researchgerman german research 2 / 2019 Magazine of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Cover: Shutterstock Contributions to a better understand- 2 / 2019 ing of the miracle of neuronal plasticity: In Focus Neurobiologist Martin Korte examines First Female President for the DFG 2 basic cellular mechanisms in memory Election in Rostock: Katja Becker to succeed Peter Strohschneider on 1 January 2020 processes.

Excellence Twice Over 4 Ten universities and one university consortium selected as Universities of Excellence

News Moving Moments at Yad Vashem 6

Eugen and Ilse Seibold Prize 6

Bernd Rendel Prize 2019 7

Remembering Wolfgang Frühwald 7

Natural Sciences Vera Schlindwein Destination: The Ultraslow Gakkel Ridge 8 A look at research on the ocean lithosphere

Portrait Rembert Unterstell Learning, Remembering and Forgetting 14 An interview with Martin Korte in Braunschweig

Humanities and Social Sciences Michaela Fenske The Urban Beekeeper 16 Balancing ecological concerns and environmental awareness

Natural Sciences J. Schmidt, M. Wendisch, J. Curtius, M. Scheinert and B.-M. Sinnhuber Above the Clouds 20 How HALO has become the most advanced research aircraft in Europe

Engineering Sciences Ekkard Brinksmeier, Stefanie Reese and Jens Sölter The Right Signature for Every Process 26 Neurobiology: Learning, Remembering and Forgetting | First Female President for Engineering the surface layers of components the DFG / Excellence Twice Over | Ocean Lithosphere: The Ultraslow Gakkel Ridge | Human-Animal Interactions: The Urban Beekeeper Research Aircraft HALO: Above Life Sciences | Kerstin Kaufmann the Clouds Refining Surface Layer Components: The Right Signature for Every Process | Beautiful Monstrosities 30 Mechanisms of flower development in the evolutionary process 2 In Focus german research 2 / 2019 german research 2 / 2019 3

Election in Rostock Left: On the morning after her election Katja Becker has been closely and diagnostics against poverty- in Rostock – Katja Becker, photographed associated with the DFG as a funded associated and neglected tropical in- by David Ausserhofer at Wissenschafts- researcher, for example as the cur- fectious diseases. Since 2014, Katja Forum in Berlin rent spokesperson for the DFG Becker has also been involved in Priority Programme “Dynamics the statutory bodies of the DFG at ing medicine at Heidelberg Univer- of Thiol-Based Redox Switches in a senior level, as Vice President and sity, where she earned her doctorate Cellular Physiology”. Furthermore, as chair of the Permanent Senate in 1991 and completed her habili- she is spokesperson of the Hessian Commission on Genetic Research. tation in biochemistry in 1996. In LOEWE Centre DRUID dedicated to Among other activities, she played parallel to her research work, which developing novel drugs, vaccines, a key role in formulating a state- included stays at Heidelberg Univer- sity’s Biochemistry Center and the University of Sydney, Becker con- tinued her clinical and physician’s training, working in Basel (Swit- zerland), Oxford (UK) and Nigeria and at the Heidelberg University Children’s Hospital, and passing her Illustration: DFG / Ausserhofer specialist examinations in 1998. Af- ter working as an associate professor in Heidelberg and as the leader of an independent junior research group at the Research Center for Infectious Diseases at the University of Würz- burg, in 2000 Becker was appointed Illustration: DFG / Ausserhofer Professor of Biochemistry and Mo- lecular Biology in Giessen, a position she still holds today. “I’m coming directly from research”: With these words, and a brief outline of her career First Female President for the DFG Between 2009 and 2012, Becker as a biochemist and medical scientist, future DFG President Katja Becker introduced her- served as Vice President of Research self to the media and the general public at the annual press conference on 4 July in Ber- At the beginning of July, Katja Becker became the first woman to be elected to the top and Early Career Support at Gies- lin. She described her election in Rostock on the previous day as the first woman to head sen University, having previously the DFG as “a signal and a source of encouragement to all women who do outstanding position in Germany’s largest research funding organisation and central self-governing been spokesperson for the universi- research every day”. Becker declined to comment on possible focal areas of her presi- body of the research community. The Giessen-based biochemist will succeed Peter ty’s Interdisciplinary Research Cen- dency, as she will not take office until January. However, she noted that the freedom of Strohschneider on 1 January 2020. tre in 2004/2005. She completed a research and its defence will certainly be important concerns. “I’ve always regarded it as research sabbatical at Scripps Re- a privilege to work in Germany, where the freedom of research is so highly valued. So it’s he DFG has elected its first office on 1 January 2020 for an ini- ntrum Jülich and theoretical com- search in La Jolla, California. Her all the more worrying to see how this freedom is coming under attack in a growing num- T female president. On 3 July tial term of four years. She succeeds puter scientist Prof. Dr. Dorothea research interests include cellular ber of countries.” Prior to this, DFG President Peter Strohschneider had given a positive 2019, biochemist and medical sci- German medievalist Prof. Dr. Peter Wagner from the Karlsruhe Institute thiol metabolism, the structure and résumé of the annual meeting in Rostock and the current science policy situation: “Over entist Prof. Dr. Katja Becker from Strohschneider, who has served as of Technology (KIT). All three candi- function of redox-active proteins the last few days and weeks, decisions have been made that point the way forward Justus Liebig University Giessen President of the DFG since 2013 dates were nominated to the mem- and rational drug development for for the DFG and German research.” Strohschneider was particularly satisfied “and also was elected by the DFG’s General and will leave office at the end of ber organisations of the DFG in April tumours and infectious diseases, appreciative” with regard to the decision by the federal and state governments to con- Assembly in Rostock as the first his second term. by the selection committee. particularly tropical malaria. tinue the nationwide science initiatives, especially the Pact for Research and Innovation woman to head Germany’s largest The 2019 General Assembly of The future DFG President is 54 She has received multiple awards (PFI): “A budget increase of 3 percent per year for another ten years for the DFG and the research funding organisation and the DFG elected Katja Becker from a years old and has extensive expe- for her work, including the Carus other organisations involved in the initiative is probably unparalleled anywhere in the the central self-governing body of pool of three candidates, which also rience in research, academic self- Medal from the German National world.” For the coming year, Strohschneider announced a national campaign entitled the German research community. included engineering scientist and governance and policy advice. Katja Academy of Sciences Leopoldina “DFG2020 – Because Research Matters”, with which the DFG aims to raise public aware- Becker has served as DFG Vice process engineer Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wolf- Becker was born on 7 March 1965 in and the Rudolf Leuckart Medal from ness of the principle of free research and its value to an informed, open society (see also President since 2014 and will take gang Marquardt from Forschungsze- Heidelberg. In 1984 she began study­ the German Society for Parasitology. the back cover of this issue). fine 4 In Focus german research 2 / 2019 german research 2 / 2019 5

