2025

livMatS Colloquium

• 02.07. – Prof. André Studart
  ETH Zürich
  Directed evolution of material-producing bacteria
  
  
• 18.06. – Prof. David Kammer
  ETH Zürich
  Toward a framework for modeling contact between growing solids
  
  
• 11.06. – Prof. Chun-Xia Zhao
  University of Adelaide
  Bioinspired Nanomaterials and Devices for Drug Delivery
  
  
• 07.05. – Prof. Guido Clever
  TU Dortmund
  Creating Complexity through Metal-mediated Self-Assembly
  
  
• 02.04. – Dr. Christian Böffel
  RWTH Aachen
  Perceived Sustainability and Acceptance of Sustainable Materials and Technologies
  
  
• 12.03. – Prof. Christoph Rademacher
  University of Vienna
  Glycomimetics for the delivery of mRNA therapeutics to immune cells
  
  
• 19.02. – Prof. Max von Delius
  University of Ulm
  Driving Organophosphates Out of Equilibrium
  
  
• 12.02. – Dr. Kunal Masania
  TU Delft
  Additive manufacturing of living materials
  
  
• 29.01. – Dr. Dirk Wulff
  Max Planck Institute for Human Development
  Mapping semantic representations with free associations
  
  
• 22.01. – Prof. Christopher Grefen
  Ruhr Universität Bochum
  Not Just Peanuts: Establishing Arachis hypogaea as a model to understand the molecular mechanisms of Geocarpy
  
  

2024

livMatS Special Colloquium

• 23.09. – Prof. Shu Yang
  University of Pennsylvania
  Design and Manufacturing of Geometric Materials for Efficient Decarbonization
  
  
• 10.06. – Prof. Konishi Satoshi
  Ritsumeikan University
  Soft microfinger robot for active tactile sensing
  
  

livMatS Colloquium

• 11.12. – Prof. Stefan Matile
  University of Geneva
  Translational Supramolecular Chemistry
  
  
• 11.20. – Jr. Prof. Marco Contardi
  University of Milano
  Advanced Strategies for Coral Reef Conservation and Restoration
  
  
• 11.13. – Prof. Rienk Eelkema
  TU Delft
  Chemical reaction networks integrated in polymer materials
  
  
• 23.10. – Prof. Tommaso Magrini
  Eindhoven University of Technology
  Irregular Architected Composites: from Bioinspired Design to Mechanical Performance
  
  
• 16.10. – Prof. Daniel Grande
  Institute Charles Sadron
  Harnessing the Potential of Macromolecular Engineering in the Design of Functional Materials with Tunable Pore Morphology and Functionality
  
  
• 24.07. – Dr. Felix Löffler
  Max Planck Institute for Colloids and Interfaces
  Additive chemical nanomanufacturing
  
  
• 03.07. – Prof. Hermann A. Wegner
  University of Gießen
  Azobenzenes - Colorful Molecular Materials for Energy Storage
  
  
• 26.06. – Jun.-Prof. Mehdi Vahdati
  University of Strasbourg, Institute Charles Sadron
  Quasi-Complex Coacervates: Single-Phase Viscoelastic Analogues of Complex Coacervates
  
  
• 05.06. – Prof. Peter Seeberger
  Max Planck Institute for Colloids and Interfaces
  Carbohydrated-Based Material Science
  
  
• 15.05. – Dr. Anita Roth-Nebelsick
  State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart
  Models and Reality in Biomimetic Research
  
  
• 24.04. – Prof. Raphael Wittkowski
  University of Münster
  Acoustically propelled microparticles: From fundamentals to applications
  
  
• 17.04. – Prof. Thomas Potthast
  University of Tübingen
  Sustainable Development, Medicine and Ethics: Topoi of health in individual, collective and planetary constellations, and their implications
  
  
• 10.04. – Prof. Jan Zeman
  Czech Technical University (Prague)
  Wang Tiles for Modular Architectured Materials: Design, Fabrication, and Self-Assembly
  
  
• 28.02. – Dr. Thomas Hermans
  IMDEA Nanoscience Institute (Madrid)
  Controlling self-assembly by chemical fuels and light
  
  
• 14.02. – Dr. Evan Sprijt
  Radboud University
  Assembly at the surface of biomolecular condensates
  
  
• 07.02. – Prof. Eli Zysman-Colman
  St. Andrews University
  Design of multi-resonance thermally activated delayed fluorescence materials for organic light-emitting diodes and light-emitting electrochemical cells
  
  

Core Lectures

• 17.07. – Jun.-Prof. Dr. Edoardo Milana
  Elastic Inflatable Actuators: Design, Fabrication, Applications
  
  
• 12.06. – Dr. Olga Speck
  Biomimetics, bioinspiration, biomimicry, life-likeness. What do they have in common and how do they differ?
  
