information and took the opportunity to network.

‘Nudging’ roughly translates as ‘giving a nudge’ and describes an approach from behavioural science. It does not involve forcing people to behave in a certain way through bans or regulations. Instead, small, carefully targeted prompts help to subtly steer decisions or actions in a desired direction. One example is organ donation: countries where citizens are registered as organ donors by default and must actively opt out achieve significantly higher consent rates than countries with an opt-in system. This illustrates just how strongly the choice of a default setting can influence behaviour. It is just one of the examples from Prof. Nikola Bursac’s inaugural lecture on the topic of “Behavioural Methodics in Agile Product Development: How Small Nudges Can Have a Big Impact”. In his lecture, Bursac described how this effect can be harnessed. In an academic context, one would assume that engineers think and act analytically. However, it has been shown that better results are achieved when problems or concerns are specifically addressed within product development teams. A few, targeted “nudges” can help to increase the rate at which targets are met and improve communication within development teams in the long term. Smart methods for the product development of tomorrow With his research approach, Bursac also set out the key priorities of the ISEM Institute for Smart Engineering and Machine Elements at the Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), which he heads. In his lecture, he emphasised the value of interdisciplinary collaboration, practice-oriented research and an open culture of learning and making mistakes: “At ISEM, we place people at the heart of product development. After all, the best technologies emerge from curious, motivated people who understand technological interrelationships, think creatively and develop solutions together. Nudging shows that often even small impulses are enough to trigger major changes. It is precisely this interplay between technology and human behaviour that we at ISEM wish to explore further and translate into industrial practice,” said Nikola Bursac. Designing complex systems with a human-centred approach The inaugural lecture was moderated by Prof. Dieter Krause (TUHH) and attended by guests from the worlds of academia, business and personal acquaintances. The event began with a welcome address by Prof. Kristin Paetzold-Byhain, President of the Design Society. She paid tribute to Bursac’s international academic network and his role in co-organising the ICED conference in 2027. The President of Hamburg University of Technology, Prof. Andreas Timm-Giel, highlighted the significance of Bursac’s research for the university’s profile. Prof. Roland Lachmayer, Managing Director of the Scientific Society for Product Development, then contextualised Bursac’s work within the broader context of advancements in product development. Finally, his doctoral supervisor, Prof. Albert Albers from IPEK at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), provided personal insights, tracing the career path of his former doctoral student. Finally, Clemens Birk from the machine tool manufacturer Trumpf provided a practical perspective with his talk ‘Agile leadership in challenging times: How ten years of emergency rescue work have shaped my approach’. Before joining the Technical University of Hamburg, Bursac also held various management positions at Trumpf, where his responsibilities included the ‘Model-Based Design’ division and research projects on human-centred design of complex systems. He began his academic career at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), where he studied mechanical engineering and obtained his PhD. He has received numerous awards for his achievements in research and teaching, including the 2025 Hamburg Teaching Prize. In addition, he serves as chair of the VDI Advisory Board for “Product Development and Project Management” and of the VDI Hamburg Regional Association. In future, Prof. Bursac and his team will be able to expand their research into agile product development at the new Agile Design Lab (ADL). At the same time, they will be able to integrate this research with methods such as field experiments, observations and causal-analytical designs from Prof. Tim Schweisfurth’s Institute for Organisational Design and Collaboration Engineering (ODCE). Together, they will generate insights that would otherwise not be possible in either an engineering laboratory or a business laboratory alone. The ADL was officially opened following the lecture at the Palmspeicher in Harburg’s inland port. Further information: https://www.tuhh.de/isem/willkommen

No rose, but a brilliant degree to show for it: three students from Hamburg University of Technology were delighted to receive the Bachelor’s Award. They were recognised for their outstanding achievements in the Bachelor’s degree programmes in Chemical and Bioengineering and Green Technologies – all completed within the standard period of study. The Bachelor’s Award is presented by the School of Process Engineering in cooperation with Dow Deutschland Anlagengesellschaft, Hamburger Energiewerke and the yeast product manufacturer Ohly. The prizes are endowed with a total of 3,000 euros. Once again, TUHH alumni – Olaf Stüven (Dow), Dr Gerrit Sluyter (Ohly) and Ansgar Lieberei (HEnW) – were invited to present the awards and deliver the laudatory speeches. Today, they hold senior positions in the sponsoring companies. In doing so, they impressively demonstrate the career paths available after graduating from Hamburg University of Technology. Following a welcome address by Prof. Andreas Liese, Head of the Institute of Technical Biocatalysis, and student representative Julian Ernhofer from the Board of Study of the School of Process Engineering, the students were honoured at the Learning and Communication Centre (LUK). About the Bachelor’s Award The aim of the awards ceremony is to support the next generation of scientists at the Hamburg University of Technology. The Hamburg University of Technology would like to thank its partners Dow Deutschland, Ohly and Hamburger Energiewerke for their long-standing commitment. The winners of the 2026 Bachelor’s Award: Anna Katharina Zörner (Chemical and Bioengineering, specialising in Chemical Engineering, Dow North-West Germany) Marcel Grafmann (Chemical and Bioengineering, specialising in Bioengineering, Ohly) Louis Hehemann (Green Technologies dual programme, Hamburger Energiewerke GmbH)