Citizens' Campus: Microfluidics - How do flows behave on a small scale and why does this benefit us?

Did you know that an ant can easily survive a fall from a great height, but runs the risk of being trapped in a raindrop? Although the same physics applies to humans and ants, there are some interesting differences. The reason is miniaturization: the smaller a system, the more the force ratios change, especially between volume and surface forces.

These unique effects of microfluidics offer exciting opportunities for innovative technologies. For example, flows can be driven by applying acoustic, magnetic or electric fields, the smallest particles and cells can be sorted and chemical reactions can be precisely controlled. These new processes open up completely new avenues in process engineering.

At the TU Ilmenau, Prof. Dr. Christian Cierpka's research group is researching the fascinating phenomena of microfluidics. Using innovative measurement techniques and numerical methods, they characterize microfluidic systems in order to manipulate particles and convert energy. Current research results will be presented in the lecture and explained using concrete examples.

Be inspired by the amazing possibilities of microfluidics and discover how these tiny systems enable major technological breakthroughs!

Admission: 5 Euro