Successful conclusion of the Materials Vacation 2023 at IVW: Schoolgirls dive into the fascinating world of composites

From October 16 to 20, 2023, the Materials Vacation took place at our institute, a unique student internship that offered two female students the opportunity to immerse themselves in the exciting world of composite materials. This event, organized by VDI Technologiezentrum GmbH, was aimed at high school students with an interest in materials and their applications.

The Materials Vacation offered participants a hands-on experience in one of the most emerging areas of materials engineering. Composites, also known as fiber composites, are materials that consist of the combination of two or more components to enhance their individual properties. They are used in a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, automotive, medical and many more.

During the internship, the students had the opportunity to participate in several activities specifically designed to give them a basic understanding of composites and our institute. These included workshops where they learned how to manufacture and process composites, as well as hands-on experiments to investigate their properties. In addition, the participants gained insights into real-world applications of composites. In particular, the visit to DAZ (Demonstration Application Center) generated excitement, as they were able to cause and observe chemical reactions in foams.

The 2023 Materials Holiday was an outstanding event that provided students an opportunity to discover their passion for materials and expand their knowledge in this exciting field. We congratulate both participants on their successful completion and wish them much success on their further educational path.