News Tessellated Material Systems | Publication

13.6.2022–12.6.2023

Launch of the Tessellation Archive

An Online Collection of Tiled Tissues and Architectures from Across the Natural World

13.6.2022–12.6.2023

Tessellations are structural motifs made up of repeating tiles, found in many forms and serving a variety of functions in nature. Perhaps partly inspired by natural examples, tessellations have also been a part of human history in art, design and culture, commonly in the form of mosaics, and more recently in the realm of bio-inspired design and engineering. This collection showcases the diversity of this motif, exploring commonalities in structure and function across environments and taxa, to inspire biological and biomaterials research, but also bioinspired design and architecture. Follow the link to explore the classification scheme and compare the similarities and differences between the tessellations. https://tessellated-materials.mpikg.mpg.de more

Event Exhibition | Weaving

18.11.2022–30.6.2023

DAOULA | sheen

West African Wild Silk on its Way

18.11.2022–30.6.2023

The exhibition »DAOULA | sheen«, which can be seen at the Tieranatomisches Theater in Berlin until June 30th, 2023, at the Tieranatomisches Theater in Berlin, focuses on the natural formation and the cultural history of wild silk obtained from caterpillars in West Africa, and on the many and complex ways in which this unique material is viewed by microbiologists, materials scientists, and architects in Germany. Curated by MoA members Laurence Douny, Karin Krauthausen, and Felix Sattler, and co-created by a large and diverse multidisciplinary team, this unusual project sets out to stimulate dialogue between West African craft, European science, and design. more

News Achievement | Filtering

1.3.2023–31.12.2023

Cluster Member Anna Schäffner Selected for VOJEXT S+T+ARTS Residency on Robotics

1.3.2023–31.12.2023

We congratulate Pre-Doctoral Candidate Anna Schäffner on her successful application to one of the three VOJEXT S+T+ARTS residencies. The selected artists were announced during the S+T+ARTS presentations at European Robotic Forum 2023 in Odense (Denmark). Each artist will receive 30.000 Euros of funding, mentoring and access to robotics labs from March until December 2023. The goals of the VOJEXT S+T+ARTS residencies are twofold: to push for art-driven innovation and societal understanding of human-robot interactions, and to integrate them in industrial manufacturing robotics that work on construction, arts and crafts. Anna Schäffner is taking part in the Social Robots residency, supported by industrial partner and tech-provider IIT (Fondazion Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia). Her project »Soft Collision« focuses on the design of a new robotic membrane that will demonstrate a form of interaction between human and robot through body language. more

News Exhibition

12.5.2023–16.7.2023

Examples to Follow!

Cluster Members Contribute to Exhibition in Uferhallen Wedding

12.5.2023–16.7.2023

In its 13th year, the international traveling exhibition »Examples to follow!« returns to its first stop for the 20th edition - enriched by the expertise of international artists and scientists. After stops on four continents, the exhibition finale will take place at Uferhallen Wedding from May 12th to July 16th: a core theme is the conventional construction industry's catastrophic share in the climate disaster. The exhibition will also feature works and talks by MoA researchers Dimitra Almpani-Lekka, Julia Blumenthal, Johanna Hehemeyer-Cürten, Vera Meyer, Natalija Miodragović, and Charlett Wenig. In addition, we are pleased to be part of the exhibition's dialog program with the workshop »Talking Wool - Wool in Exchange« organized by Lucy Norris, Khashayar Razghandi, and Hanna Wegener on June 1st. more

Event Fungi

12.5.2023–31.7.2023

MY-CO PLACE – Architecture of Sustainable Growth

Cluster Member Vera Meyer Opens Transdisciplinary Urban Laboratory as Learning Station, Exhibition Space and Discussion Platform at TU Berlin

12.5.2023–31.7.2023

MY-CO PLACE is now open! The transdisciplinary urban laboratory of the TU Berlin is a learning station, exhibition space and discussion platform that places mushrooms and mushroom materials at the center of the debate about a future way of building and living. In this place, people from science, art and urban society come together and discuss their ideas for a jointly built and sustainable future. In MY-CO PLACE, visitors can come into direct contact with the microscopically small but macroscopically tangible world of fungi. MY-CO PLACE is a transdisciplinary real laboratory by Prof. Vera Meyer (TU Berlin) and Prof. Sven Pfeiffer (University of Bochum). Biotechnologist and molecular biologist Vera Meyer opened a lecture series on May 15th about fungi as the building material of the future there, that also includes a lecture by Natalija Miodragović und Dimitra Almpani-Lekka. more

Event Lecture Series

17.5.2023–28.6.2023

See - Anders(e)s Sehen

Cluster Professors Present their Research at Public Lecture Series at weißensee school of art and design berlin

