APT at AUFBRUCH Winterschool
The graduate cluster AUFBRUCH is an interdisciplinary project aiming at industrial transformation in the Rhenish mining area. From December 2 to 4, the first AUFBRUCH Winter School took place at Haus Overbach in Jülich, bringing together all AUFBRUCH PhD students and many of the PIs (Principal Investigators). As representatives of the Laboratory of Plant and Process Design, Lutz Gerkensmeier and PD Dr.-Ing. Kerstin joined the discussions and contributed with their research on suspension melt crystallization as a part of Innovation Area 1.
The first day was dedicated to the exploitation of research results. In a workshop, participants discussed with experts how their findings can contribute to practical solutions while protecting their intellectual property. On the second day, the PhD students took part in a Revier Challenge, where they focused on creativity and problem solving. Katharina Piront, structural change manager for the town of Elsdorf, provided an insightful introduction to the structural changes facing the region, particularly in the context of the Hambach open-cast mine. Building on this, teams of six doctoral students brainstormed and refined innovative concepts for the transformation of the region. These concepts were presented to the PIs during the colloquium on the final day, demonstrating how technical expertise can drive positive change in a transitioning economy.
The final day colloquium served as a platform for interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge exchange. Among others, Norbert Kockmann, site spokesperson of TU Dortmund University and Professor of Equipment Design at BCI, gave a presentation emphasizing the importance of process engineering research at BCI. After the presentations, a poster session was the starting point for interesting discussions across the different Innovation Areas as well as an intensive exchange within Innovation Area 1, to which the working group of PD Dr.-Ing. Kerstin Wohlgemuth belongs.
The activities during the retreat highlight the vital role of the bio-economy in enabling a sustainable industry and underlined AUFBRUCH's commitment to fostering innovation at the interface of science and societal needs.