  
• 08.05. – Prof. Dr. Laura Hartmann
  Precision Macromolecules and Polymers
  
  
• 12.03. – Prof. Dr. Anna Fischer
  Supercapacitors and Photosupercapacitors for electrochemical energy storage
  
  

Architektur Forum Freiburg

2023

livMatS Special Colloquium

• 26.06. – Prof. Marc Hillmyer
  University of Minnesota
  Polyester copolymers for sustainable high-performance thermoplastic elastomers and plastics
  
  
• 01.06. – Prof. Markus Gallei
  Universität des Saarlandes
  Stimuli-responsive polymer architectures as optical sensing materials and smart membranes
  
  
• 19.05. – Prof. Robert Shepherd
  Cornell University
  Embracing complexity for enduring and adaptive, organic robots via autonomous materials
  
  
• 13.02. – Prof. Tevis Jacobs
  University of Pittsburgh
  The mechanical and functional properties of nanoscale contacts
  
  

livMatS Colloquium

• 13.12. – Dr. Sukho Song
  EMPA Lab for Sustainability Robotics
  Soft Robots Meet Bioelectronic Interfaces: Deployment of an electrocorticography system assisted with a soft robotic actuator
  
  
• 06.12. – Prof. Serim Ilday
  Ruhr Universität Bochum
  A conceptual mapping of the uncharted, far-from-equilibrium territories
  
  
• 08.11. – Prof. Job Boekhoven
  TU München
  Active droplets: phase separation regulated by chemical reactions
  
  
• 13.09. – Prof. Chris Ober
  Cornell University
  Extreme UV Patterning for Fast Electronics: Making materials vanish with nm-scale precision
  
  
• 19.07. – Prof. Rein Ulijn
  City University New York
  Peptide-based Complex Supramolecular Systems
  
  
• 05.07. – Prof. James Kermode
  Warwick School of Engineering
  Multiscale and data-driven methods for the simulation of material failure
  
  
• 24.05. – Prof. Dr. Michael Mastalerz
  Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
  Shape-persistent organic cages – from fundamental understanding to new materials
  
  
• 03.05. – Dr. Naomi Nakayama
  Imperial College London
  What determines biological shape? A case of the dandelion pappus
  
  
• 26.04. – David Labonte
  Imperial College London
  Behavioural biomechanics in leaf-cutter ants
  
  
• 01.03. – Dr. Claudia Bonfio
  University of Strasbourg
  Towards the emergence of modern cells
  
  
• 22.02. – Prof. Hatice Mutlu
  Mulhouse Materials Science Institute
  Tailor-made functional polymeric materials: Quo Vadis?
  
  
• 11.01. – Prof. Lucio Isa
  ETH Zürich
  Sliding or rolling? Characterizing single-particle contacts
  
  

Conferences

• 21-24.03.2023 – 1st International Conference and Scientific Exhibition on Living Materials Systems | Energy Autonomy – Adaptivity – Longevity – Societal Implications
  
  

Core Lectures

• 22.11. – Dr. Uli Würfel
  The principle of photovoltaic energy conversion
  
  
• 25.10. – Prof. Dr. Ingo Krossing
  How do batteries work? - From the basics to the livmatS context
  
  
• 12.07 – Prof. Dr. Andrea Kiesel
  Acceptance of emerging technologies - assessment strategies including cognitive affective maps (CAMs)
  
  
• 14.06. – Prof. Dr. Chris Eberl & Dr. Viacheslav Slesarenko
  Metamaterials: from static structures to life-like behavior
  
  
• 17.05. – Prof. Dr. Jürgen Rühe
  Photochemistry
  
  

2022

livMatS Special Colloquium

• 11.11. – Prof. Alison Dunn
  University of Illinois
  Soft Surface Layers on Swollen Gels Mediate Their Contact and Sliding Mechanics
  
  
• 26.09. – Prof. Hala Zreiqat
  University of Sydney
  Novel Engineered synthetic approaches to Innovative BioEngineering
  
  
• 13.06. – Prof. Andres Arrieta
  Purdue University
  Bioinspired Programmable Structures
  