ment entitled “The Opportunities • Heidelberg University and Limits of Genome Editing”, • Karlsruhe Institute of Technol- published by the DFG, the Ger- Excellence Twice Over ogy (KIT) man National Academy of Sciences Excellence Strategy: Following their success in the Clusters of Ex- • University of Konstanz Leopoldina and acatech – National • Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Academy of Science and Engineer- cellence competition, ten universities and one consortium have München ing, and in discussions spearheaded also been selected for the Universities of Excellence funding line. • Technical University of Munich by the DFG, Leopoldina and the • University of Tübingen German Ethics Council on a new definition of genetic engineering. “I would like to congratulate and pay Under Becker’s leadership, the my greatest respect to the selected

Senate Commission prepared a Schleswig- universities and the Berlin Univer- Holstein Kiel U

document appraising the current sity Alliance,” WR-chairwoman Rickel / situation in synthetic biology and Professor Dr. Martina Brockmeier Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania engaged with the recent statement Hamburg commented. “The selected univer-

by the Ethics Council on interven- Bremen Hamburg U sities have very impressively dem-

tions in the human germline. Oldenburg U onstrated how universities of the Illustration: BMBF Bremen U

Berlin HU On the DFG’s Executive Com- Lower Saxony Hanover MHH future could look like. In order to Satisfied faces in Bonn: Federal Science Minister Anja Karliczek and Bremen’s Senator Berlin mittee, Becker has been involved Berlin TU compete with the top institutions for Science Eva Quante-Brandt (2nd and 3rd from left) announced the results at a press Braunschweig TU in discussions on modern research on the international level, a univer- conference immediately after the meeting of the Excellence Commission. Martina Münster U Hanover U Berlin FU North Rhine/ Brockmeier, Chair of the German Council of Sciences and Humanities (left) and DFG infrastructures in the life sciences, Saxony-Anhalt sity requires a very strong founda- Westphalia Dortmund TU the harmonisation of the Animal Brandenburg tion in excellent research as well President Peter Strohschneider explained the process and the procedures involved. Düsseldorf U Göttingen U Welfare Act and the expansion of Bochum U as a clear sense of its institutional Saxony research cooperation with India. Cologne U profile and sound plans for its insti- had to be successful in the DFG-ad- the basis for the consultations of the Hesse Dresden TU AachenAachen THTH Thuringia She has also served as chair of the Jena U tutional development. The selected ministered, research-driven Clusters Committee of Experts, consisting of Giessen U jury for the Eugen and Ilse Seibold Bonn U universities have all demonstrated of Excellence funding line, having at 39 international researchers, whose

Prize, which honours outstanding Frankfurt/M U very convincingly that they are in least two (in the case of individual appraisals then formed the starting Universities of Excellence Rhineland- Bayreuth U examples of German-Japanese co- Palatinate an excellent position with respect universities) or three (for consor- point for the decisions of the Excel- operation in research. Mainz U Würzburg U University to all of these aspects”. tia) Clusters of Excellence. A total lence Commission. University University Consortium Becker is actively involved in Saarland DFG President Professor Dr. Peter of 17 universities and two consortia With effect from 1 November Heidelberg U the research system as a member of Baden-Württemberg Strohschneider summarised, stating: from eight federal states met these 2019, the selected universities and several learned societies and acade- Bavaria “Today’s decisions on Universities of criteria. consortium will receive an annual Karlsruhe KIT mies, among them the Leopoldina, Karlsruhe KIT Stuttgart U Excellence were based on the deci- The first step in the Universities of €148 million in funding. The fund- the German Society for Tropical Tübingen U sions to fund 57 Clusters of Excel- Excellence competition, administered ing will be offered on an essentially Ulm U Clusters of Excellence

Medicine and Global Health, and Munich TU Munich LMU lence. The Clusters were selected last by the German Council of Science permanent basis. However, in seven Freiburg U Munich TU Munich LMU EXC (one applicant university)

the International Society for Free EXC (two applicant universities) September and have been funded and Humanities, was the on-site vis- years’ time the universities will Konstanz U

Radical Research. EXC (three applicant universities) since 1 January. With the comple- its to the universities and consortia, again have to successfully propose Her special interest in profes- Graphic: DFG tion of this first round of competi- which took place between the end of at least two Clusters of Excellence, sional dialogue between researchers tion, the Excellence Strategy builds January and the beginning of May or, as consortia, at least three. They and policymakers is also demon- his is the long-awaited and selected for permanent funding by on the three funding rounds in the 2019 and involved 190 reviewers, will also be subject to evaluation, strated by her involvement in the T much-anticipated outcome of both academics and politicians and Excellence Initiative (2006, 2007 over 90 percent of whom came from with funding being continued in the statements issued by the Leopol- the first round of the Excellence with considerable unanimity. and 2012). Both competitions to- abroad. During these visits the uni- event of a positive result. Subject to dina on Neglected Tropical Diseases Strategy. On 19 July 2019, after The selected institutions (in al- gether reflect the remarkable coop- versities were considered as whole a successful outcome in the com- for the G7 summit in 2015 and Im- three and a half days of meetings in phabetical order by location) are: eration between research and politics institutions – not only with respect to petitive process, four new funding proving Global Health for the G20 Bonn, firstly of the Committee of Ex- • RWTH Aachen University in promoting top-level research at research performance, but also other cases will be added in the second summit in 2017. perts for the Excellence Strategy and • Berlin University Alliance German universities at an interna- areas such as teaching, transfer and round of applications, with funding then of the Excellence Commission, • University of Bonn tionally competitive level.” research infrastructure, and finally due to begin in 2026. www.dfg.de/en/service/press/press_releases/ eleven out of 19 applicant univer- • Technische Universität Dresden To be eligible for the title of Uni- their plans for future development. 2019/press_release_no_24 sities and university consortia were • Universität Hamburg versity of Excellence, institutions The compiled review results provided www.dfg.de/excellence_strategy 6 News german research 2 / 2019 german research 2 / 2019 7

