BiTWerk
Biological transformation of technical materials
Technical constructions of the past and present are usually designed to solve individual needs or challenges.
New components, component optimization, production, use and recycling of these constructs are usually thought of separately and are generally not sustainable. They lead to dramatic changes in nature and the climate and put a strain on finite natural resources. In order to deal responsibly with the resources of our planet, holistic approaches are therefore required that optimize the entire life cycle of a product or a material for the realization of this product in terms of resource use.
Biology offers excellent examples of how nature conserves finite resources in complex cycles. We will use a new holistic approach (also referred to in the media as biologization) known as the biological transformation of technology as a vision for achieving these goals.
A key feature of this research approach is to consider components, production processes and the resulting material properties as well as use and recycling as an inseparable unit, as this is the only way to establish a fully biologized process chain.
BiTWerk is an interdisciplinary research cluster with over 20 professors from the University of Kassel. The aim of the cluster is to firmly link the topic of biological transformation of technical materials with the Kassel location and to achieve far-reaching national and international visibility with the network.