  

livMatS Colloquium

• 14.12. – Dr. Giulio Ragazzon
  University of Strasbourg
  What are molecular ratchets and how we might use them
  
  
• 07.12. – Prof. Claudia Fleck
  TU-Berlin
  Fracture and fracture avoidance in biological and bioinspired systems
  
  
• 23.11. – Dr. Anne Berthold
  ETH Zürich
  Scarcity Perception & Technology Acceptance
  
  
• 16.11. – Prof. Rainer Herges
  Christian Albrechts Universität zu Kiel
  Switchable Molecular Magnets
  
  
• 09.11. – Prof. Dr. Hendrik Dietz
  Technische Universität München
  Virus traps and other molecular machines of the future
  
  
• 26.10. – Prof. Henry Dube
  Friedrich-Alexander Universität
  Indigoid chromophores: A platform for light responsive nanosystems and molecular machines
  
  
• 19.10. – Prof. Rafal Klajn
  Weizmann Institute of Science
  Electrostatic self-assembly of nanoparticles into static and out-of-equilibrium materials
  
  
• 22.07. – Dr. Mathias Lebihain
  Ecole des Ponts Paristech
  Crack propagation in 3D: disorder, dissipation, and dynamics
  
  
• 20.07. – Dr. Marco Tamborini
  TU Darmstadt
  The Elephant in the Room: The Biomimetic Principle in Bio-Robotics and Embodied AI
  
  
• 13.07. – Dr. Guilhem De Hoe
  University of Manchester
  Circularity in Plastics: From Biodegradable Elastomers to Mechanical Recycling
  
  
• 06.07. – Dr. Dibyendu Das
  Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata
  Dynamic Supramolecular Systems under Non-equilibrium conditions
  
  
• 01.06. – Prof. Mark Rutland
  KTH Royal Institute of Technology
  In touch with surface interactions – from ionic liquids to tactile perception
  
  
• 27.04. – Prof. Ali Dhinojwala
  University of Akron
  Role of Surface Roughness in Adhesion and Friction and How Nature Tackles this Challenge
  
  
• 13.04. – Prof. Steve Beeby
  University of Southhampton
  Triboelectric Mechanical Energy Harvesting
  
  
• 30.03. – Dr. Luiza Teixeira-Costa
  Harvard University Herbaria
  Adaptability skills for future climates: learning from parasitic flowering plants
  
  
• 16.03. – Dr. Stephen Schrettl
  University of Fribourg
  Supramolecular Approaches toward Functional Polymer Materials
  
  
• 02.03. – Dr. Christoph Schweizer
  IWM Fraunhofer
  On the future role of digital knowledge bases/expert systems for production and fatigue life prediction of metallic materials
  
  
• 09.02. – Dr. Marc Willinger
  ETH Zürich
  Oscillatory Dynamics at Catalytically Active Interfaces Studied by Multi-Scale Operando Electron Microscopy
  
  
• 19.01. – Prof. Pedro Reis
  Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne
  A Virtual lab tour of the Flexible Structures Laboratory at EPFL
  
  

Conferences

• 21-24.03.2022 – The Rising Stars Conference
  
  

Workshops

• 30.08 – Writer's Studio: Golden Day
• 16.08 – Writer's Studio: Golden Day
• 09.08 – Writer's Studio: Golden Day
• 02.08 – Writer's Studio: Golden Day
• 21.07 – Writer's Studio: July 21st Golden Day
• 12.07 – Writer's Studio: Writing Standout Cover Letters and Resumes
• 04.07 – Writer's Studio: July 4th Golden Day
• 13.05 – Workshop "Eigenschaften und Recycling von Polymeren / Polymers properties and recycling" (Schüler Ingenieur Akademie)
• 28.04 – Writer's Studio: Golden Days
  
  

Architektur Forum Freiburg

2021

livMatS Special Colloquium

• 02.12. – Prof. Alfred Nordmann
  TU Darmstadt
  The Enhancement of Material Nature
  
  

livMatS Colloquium

• 20.10. – Prof. Silvia Vignolini
  University of Cambridge
  Biomimetic colour engineering from nature to applications

• 13.10. – Prof. Daniel Lacks
  Case Western Reserve University
  Contact Electrification – why is something seemingly so simple so poorly understood?