Stifterverband. The prize money is to Moving Moments at Yad Vashem Bernd Rendel Prize 2019 … be used for scientific purposes, for … goes to Dini Adyasari and Michael Grund example to enable recipients to par- DFG delegation presents first two volumes of large-scale English version of Holocaust edition ticipate in international conferences ini Adyasari, a doctoral re- are to be awarded the Bernd Ren- and meetings. The award will be pre- t was an impressive demonstra- D searcher at the Leibniz Cen- del Prize for promising and original sented during the annual meeting I tion of international research tre for Tropical Marine Research in research in the earth sciences at an of the German Geological Society in cooperation – and a moving mo- Bremen, and Michael Grund, a doc- early stage of their careers. They will Münster at the end of September. ment at a highly symbolic site. toral researcher in geophysics at the each receive €2,000 from the Bernd www.dfg.de/en/service/press/press_releases/ At the beginning of June, at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Rendel Foundation, administered by 2019/press_release_no_20 Yad Vashem memorial near Jeru- salem, a DFG delegation formally handed over the first two volumes of the largest collection of Holo- caust documents so far produced Remembering Wolfgang Frühwald in English to representatives of DFG and Humboldt Foundation pay tribute to former president in Bonn Israeli academia, politics and so- ciety (the picture above shows he gift of genuine openness DFG, Hans-Christian Pape and which, he noted, could still serve DFG Vice President Julika Griem T towards others – this was a Peter Strohschneider, recalled as useful standards today. and Yad Vashem director Avner quality mentioned many times their personal encounters with Germanist Ernst Osterkamp Shalev). Wolfgang Früh- sketched Frühwald’s scholarly The launch of the English- wald: one as a work and influences, which language version marks a new newly appointed ranged from Clemens von Bren- phase of the edition, the German Humboldt profes- tano to Ernst Toller and Johann version of which has been funded sor, the other as a Wolfgang von Goethe, after which by the DFG as a long-term project first-year student former federal research minis- since 2004, and of which 12 out of German litera- ter Annette Schavan (on right in of 16 planned volumes have so ture in his second picture below with Frühwald’s far been published. The presenta- week at univer- widow Viktoria) paid tribute in tion was embedded in an academic sity. With regard very personal words to Frühwald Bienert / symposium, after which the DFG to his presidency, as a man who, in his modesty, al- delegation was given a guided tour Pape emphasised ways remained loyal and whose of the Holocaust memorial (pic- Frühwald’s “phi- influence on his offices and on the

Illustrations: DFG tured to the left). fine when the DFG and the Alex- losophy of solidarity”, which public was greater than the other ander von Humboldt Founda- made him an ambassador for way round. fine tion (AvH) came together at the German re- to being renowned as outstand- end of June at the Godesburg in search and for Eugen and Ilse Seibold Prize … ing researchers in their respective Bonn to remember their former Germany all … goes to Koˉichiroˉ Agata and Harald Baum countries and subject areas, both president Wolfgang Frühwald, over the world. are also highly regarded in each who died in January at the age Strohschneider wo committed and successful other’s country and have made a of 83. recalled the for- T cultural mediators between significant contribution to German- More than 120 friends and mer president’s Germany and Japan, political and Japanese understanding through colleagues attended a special “high ethical administrative scientist Prof. Dr. their considerable personal dedi- event hosted by the two organi- standards and Unkel Koˉichiroˉ Agata from Tokyo and le- cation, especially in the area of stu- sations, which Frühwald led be- rigorous appeals / gal scholar Prof. Dr. Harald Baum dent exchanges. The prize, worth tween 1992 and 2007. for the account- from Hamburg, have been selected €10,000, is awarded biennially. In their addresses, the current ability of re-

to receive the Eugen and Ilse Sei- www.dfg.de/en/service/press/press_releas- presidents of the AvH and the search”, both of Illustrations: DFG

bold Prize by the DFG. In addition Illustration: U Bonn / Lannert Illustration: www.mpipriv.de es/2019/press_release_no_18 8 KapitelobertitelNatural Sciences german research 2 / 2019 german research 2 / 2019 9

Vera Schlindwein Destination: The Ultraslow Gakkel Ridge

Plate tectonics, volcanic activity and ocean floor spreading in the Arctic: Following several complex research expeditions and earthquake measurements, the Emmy Noether group MOVE has obtained some surprising findings about the formation and structure of the ocean lithosphere. A look at the results so far

The research vessel has to brave stormy seas, for example : / Florian AWI Schmid here in the “Furious Fifties” near the Southwest Indian Ridge. Illustration 10 Natural Sciences german research 2 / 2019 german research 2 / 2019 11