17.5.2023–28.6.2023

On Wednesday, May 17th, at 5 pm, the public lecture series »see - anders(e)s sehen« started at weißensee school of art and design berlin, with four MoA members taking part in this semester's program. The first lecture was given by Karola Dierichs, Cluster professor for »Material and Code«, sharing her insights about »Designing Matter-Teaching Research and Research through Teaching.« In the following weeks, Patricia Ribault, Thomas Ness, and Lucy Norris will give further lectures. more

Event Wool

30.5.2023–4.6.2023 3:00 PM to
9:00 PM

Production Line Sheep Wool in Exchange with Mushroom and Hemp

Workshop on Insulation Materials from Raw Wool With Folke Köbberling, Natalija Miodragovic, Stella Maxeiner und Andrija Mihailovic

30.5.2023–4.6.2023, 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Raw wool – an underestimated resource! In the workshop within the exhibition »An Example to Follow«, insulation materials against noise, cold and dirt are made. The raw materials sheep’s wool and clay are processed into protective walls against noise and exhaust fumes for Tempelhofer Feld. The workshop will be held in collaboration with MY-CO PLACE as well as with the Institute of Architecture-Related Arts at TU Braunschweig and the Mobile Biomaterial Lab with the support of the Department of Applied and Molecular Microbiology at TU Berlin. more

Event Activating Circular Networks

1.6.2023 3:00 PM to
7:00 PM

Talking Wool – Wool in Exchange

Activating Circular Networks Event Series Will Kick Off on 1 June at Uferhallen Wedding

1.6.2023, 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM

On June 1st, 2023, from 3 to 7 pm, at the Uferhallen in Wedding, the ›Activating Circular Networks‹ event series will kick off with »Talking Wool«: an event that brings designers, academics, politicians, and farmers together to discuss the issues surrounding European and local German wool, the problem of wool waste in particular, and fiber security. The workshop takes place within the ongoing group exhibition »Zur Nachahmung empfohlen - Erkundungen in Ästhetik und Nachhaltigkeit«. Our host for the event is professor and artist Folke Köbberling, an expert in exploring these challenges and potentials of coarse wool for years. more

Event Weaving | Material Form Function

6.6.2023 7:00 PM

Materialwende in der Architektur: Strukturen

Curators‘ Talk mit Christiane Sauer am 6. Juni 2023 in der BDA Galerie Berlin

6.6.2023, 7:00 PM

Die Berliner BDA-Galerie lädt am 6. Juni 2023 um 19 Uhr zum Curators‘ Talk im Rahmen der Ausstellung »wechsel STOFF wechsel«. Zum dritten Mal diskutieren die BDA-Kurator:innen Astrid Bornheim und Ludwig Heimbach mit Expert:innen die Frage, welchen Beitrag das Material in der Architektur für die drängenden Herausforderungen in Zeiten des Klimawandels leistet und welche Bedeutung das Material für den architektonischen Entwurf in der Zukunft haben wird. Gesprächspartnerinnen sind die Architektin, Hochschulprofessorin und Clustermitglied Christiane Sauer und die Bauingenieurin und Wissenschaftlerin Julia von Werder. Beide befassen sich mit wechselseitigen Abhängigkeiten von Struktur und Gefüge, biobasierten Materialien, Materialkombinationen und Bestandsmaterialien. more

Event Science Communication | CollActive Materials | Air

9.6.2023–10.6.2023 6:00 PM

Hybrid Forms

A Participative, Artistic-Research Theater Piece of the Master's Program »Spiel und Objekt«, Ernst Busch Academy of Dramatic Arts, Taught by Clemens Winkler

9.6.2023–10.6.2023, 6:00 PM

The participatory, artistic-research theater piece by the students of the Master's Program »Spiel und Objekt« at the Ernst Busch Academy of Dramatic Arts is divided into »Three Perspectives« and »Playing Emissions«. In »Playing Emissions« you enter the theme park of air futures! Experience the production of steam, body heat, sweat, feelings, breathing exercises in various eventful dramaturgies. How do we transform strong personal emotions from moments of crisis into new forms of collaborative play? The piece was created in collaboration with the experimental lab »CollActive Materials«, the Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity. Image Space Material« and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. more

Event Object Space Agency | Stretching Materialities

14.6.2023–15.6.2023

The Power of Water

New Dates for Workshops on Water as a Unique Element in Conservation in June

14.6.2023–15.6.2023

Water is a unique element also in conservation. It is a universal element that occurs on earth in all states of aggregation at the same time. Its properties, which may seem unremarkable at first sight, allow this element to be used and modified in a number of ways. In addition to established measures, new scientific discoveries are constantly finding their way into conservation. The two workshops »The Power of Water« on June 14th and 15th will offer some insights into the application of water in conservation treatments – with practical examples and experiments, you are welcome to explore conservation methods and techniques. more

