Lecture series on the circular economy

In the summer semester of 2023, the TU Ilmenau will start a new lecture series on circular economy. The lecture series in the Scientific Year "Sustainability" of the university will begin on April 17, 2023, and will for the first time shed light on the challenges of this future topic from various perspectives across disciplines: in the context of the materials glass, plastics and steel and product development, but also in relation to new business models and communication. The lecture series will take place on Mondays from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. in Humboldtbau room 211/212. It is open to students of all degree programs. Guests are also welcome.

Sustainability is a current and central topic for the future that will occupy business, politics and society intensively in the coming years: As a society, we do not want to give up our standard of living. The economy is striving for constant growth. At the same time, we have to treat our environment with care in terms of energy and resources and reduce emissions that are harmful to the environment. This balancing act is a major technical, economic, political and social challenge.

One promising approach to tackling this task is the so-called circular economy. "The circular economy model stands in contrast to the traditional 'throwaway economy' and aims to minimize resource use, emissions and energy consumption through targeted 'reduce', 'reuse' and 'recycle'," explains Prof. Florian Puch, head of the plastics technology department, who initiated the lecture series together with Prof. Stephan Husung, head of the product and system development department. This means that existing materials and products should be shared, repaired, refurbished and reused for as long as possible. In this way, the life cycle of the products is to be extended and waste is to be reduced to a minimum.

"Circular economy can only succeed if different disciplines such as materials science, engineering, economics and law work together in a targeted manner and we all as a society integrate an understanding of sustainability into our daily actions," says Prof. Stephan Husung: "Communicating this understanding at an early stage and building up the necessary skills is an important concern for us at TU Ilmenau."

Discussing perspectives, challenges and potentials in an interdisciplinary way

In the interdisciplinary lecture series "Circular Economy - Perspectives, Challenges and Potentials", experts from three faculties will therefore discuss various aspects of the circular economy in an interdisciplinary manner together with students from all degree programs. For example, Prof. Edda Rädlein, Head of the Group of Inorganic Non-Metallic Materials, Prof. Puch and Priv.-Doz. Dr. Günther Lange, Head of the Group of Metallic Materials and Composites, will examine the issues of the circular economy in the context of the materials glass, plastics and steel. Prof. Thomas Bachmann, Head of Department Automotive Engineering, Prof. Husung, Prof. Müller and Prof. Rainer Souren, Head of Sustainable Production and Logistics Management  will discuss the opportunities and challenges for various products, their development and specific circular approaches. The perspectives and benefits of new business models as well as communication about and for the circular economy will be presented by Jun.-Prof. Elena Freisinger, Department Head Innovation Management, and Prof. Jens Wolling, who heads the Group of Empirical Media Research and Political Communication.

Students who attend the lecture series will receive a certificate of attendance that will count toward a planned sustainability certificate.

Dates of the lecture series "Circular Economy - Perspectives, Challenges and Potentials"

17.04. Introduction (Prof. Puch/Prof. Husung)

Circular economy and materials

24.04. Strategies for the Circular Economy: Glass Materials and Products (Prof. Rädlein)

08.05. Circular Steel: the 4R - Concept (Priv.-Doz. Dr. Lange)

15.05. Plastics in the circular economy (Prof. Puch)

Circular economy and products

22.05. Product development under consideration of the circular economy (Prof. Husung)

05.06. Circular economy in the mobility industry (Prof. Bachmann)

12.06. Circular economy in the electrical and electronic industry (Prof. Müller)

19.06. Circular economy for disposable and reusable packaging: a socio-economic analysis (Prof. Souren)

Circular economy and benefits

26.06. Circular business models - opportunities and challenges (Jun.-Prof. Freisinger)

03.07. Communication about and for the circular economy (Prof. Wolling)

10.07. Final discussion (tbd.)