n the icy grip of the long winter, believed that conclusions could be plates. This creates a crust around I the Arctic slows everything down. drawn about ultraslow ridges based 6 to 8 kilometres thick across all Progress is difficult and inevitably on the much better studied pro- the oceans. At ultraslow ridges this slow. Like earlier generations of cesses of ocean floor formation at process is reduced to a sputter, and polar researchers, the scientists of slow ridges. But in 1999, a power- little magma is produced. But how today need patience and endur- ful earthquake swarm in the Arctic does this eruption fit into our un- ance. Even deep under the Arctic Ocean forced geophysicists to sit up derstanding of a region which is sea ice, things move slowly – in and take notice. The quakes con- reckoned to have a spreading rate fact, they’re “ultraslow”. While the tinued for nine months, sometimes of just 9 to 10 millimetres per year? world’s oceans grow by more than registering at magnitude 5, near a In 2001, an interdisciplinary 20 millimetres a year at the seams large volcano on the Gakkel Ridge. expedition set out on board the of the mid-ocean ridges, along the Normally, the numerous vol- icebreakers USGC Healy and RV Arctic ridge system and its cousin, canic eruptions that occur at mid- Polarstern, with the objective of the Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR) ocean ridges go completely unno- systematically mapping the Gak- midway between Africa and the ticed: around volcanic ridges the kel Ridge, collecting rock samples Antarctic, new ocean floor forms at young ocean lithosphere is too from the seabed, measuring the a rate of less than 15 millimetres a warm for major earthquakes, which thickness of the crust, searching year. can be registered on land over for hot springs on the ocean floor For a long time, ultraslow mid- 1,000 kilometres away. Volcanic – and measuring earthquakes in ocean ridges were largely ignored eruptions were also considered to situ. The expedition was certainly in plate tectonics research. On top be rare at ultraslow ridges. When groundbreaking, resulting in four of that, the Arctic ridge system is the lithospheric plates move apart articles published in Nature, but it difficult to access because it is cov- at mid-ocean ridges, the decrease in also lent further support to the idea ered by sea ice, while the sea in pressure causes the Earth’s mantle that ultraslow ridges are not simply the “Furious Fifties” around the to melt. Material from the mantle slow versions of “slow ridges”, but SWIR is too rough for ambitious then wells up as magma and con- a category of their own. Their main research projects. Scientists also tinuously fills the gap between the characteristic seems to be that the Illustration: / Vera AWI Schlindwein Hard at work in the icy cold: Setting up a seismometer on an ice floe in the Arctic sea ice. Maps of the ultraslow-spreading ridges in the Arctic (left) and the Southwest Indian Ocean (right). thickness of the Earth’s crust var- perience of ultraslow ridges. No one look at the seismic activity of this ies considerably along the length was quite certain what to do with ultraslow ridge. of the ridge. While some sections the seismological data recorded of the ridge have a thin crust and during the cruise. The measuring he idea for the Emmy Noether many volcanic structures, others technique used, of placing seis- T project was born. The aim was have little magma and the sea floor mometers on drifting ice floes to to systematically investigate the may be up to 5,000 metres deep, record earthquakes, seemed too seismicity of ultraslow ridges, com- with mantle rock being found on unusual. But she had previously paring magmatic and amagmatic the ocean floor itself. These amag- worked with unusual seismologi- ridge sections. The team would also matic areas, which are often as cal data and was fascinated. The look at different scales, from the much as 100 kilometres long and technique worked, and a number smallest earthquakes that give clues without notable volcanism, are of minor earthquakes were de- about local spreading processes, punctuated by gigantic volcanic tected between the cracking of the to major earthquakes that sup- centres with a thick crust. This was ice floes. This indicated that small ply large-scale information about the kind of volcano that appeared gas explosions were occurring near ocean floor formation along an en- to have erupted in 1999, causing a the volcano under the enormous tire ridge. The independent junior series of earthquakes. pressure of the four-kilometre research group “Mid-Ocean Volca- It was in early 2003 that the re- water column. This surprising dis- noes and Earthquakes (MOVE)” searcher who would later become covery was all the motivation the started work in September 2006.

Maps: AG Schlindwein the project leader had her first ex- researchers needed to take a closer For family reasons, the project was 12 Natural Sciences german research 2 / 2019 german research 2 / 2019 13

designed from the outset to take processes and the structure and position – often beneath an ice eight years on a part-time basis. temperature of the lithosphere, floe. So to use this technique, the This also had the advantage that the researchers needed ship time team had to travel to geologically the necessary amount of patience on board RV Polarstern. Starting similar areas of the SWIR. Since a and persistence could be applied to with “piggyback” experiments on research vessel, which is expensive the laborious process of acquiring RV Polarstern and IB Oden, seis- to operate, cannot wait around the seismological data; in hindsight, mological data was gathered from idly for fair weather to recover an this would not have been possible instruments set up on drifting ice OBS, in 2013 an interdisciplinary on a time scale of just five years. floes. It was essential to take tradi- team of 35 researchers set off on Because the data for major tional measurements using ocean board RV Polarstern to spend a Graphics: AG Schlindwein earthquakes is publicly available bottom seismometers (OBS), but month working together in these in catalogues, the team was able it was impossible to do this in the stormy seas. At the same time, sci- to start analysing it. To use seis- ice-covered Arctic Ocean since the entists on two other cruises were Pictures that tell a story: Painstakingly acquired earthquake data from the Southwest Indian Ridge provides information about spreading processes. mometers in situ to record micro- OBS resurface with their precious able to gather data on volcanic ac- earthquakes, which provide in- data somewhere in a radius of one tivity at more temperate latitudes formation about active spreading kilometre around the deployment of the SWIR. Seven years after MOVE got un- tres. When rock from the Earth’s OBS spread over 160 kilometres of derway, the result was a compre- mantle comes into contact with ridge south of Spitzbergen. This is Left: Gulls are always curious about ocean bottom seismometers, which makes it easier to locate them. Right: Scientists perform hensive set of seismic data collected water, it forms a very soft rock the most comprehensive set of mi- a test run with a sea ice seismometer. with enormous effort (no less than known as serpentinite which does cro-earthquake data yet obtained seven cruises). The data confirmed not fracture during an earthquake for mid-ocean ridges. the conjecture that seismic activity but behaves more like soft soap. The prototype of an OBS suit- at ultraslow ridges provides sur- This means that water can pen- able for deployment on sea ice is prising insights into the formation etrate to previously unsuspected also due to start trials, to help a ma- and structure of the young ocean depths of 15 kilometres and that an jor interdisciplinary expedition in- lithosphere. exchange of material may be taking vestigate the exchange of material After locating more than 5,000 place between the lithosphere and between lithosphere and ocean at earthquakes, the team discovered the ocean in much larger dimen- the hydrothermal source AURORA the deepest earthquakes of all at sions than previously thought. The on the ice-covered Gakkel Ridge – mid-ocean ridges, at a depth of researchers were also able to study but for that, we’ll have to wait until 35 kilometres. This demonstrated a volcano on the SWIR which had 2022. that in amagmatic regions, the repeatedly triggered major earth- young ocean lithosphere is much quakes over a period of ten years. colder than previously thought. Sure enough, beneath it they found Beneath the volcanoes the litho- a magma chamber. The OBS pro- sphere thins considerably, allowing vided live coverage of a “magma magma to flow along its base from intrusion” and its seismic tremor cold amagmatic areas to the volca- – a rare instance of an in-situ meas- noes. Petrologists (scientists who urement of subsea volcanism. study rocks) had proposed such a Geophysicist topography to explain the uneven lthough the independent PD Dr. rer. nat. Vera Schlindwein distribution of magma along ultra- junior research group MOVE was the leader of the Emmy Noether inde- A pendent junior research group “Mid-Ocean slow ridges. These results provided made slow progress, it produced an Volcanoes and Earthquakes (MOVE)” at the the first geophysical evidence for enormous amount of knowledge Alfred Wegener Institute in Bremerhaven. this hypothesis. and generated a host of new ques- Contact: Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz- Especially exciting was another tions. Because polar research pro- Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, realisation: that in areas where ceeds at a slow pace, a follow-up Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany mantle rock can be found on the project is already underway. Since www.awi.de/nc/en/about-us/ sea floor, no earthquakes were de- 2017, the team has had access to organisation/staff/vera-schlind- Foto: Nataliya Koev tected up to a depth of 15 kilome- seismological recordings from 27 wein.html Illustrations: Illustrations: / Vera AWI Schlindwein 14 Portrait german research 2 / 2019 german research 2 / 2019 15