• 06.10. – Prof. Beverley Glover
  University of Cambridge
  Development of petal nanoscale ridges that scatter light and influence animal behaviour

• 22.09. – Prof. Andreas Ernst
  University of Kassel
  Acceptance of environmentally relevant new technologies and materials

• 15.09. – Prof. Vasiliki Tileli
  Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale Lausanne
  Liquid-phase transmission electron microscopy for probing electrochemical-induced processes

• 21.07. – Prof. Marc Desmulliez
  Heriot Watt University
  Computer-aided biomimetics: methodology to search for meaning in data and measurements

• 14.07. – Prof. Petr Novak
  ETH Zürich
  Battery Materials and Their Operando Characterization

• 23.06. – Prof. Philippe Poizot
  University of Nantes
  Organic host materials for innovative rechargeable batteries

• 09.06. – Prof. Alfred Crosby
  University of Massachusetts Amherst
  Polymer Gels for Autonomous Motion and Mesoscale Assembly

• 19.05. – Dr. Thang Vo-Doan
  University of Freiburg
  Insect-machine Hybrid Robot: From locomotion control to future applications

• 12.05. – Elena Vazquez
  Penn State University, USA
  Design strategies for responsive architecture using smart materials

• 05.05. – Prof. Khalid Salaita
  Emory University, USA
  Beyond the central dogma: Repurposing nucleic acids as force sensors, actuators, and motors

• 28.04. – Prof. Paul Thagard
  University of Waterloo Ontario
  The Cognitive Science of Climate Change

• 21.04. – Prof. Stefan Hiermaier
  University of Freiburg
  SCHARF project: Multiscale analysis of robust material systems with integrated functionalities

• 14.04. – Prof. Gerald Urban
  University of Freiburg
  Microelectronics for Life: Project PROMYS - a joint project of the German strategic research initiative ForLab

• 31.03. – Dr. Margret Wohlfahrt-Mehrens
  Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW)
  Materials development for lithium ion batteries – From particle design to full cell operation

• 10.03. – Prof. Maximilian Fichtner
  Helmholtz Institut Ulm
  New materials for electrochemical storage - from post Li-ion to post Li systems

• 03.03 – Prof. Song Jin
  University of Wisconsin-Madison
  Solar Flow Batteries: Integrated Solar Energy Conversion and Redox Flow Battery Systems

• 17.02. – Prof. Dr. Steve Albrecht
  TU and Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin
  Highly Efficient Monolithic Tandem Devices with Perovskite Top Cells

• 10.02. – Prof. Dr. Mark Miodownik
  University College London
  Towards Self-repairing Cities

• 27.01. – Prof. Thomas Bein
  Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
  Optoelectronic Processes in Covalent Organic Frameworks

• 13.01. – Prof. Yan Yao
  Texas Center for Superconductivity at the University of Houston
  Next-generation Batteries for Electric Vehicles and Stationary Storage
  
  

Workshops

• 09.12. – Writer's Studio Workshop: Covering the Cover Letter
• 11.06. – Writer's Studio: Hacking the Abstract
• 08.04. – Writer's Studio: Meet the Editors
• 11.02. – Writer's Studio Workshop: "K.I.S.S. - Keep it Simple, Scientists!

2020

livMatS Special Colloquium

• 25.09. – Prof. Nico Bruns
  University of Strathclyde, Scotland
  Bio-inspired Polymer-Enzyme Nanosystems

• 16.09. – Prof. Caterina La Porta & Prof. Stefano Zapperi
  University of Milan, Italy
  Metamaterial architecture from a self-shaping carnivorous plant

• 26.02. – Prof. Dr. Paul Verschure
  Institute of Bioengineering of Catalunya, Spain
  The Volitional Brain in Action: The Synergy of Feedback and Feedforward Control Through Counterfactual Error Signals

• 31.01. – livMatS Special Colloquium on Tribology
  
  Prof. Dr. Robert W. Carpick
  University of Pennsylvania, USA
  Connecting Nano- and Geo-scale Friction: Studies of Atomistic Rate and State Effects
  
  Prof. Dr. Hitoshi Washizu
  University of Hyogo, Japan
  Molecular and Meso Simulations for Solid Friction and Boundary Lubrication
  
  Prof. Dr. Michael Chandross
  Sandia National Laboratories, USA
  Designing Low Friction Alloys
  
  

• 29.01. – Prof. Dr. Andrea Balducci
  Friedrich Schiller University Jena
  Design of Novel Electrolytes for Energy Storage Devices
  
  

livMatS Colloquium

• 16.12. – Prof. Tobias Schröder
  University of Applied Sciences Potsdam
  Understanding the Role of Emotion in Innovation Diffusion and Acceptance of Technology

