Young Researchers from 36 Countries Attended the 46th IFF Spring School
18 March 2015
The 46th international IFF Spring School at Forschungszentrum Jülich was brought to a successful end on 6th March. 260 young scientists from 36 countries attended the intensive two-week course on functional soft matter, a multifaceted area of research at the interface of physics, chemistry and biology.
Which polymers are suitable for use in the manufacture of cost-effective and durable membranes for fuel cells? How can medicines be packaged, so that they are released only in specific tissues so as leave other types unaffected? How can swarms of micro-robots perform collective tasks? These are just some of the questions which this year's Spring School was actively engaged with.
"We are more than pleased with the response from students," summed up Prof. Gerhard Gompper, Director at the Institute of Complex Systems and at the Institute for Advanced Simulation at Forschungszentrum Jülich, who led this year's Spring School. "We had many more applicants than places available." "The feedback from participants has been very positive", reported Michael Beißel, from the Institute's administration. "Many of the students take part in the school several years running, which is a very positive sign."
The Spring School, with its topic of "Functional Soft Matter", covered a broad range of material, starting with the theoretical and experimental fundamentals of this area of research using modern physical methods right through to current experimental results and research projects. Around 40 experts from German and European research institutes gave lectures. Tours of the campus completed the programme and enabled the young scientists to become more familiar with experimental facilities and laboratories in related areas of research.
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