Rembert Unterstell Signal Systems in Long-term Poten- tiation on Synapses”, 1995) he was Learning, Remembering and Forgetting the first to demonstrate that nerve growth factors play an important Neurobiologist Martin Korte studies the basic cellular mechanisms involved in memory role in learning processes at the level of synapses. After working as a post- processes, combining ambitious research with varied science communication. An doctoral researcher, he completed his interview at the Zoological Institute at TU Braunschweig habilitation in 2001 at LMU Munich and was appointed professor at TU is office door at Braunschweig’s cesses in the brain that form the basis in science communication, including Braunschweig in 2004. H Biocentre is wide open. He of learning, recall and loss of recall. policy advice. “I’m a driven person,” A former recipient of a DFG quickly moves some notes from his In other words the cellular mecha- he says, adding with a twinkle, “I cycle Heisenberg fellowship, he is in- previous meeting from the confer- nisms and biochemical processes that 20 kilometres a day to the institute on terested in the functioning of the ence table to his desk, beside which make learning and memory possi- my race bike – but I can’t do it slowly.” healthy and diseased brain, which he sits his cycling helmet, and then Mar- ble. In addition to highly focused Korte began his biology studies in mostly studies using mouse models. tin Korte is ready. He has the athletic research into the brain and cogni- 1985 in Münster and Tübingen. For Most recently, in a DFG project he look of someone who enjoys sport – tion, he is interested in the “learning his diploma dissertation, the Studi- investigated neural malfunctions in blue T-shirt, running jacket and out- processes that shape us as humans” enstiftung scholar worked in the lab connection with fragile X syndrome, door shoes. When he talks, it’s fast – and making these accessible to a of the renowned National Institutes which he describes as “the most com- – very fast – and with focus. When wide range of audiences outside the of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Mary- mon neurological developmental the visitor poses a longer question, he lab. Korte has built an international land. With this experience under his disorder in children, associated with inclines his head slightly to one side reputation as a learning researcher. belt, he began his doctoral research autistic symptoms”. During his re- and closes his eyes to deliver a well- “I saw myself as a teacher from an at the MPI for Brain Research in search he discovered a new cause for worded answer: precise and on target. early stage,” says Korte, who had a Frankfurt directed by Wolf Singer, the disease: insufficient maturing of As a neurobiologist, Professor curiosity about the big questions of which he completed at the MPI of certain synapses which are evidently Martin Korte (55), director of the nature from a young age. Today, he Neurobiology in Martinsried, under unavailable for learning processes in Illustration: Unterstell Zoological Institute at TU Braun­ combines research and teaching in the supervision of Tobias Bonhoef- later life. Could this lead to new treat- Agile and creative at his standing desk: Brain researcher Martin Korte in his office. schweig, studies the molecular pro- neurobiology with a range of activities fer. In his dissertation (“Retrograde ments in the long term? In 2000, lateral and forward Brain Up) in the daily regional pa- Learning, remembering and for- Neural networks: Sensory stimuli and highly complex information processing trigger continuous changes in the brain. thinker Korte was appointed as per Braunschweiger Zeitung and has getting – Korte expects that future a founding member of Die Junge produced videos and podcasts for a research at the cellular level will be Akademie, an academy for young lay audience. His three books, which shaped not only by neuron-neuron scholars from German-speaking came out first in hardback and then interactions, but also by “other mo- countries. Today, he is a member of in paperback, are also doing ex- lecular players”, such as glial cells, the board of the Berlin-Brandenburg tremely well: Jung im Kopf (Young in which are often dismissed as simply Academy of Sciences and Humani- Mind), Wie Kinder heute lernen (How supports or what cements the nerves ties and spokesperson for the Gene Children Learn Today) and Wir sind together. He also believes that data- Technology Report working group. Gedächtnis (We Are Memory). “But supported network modelling and Here and in public, he calls for “an my favourite thing is talking to audi- simulation will acquire a whole new approach to gene technologies that ences,” he says. “That direct dialogue importance. “This would be hugely harnesses opportunities while tak- is simply inspiring.” beneficial to our understanding of ing account of the risks”. It’s soberly Every year he gives between 60 learning and memory processes,” formulated, but the urgency of the and 70 talks to school children, par- says Korte, “because when it comes issue is clearly perceptible. ents, students, teachers and judges. to predicting the functioning of com- His policy work is linked to sci- With two colleagues in Braunschweig, plex networks, neuroscientists are ence communication efforts. As well he developed a modular teaching con- really just at the beginning.” as being a sought-after interviewee cept for students teaching in schools, for newspapers, radio and TV, he which was awarded the Ars Legendi Dr. Rembert Unterstell writes his own column (Hirn auf/ Prize in the biology category in 2015. is Publishing Executive Editor of german research. Graphic: Shutterstock 16 Humanities and Social Sciences german research 2 / 2019 german research 2 / 2019 17