Event Talk | Filtering

17.6.2023 7:00 PM to
8:00 PM

Dis_abled Nature

Talk by Siegfried Saerberg and Robert Stock at the Humboldt Lab

17.6.2023, 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Nature and disability are closely linked. The terms reflect the damage, but also the diversity of our world. The crisis of nature cultures – their dis_ability – is the consequence of globalized economies and climate injustices. Attempts at healing and restoration are linked to them, as are protests and artistic interventions aimed at other futures. But how sustainable are approaches to the climate crisis that rely on visual anthropocentrism and the idea of nature domination? Doesn’t smelling, touching, and hearing have to be brought to the fore in order to make room for a diverse perceptual knowledge that is close to living beings? With their talk on June 17th at 7 pm, Siegfried Saerberg, Professor for Disability Studies and Participation Research, and Cluster Professor Robert Stock are part of the Long Night of the Sciences at the Humboldt Lab on the topic »Climate_in_justice«. more

Event LNDW | Science Communication

17.6.2023 7:30 PM to
11:00 PM

Exzellentes Pub-Quiz

Berliner Exzellenzcluster laden zur Langen Nacht der Wissenschaften ein

17.6.2023, 7:30 PM to 11:00 PM

Am 17. Juni laden die Berliner Exzellenzcluster um 19:30 Uhr zum exzellenten Pub-Quiz im TU-Zelt auf dem Südcampus an der Straße des 17. Juni ein! In lockerer Atmosphäre und bei hoffentlich sommerlichen Temperaturen freuen wir uns auf eine lange Quiz-Nacht, bei der ihr mehr über die Forschung der sieben Berliner Cluster erfahrt. Die Veranstaltung ist Teil der Langen Nacht der Wissenschaften. more

Event Cutting | LNDW | Brain

17.6.2023

Virtual Reality Memory Challenge: Are Your Senses Ready?

Presentation at the Long Night of the Sciences 2023

17.6.2023

Are your senses up for a challenge? Dive into our interactive experiment and put your memory to the test as you enter Virtual Reality to explore digital objects using both vision and touch. Will you be able to recognize objects while racing against time? Researchers from the »Virtual Dissection« team of the Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity« invite you to unlock the secrets of working memory performance while delving into how our brains deal with sensory information. Join in at the Long Night of the Sciences on 17th June at Zuse-Institute in Berlin-Adlershof. more

Event Weaving

13.7.2023–15.7.2023 1:30 PM to
3:30 PM

Landwirtschaft und Literatur

Internationale Tagung organisiert von MoA-Mitgliedern Stephan Kammer und Karin Krauthausen

13.7.2023–15.7.2023, 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM

Über ihr initiales Wirken für menschliche, tierische und pflanzliche Lebensformen hinaus bildet die Landwirtschaft nicht nur ein kontinuierliches Element in der Entwicklung vielfältigster Kulturtechniken, sondern beschäftigt als Topos über Jahrtausende hinweg die kollektive Imagination. Genres wie Georgik und Bukolik, aber auch unterschiedlichste Erzählmodelle zeugen bis heute von den Wechselverhältnissen zwischen Agrikultur und Textkultur. Die Tagung, organisirt von den Cluster Mitgliedern Karin Krauthausen und Stephan Kammer, geht dem Themenkomplex »Landwirtschaft und Literatur« aus literaturwissenschaftlicher Perspektive nach, aber bezieht dabei wesentlich auch medientheoretische und kulturhistorische Fragen und Wissensbestände ein. Adressiert wird das Feld in seiner ganzen historischen Breite: von Georgik und Bukolik und deren neuzeitlichen Nachwirkungen über erzählerische Kultivierungsunternehmungen des 19. und 20. Jahrhunderts bis zum Erzählen der Gegenwart. more

Event Call | Air

25.7.2023–29.7.2023

Aerial Witness/ing

Speculative Workshop on July 25th-29th During »The Future of Life Summer School«

25.7.2023–29.7.2023

Air does not obey nor care about human-made territorial borders, yet it affects and activates various material thresholds! Cluster Members Léa Perraudin, Emilia Tikka, Martin Müller and Clemens Winkler come together at the interstices of critical humanities scholarship, speculative design and new material practices July 25th–29th during »The Future of Life Summer School«, an exploratory summer program organized by the Bio Design Lab, an incubator for collaboration within Karlsruhe University of Arts and Design. more