• 02.12. – Prof. Dr. Pol Besenius
  Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
  Multidomain Peptide Assemblies for the Design of Adaptive Supramolecular Polymers and Synthetic Vaccines

• 21.10. – Prof. Nicolas Spencer
  ETH Zürich, Switzerland
  Polymer brushes on gels: Imitating the lubricious properties of cartilage

• 15.07. – Dr. Thomas Pfohl
  University of Freiburg
  Soft microfluidics: From high-throughput trapping of nano-objects to coupled fluidic networks for transport, adaption and self-regulation

• 08.07. – Dr. Severin Vierrath
  University of Freiburg
  Tailoring the interfaces of electrochemical energy systems for storage and conversion

• 01.07. – Dr. Dorothea Helmer
  University of Freiburg
  Superhydropholic and switchable materials for the study of wetting behaviour

• 24.06. – Prof. Dr. Armin Grunwald
  Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
  Judgments on relevance in sustainability assessments. Expert judgments, best guess, and gut feeling

• 27.05. – Prof. Dr. Bastian Rapp
  University of Freiburg
  Next generation 3D Printing: The emergence of enabling materials (Online Colloquium)

• 22.04. – Prof. Dr. Patrick Dondl
  University of Freiburg
  Optimization of Additively Manufactured Polymer Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering (Online Colloquium)

• 11.03. – Dr. Ulf Hahnel
  University of Geneva, Switzerland
  Psychological Dimensions of Future Renewable Energy
  Scenarios

• 19.02. – Prof. Dr. Michael Engel
  Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg
  Self-Organization of Building Blocks into Functional
  Materials
  
  

Webinars

• 22.-23.07. – Webinar of the Convergence Center for Living Multifunctional Materials Systems
  Find more information here.

• 24.06. – Prof. Dr. Jürgen Rühe (University of Freiburg) & Prof. Dr. Zoubeida Ounaies (Penn State University)
  Baden-Württemberg International (bw-i)
  "International Cooperation in Science and Research during Covid-19: The new normal in the US and Germany"

• 27.-28.05. – Webinar of the Convergence Center for Living Multifunctional Materials Systems
  Find more information here.

Virtual Materials Day 2020 - Convergence of Materials and Life

The University of Freiburg and Penn State University presented the the research of the Convergence Center for Living Multifunctional Material Systems (LiMC²) in a virtual conference on the occasion of the Materials Day.

Science Days Digital

Living Machines 2020 online conference

2019

livMatS Special Colloquium

• 10.12. – Prof. Dr. Mark O. Robbins
  John Hopkins University, USA
  Fluid Flow Far from Equilibrium: From Shear Thinning to the Glass Transition
  
  

livMatS Colloquium

• 18.12. – Prof. Dr. Christoph Asmuth
  TU Berlin
  Aussichten in die Ewigkeit - Zukunft zwischen Verdammnis und Technoromantik

• 11.12. – Prof. Dr. Dennis Kochmann
  ETH Zürich, Switzerland
  When Structures Become Materials: Mechanical Metamaterials with Tailored and Adaptive Performance

• 04.12. – Prof. Dr. Bernd Henningsen
  Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HU Berlin)
  The Unknown Influencer: Henrik Steffens - a European Philosopher and Political man in Times of Transition

• 02.12. – Prof. Dr. Grace Han
  Brandeis University, MA, USA
  Light-responsive Organic Molecular Switches for Energy Storage and Nano-gap Modulation

• 27.11. – Jun.-Prof. Dr. Stefan Pauliuk
  University of Freiburg
  Materials and Sustainability: Insights from Different System Perspectives

• 20.11. – Zhirong Zhao-Karger,
  Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
  Rechargeable Magnesium Batteries: Progress, Challenges and Perspectives

• 30.10. – Prof. Dr. Eric Dufresne
  ETH Zürich, Switzerland
  Growing Droplets in Cells and Gels

• 16.10. – Prof. Dr. Hongbin Li
  University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
  Mechanical Engineering of Protein-based Biomaterials: From Single Molecule Features to Macroscopic Traits
  
  

Exhibition

• 10.10.2019: Exhibition Opening "Baubionik - Biologie beflügelt Architektur"
  On display until 22 March 2020, WaldHaus Freiburg
  Download the exhibition flyer for more information.
  
  

Workshops

• 26.09. – livMatS Kick-Off Workshop
  Program and speakers

• 01.-02.08. – livMatS as Part of and Reaction to the Anthropocene
  Program and speakers