Michaela Fenske Left: Beekeepers working with a swarm against the background of an urban backyard. Right: The level of interest The Urban Beekeeper and demand for information are tre­ mendous – an open-air course for Beekeeping is growing in popularity in urban areas with more and more city dwellers hobby beekeepers at the Prinzessinnen­ in Europe and North America keeping bees in their spare time. In Berlin, for example, gärten, an urban gardening project in Berlin’s Kreuzberg neighbourhood. we can observe new ways of thinking and behaving that straddle ecological concerns, human-animal interaction and a new perception of the self and the environment. tion, and the problems associated with industrialised agriculture. In response, more and more people are turning to beekeeping in the global North. In Germany alone the number of beekeepers has risen by 30 percent, mostly in cities. In New York, Paris, London, Am- sterdam, Copenhagen and Berlin,

middle-class citizens – and increas- Illustrations: Fenske ingly their political representatives – are taking a stand for honey bees. and the density of bees in European mans and non-human organisms. Whenever politicians or beekeepers cities is no longer ecologically ad- A closer look at the interactions be- express a view on the decline in bee visable. tween humans and bees shows how numbers, they can be sure of gain- However, a closer look at the people learn to view themselves as ing media attention. motivations and practices of bee- part of the web of life. This begins keepers also reveals that beekeep- with a change in perception of the research project at the Insti- ing offers unique potential. With environment which comes about A tute of European Ethnology at the bee serving as a key species, through the keeping of bees. the Humboldt University of Berlin linking culture and nature like few The bees’ cycle gives urban investigated urban beekeeping us- other species can, those with an in- dwellers an awareness of the ing the example of the German cap- terest in bees are in a position to changes in the seasons and the ital. The study illuminates critical, re-establish some of the relation- weather. What’s the weather like as well as positive, aspects of bee- ships between humans and the today and what is the forecast for keeping. The new urban dweller’s world they live in that have been the next few days? Might it be too hobby has attracted criticism from disturbed by the modern age’s em- dry during the main growing sea- many quarters, the main message phasis on growth. Following So- son, such that the flowers will not being that urban beekeeping will ciologist Hartmut Rosa one may produce nectar? Is it cold enough not change any of the basic prob- perceive beekeeping as a practise in the winter to make the bees stop ince the spring, and in the sun- In more recent times, scientists in quite different: since the turn of the lems of our times. There are accu- enabling people to rediscover their their brood care? What impact is S shine, the bees have been fly- various disciplines have discovered millennium, honey bees have been sations of taking symbolic action connections with the world and ex- global climate change having on my ing. Honey bees have always been that bees possess other qualities: dying in huge numbers all over the while biodiversity continues to de- perience a resonance with it. environment? Anthropologist Sara of great interest to mankind: ever they are vitally important to eco- world. There has been alarmist me- cline and failing to implement the Beekeeping creates a variety of Schroer has described this phenom- since ancient times, people have systems, they pollinate plants and dia coverage of the issue, with the urgently needed structural change new connections between beekeep- enon, which she observed in fal- vividly expressed their admiration trees, and are therefore essential to decline in bee populations being in our economies and societies. ers and their social and ecological conry, as “weathering”. Beekeeping for both honey bees and their wild the production of food for humans. seen as representative or symbolic Some people see beekeeping as a environment. This special poten- also focuses attention on the con- cousins. In poetry and philosophical However, the reason why honey of the crisis phenomena of the 21st craze that ultimately does more tial becomes clear in the context stantly changing urban landscape, works, bees are celebrated for their bees are currently a subject of such century: accelerated species loss, harm than good. Not all new bee- of “multispecies ethnography”, a the growth or non-flourishing of hard work, cleanliness and amaz- interest to politicians, scientists and climate change, threats to food se- keepers take a responsible attitude branch of ethnological research the vegetation on which the bees ing degree of social organisation. the general public is something curity for a growing world popula- to caring for their bees, they say, concerned with interaction of hu- depend. 18 Humanities and Social Sciences german research 2 / 2019 german research 2 / 2019 19

bit of honey, a bit of flowery scent, A hive of activity and loud humming: a bit of everything. It’s absolutely life on a honeycomb. amazing.” Another one speaks en- thusiastically about the “wonderful that everything on planet Earth is smell, (…) that gorgeous smell from connected. Living with bees ena- the hives. It’s an odour I’ve never bles people to not only acknowl- smelled before, and it’s something I edge the death of the bees but also find absolutely amazing about bee- recognise their own vulnerability. hives (…)”. In conversation and in The fact that new beekeepers tend interviews, sounds – such as the to move solely within their own humming and buzzing of the bees social milieu and that the new – are also mentioned as important processes of learning and seeking sensory impressions. are currently taking place mostly Observing and listening to bee- among the middle class remains a keepers, you also notice that in challenge. interacting with the animals they Research is illuminating the po- engage intellectually, cognitively tential of urban beekeeping from

and emotionally. They become ac- Illustration: Fenske the perspective of European eth- quainted with a broader spectrum nology, a field concerned primar- In conversation, nearly all bee- habit – changes in perception that of perception of their environment Urban beekeeping opens up contrast, beekeepers, especially ily with the day-to-day practices keepers in Berlin point to the large also extend to an individual’s own and find that they require diverse new possibilities for the develop- less experienced ones, report hav- of human life. Enhanced by the number of flowering trees in the body. Beekeeping is experienced forms of knowledge from bodily to ment of intuition. A man who has ing nightmares at the idea that a perspectives of multispecies eth- city, normally in conjunction with with the body and all the senses. theoretical knowledge. The concept been a successful beekeeper for mistake on their part could cause nography, it becomes clear that two comments: praise for the fore- In visually oriented western society, developed by the philosopher Henri several years explains: “There’s serious harm to the bees. To avoid human practices are both integral sight and horticultural knowledge senses other than sight are suddenly Bergson of intuition as a specific something about beekeeping that both, beekeepers talk about how and effective in the web of life, and of the earlier city planners who called into play: smell, touch and “access from within”, helps us to appeals to me a lot. It’s a kind of they learn not only techniques in what way. This opens up new planted the trees, and annoyance hearing acquire new importance. better understand this complex pro- whole-body experience. (…) I’m and practices but also attitudes and options for action – not only for with some urban planners of today. For example, one beekeeper ex- cess of relating between beekeepers not just sitting at a desk, I’m out- perspectives. Some, for example, beekeepers, be they professional or In some areas lime trees are now plains how much he likes the smell and bees. If we adopt Bergson’s per- side. I’m carrying parts around, I learn a calmer way of moving to amateur, but also for all those seek- rarely planted in order to avoid the of the beehives: “Yeah, I just love it, spective, then in modern western need to use a balance of strength avoid disturbing the animals. Oth- ing solutions to the today’s ecologi- sticky deposits on windscreens that walking past the hives and smell- societies intuition has been sup- and fine motor skills, because ers learn to hope that the feared cal crisis phenomena. annoy the owners of parked cars ing that bee smell. That’s (…) the pressed in favour of the sharpening you’re carrying heavy things but winter losses will be low. And oth- so much. The basic insights of bee- unique thing about bees: you get a of intelligence and intellect. also delicate frames and you need ers talk about gaining an insight keepers also include what grows to be careful that you haven’t got into their own limitations, which where and, above all, how little is a bee between your fingers. You are revealed when the bees unex- blossoming and flourishing in some need to look, you can hear, smell, pectedly swarm (leave the hive), parts of their city. As a result, they you need to ask yourself, what am I or die. are actively advocating the greening actually perceiving here, now what Ethical questions play a crucial of their neighbourhoods, or better will I do with it? It’s a combination role in the care of bees. At beekeep- still the planting of flowering plants. of intuition and knowledge, that ing events, people discuss whether Prof. Dr. Michaela Fenske Finally, bees give people a different I somehow need to combine with bees have the right to die, for ex- has held, since the winter semester 2017/18, perspective on the space they in- the power of observation, and I still ample if a colony cannot make it the Chair of European Ethnology at the Julius find this whole combination simply through the winter on its own. Maximilian University of Würzburg. Above: A rooftop beekeeping site in fascinating (…).” To what extent should beekeep- Contact: Lehrstuhl für Europäische Ethnologie/Volkskunde, Am Hub- Berlin against a night-time backdrop. ers intervene in such situations? land, 97074 Würzburg, Germany Right: Demonstrators, including earning to live with bees can How much honey can be harvested www.euroethno.hu-berlin.de/ beekeepers, protest against industrial L be a painful experience. This without harming the wellbeing of de/institut/personen/fenske agriculture under the slogan “We’ve can be literally true when alarmed the animals in the hive? People in gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/ had enough”. bees attack a beekeeper. Yet by cities are learning through bees 253668468?language=en Illustrations: Fenske 20 KapitelobertitelNatural Sciences german research 2 / 2019 german research 2 / 2019 21

J. Schmidt, M. Wendisch, J. Curtius, M. Scheinert and B.-M. Sinnhuber Above the Clouds

Taking to the skies to study the atmosphere, climate and planet: Funded by a consortium of major German research institutes, HALO has quickly become the most advanced research aircraft in Europe. With an array of modern and variable equipment, it can be used for demanding measurement campaigns from aerosol particles to air pollutants and clouds.

HALO (High Altitude and Long Range Research Aircraft) has been flying in the service of atmospheric, climate and geoscience research since 2010. Resembling a unicorn horn, the red and white nose mast measures variables such as wind speed and air pressure. The research aircraft is packed full of instrumentation. Illustration: DLR-FX 22 Natural Sciences german research 2 / 2019 german research 2 / 2019 23

he idea of using aircraft for sci- base at Oberpfaffenhofen airport Over the course of two years, HALO, origi- T entific research is nearly as old near Munich. The aircraft then un- nally a Gulfstream G 550 business jet, was as aviation itself. In 1784, a year af- derwent a conversion phase lasting converted and equipped for measurement ter the first manned balloon ascent nearly two years. Technicians added campaigns. This included making various in the famous Montgolfière, the several attachment points for exter- openings in the roof (centre top). American physician and aviation nal instrument pods to the fuselage pioneer John Jeffries fitted a balloon and wings, which made it necessary research. Further campaigns with with measuring instruments such to reinforce the aircraft’s mechani- HALO followed. An essential as- as a thermometer, barometer, elec- cal structure. More than 20 open- pect of the Polar Stratosphere in a trometer and hygrometer. On his ings were made in the fuselage – a Changing Climate (POLSTRACC) flights, Jeffries ascended to impres- unique challenge, because HALO’s campaign, carried out with HALO sive altitudes of up to 2,800 metres. cabin needs to remain pressure-tight in 2015/16, was the investigation He was subsequently outdone, for against the surrounding air. There of the altitude range between 10 example by physicist Victor Franz was also plenty of paperwork to be and 15 kilometres above the Arc- Hess (1883 –1964), who made bal- done before the aircraft, along with tic. The presence and distribution loon ascents as high as 5,300 metres. its modifications, could be approved of short-lived greenhouse gases His measuring equipment enabled by Germany’s national aviation au- such as ozone and water vapour in him to discover cosmic radiation, for thority. In 2010, HALO was finally this area are especially relevant to which he was awarded the Nobel ready for its first test measurement the Earth’s atmospheric radiation Prize in 1936. campaign. Several flights were car- budget and thus the global climate. Today, scientists have access ried out over Germany to put HALO The POLSTRACC flights produced not only to a much wider range of and various scientific instruments a very surprising insight: even at measuring instruments but also to through their paces. Having suc- these altitudes above the Arctic, a larger fleet of specially equipped cessfully passed these tests, aircraft there is significant ozone depletion research aircraft. Depending on the and equipment could go into regu- caused by anthropogenic chlorine

research task and the questions lar scientific operation. HALO has compounds, with up to 50 percent Illustration: Sinnhuber they want to answer, scientists may now been in regular use since 2012. of Arctic ozone being depleted over use balloons, airships, helicopters, Since then the aircraft has com- the course of the winter. Although drones, and of course aeroplanes. pleted 15 scientific measurement Arctic ozone depletion had been ob- The most state-of-the-art platform campaigns, providing valuable data served above 15 kilometres in previ- currently available in Germany is for atmospheric, climate and geo- ous winters, scientists were startled the High Altitude and Long Range science research. HALO has flown by the extent of the depletion at Research Aircraft (HALO). With a over the Amazon basin, the north- these altitudes, which are crucial to payload of three tonnes, a range ern and tropical Atlantic and the the global climate. Current climate of up to 10,000 kilometres and a Arabian peninsula, not to mention models do not take full account of maximum altitude of 15 kilometres, south-east Asia, northern, central these influencing factors. The de- HALO is exceptionally well suited to and southern Europe and the Arc- tailed measurements collected by demanding atmospheric and geo- tic. HALO conducted its first meas- HALO during the POLSTRACC physical research. urements during the Geophysical campaign will help researchers to It would be no exaggeration to Investigation of the Mediterranean understand and describe the under- say that HALO has evolved into what using HALO (GEOHALO) campaign. lying processes more accurately in is currently the most cutting-edge, On four research flights that took off their models. Illustrations: DLR-FX high-performance research aircraft from Oberpfaffenhofen, researchers in Europe. Originally a business jet measured variations in the Earth’s ALO can deploy a wide range of the Gulfstream G 550 type, HALO gravitational and magnetic fields H of different measuring instru- required extensive technical adap- over Italy and the adjacent Medi- ments. For example, it can use re- tations to make it suitable for sci- terranean. This region has a higher mote sensing devices to study the entific use. In 2006, HALO touched earthquake risk, which creates an properties and effects of clouds, down for the first time at its home additional incentive for geoscience aerosol particles and trace gases 24 Natural Sciences german research 2 / 2019 german research 2 / 2019 25

that the potential of this airborne drastic climate changes in the Arc- platform can only be fully exploited tic. HALO’s activities have gained through cooperation between re- attention and recognition in a va- search institutions. One individual riety of disciplines and areas of re- Illustration: DLR-FX institute could not completely search and the aircraft has become equip HALO with instrumenta- an indispensable platform for at- tion or make use of all the various mospheric science, climate science flight scenarios that HALO makes and geosciences. possible. The DFG’s contribution to the scientific use of HALO is organised in coordination with Priority Pro- gramme (PP) 1294 “Atmospheric and Earth System Research with HALO” (see box for more informa- tion). This Priority Programme is an important component of the co- operation in German atmospheric, climate, and geoscience research, PMS (Particle Measurement System) probes can be mounted below HALO’s wings. These systems allow high-precision in-situ which has been intensified in recent measurements of aerosol particles, cloud droplets and ice crystals. air masses, HALO spent part of the years, providing novel forms of sup- time flying at just 500 metres above port for coordinated activities. from a distance of a few metres to measurements taken by satellites In the summer of 2017, HALO the ground – highly unusual for a many kilometres away. For the two that use comparable but simpler in- was used for the Effect of Megacities high-altitude research aircraft, but he impressive successes of the Next Generation Remote Sensing strumentation. Other measurement on the Transport and Transforma- once again HALO proved its capa- T HALO campaigns – with over for Validation Studies (NARVAL) campaigns frequently use in-situ tion of Pollutants on the Regional bilities. Because the emissions from 200 peer-reviewed articles having campaigns over the Caribbean in instruments, which either directly and Global Scale (EMeRGe) cam- major urban areas contain a whole appeared in scientific journals to 2013/14 and 2016, researchers used sample particles in ambient air or paign. This involved analysing emis- cocktail of chemical substances, a date – is sustaining a lively interest a combination of laser measuring collect small amounts of the ambi- sions of air pollutants from major wide range of measuring instru- in further research deployments. devices, radar systems and other ent air to measure cloud droplets, European population centres such ments were necessary to accurately The aircraft is already fully booked Dr. Jörg Schmidt instruments. With this extensive ice crystals, aerosol particles and as London, the Benelux region and record the mix. with scientific measurement cam- is the user coordinator for the HALO consor- equipment it was possible to validate trace gases with high precision. the Ruhr area. To detect the relevant As well as documenting air pol- paigns through to mid-2022. tium and is based at the University of Leipzig. lutants and how they are trans- Among other missions, it will be Prof. Dr. Manfred Wendisch ported, EMeRGe investigated some studying cirrus clouds in northern is the Director of the Institute for Meteorol- ogy at the University of Leipzig and coordi- he High Altitude and tions in climate and of the chemical conversion pro- Europe and the Arctic which im- nates PP 1294. Long Range Research environmental science cesses of these emissions. Solar ra- pact on the climate, as part of the T The DFG and HALO Prof. Dr. Joachim Curtius Aircraft (HALO) is a re- at the intersection of diation causes chemical reactions Cirrus in High Latitudes (CIRRUS- is Professor of Experimental Atmospheric search platform for atmospheric frastructure Priority Programme Earth system processes and hu- between air pollutants, creating HL) campaign. The Carbon Diox- Research at the Institute for Atmospheric and and Earth system research, oper- “Atmospheric and Earth System man activity as part of an in- new compounds whose effects on ide and Methane Mission for HALO Environmental Sciences, Goethe University ated by a consortium consisting of Research with HALO” since 2007. terdisciplinary collaboration, human health and the global cli- (COMET) campaign will take more Frankfurt, and coordinates PP 1294. the DFG, the Max Planck Society, This programme is being coordi- through integrated and system- mate differ significantly from those precise measurements of emissions Dr. Mirko Scheinert is a research assistant at TU Dresden and the German Aerospace Center, nated at the University of Leipzig, oriented approaches. It also ena- of the originally emitted substances. of the greenhouse gases carbon coordinates PP 1294. Forschungszentrum Jülich, the Goethe University Frankfurt and bles scientists to develop high- To understand these conversion dioxide and methane. And in the Dr. Björn-Martin Sinnhuber Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, TU Dresden. PP 1294 is currently technology sensors and new processes, it is necessary to record HALO-(AC)3 project, which is as- is a research assistant at the Karlsruhe Insti- the German Research Centre for in its third three-year funding pe- instruments and deploy them effects not just locally but regionally sociated with CRC/TRR 172 “Arc- tute of Technology. Geosciences and the Leibniz In- riod (2016 – 2019). in atmospheric and geoscience and globally. This is where HALO’s tic Amplification: Climate Relevant Contact: Universität Leipzig, Insti- stitute for Tropospheric Research. HALO-supported research is research. RU long range comes in very useful. Atmospheric and Surface Processes tut für Meteo­rologie, Stephanstr. 3, The DFG has been funding the In- intended to help answer ques- www.halo-spp.de These examples of HALO cam- and Feedback Mechanisms (AC)3” 04103 Leipzig, Germany paigns and their aims demonstrate scientists will be investigating the www.halo-spp.de 26 Engineering Sciences german research 2 / 2019 german research 2 / 2019 27

Ekkard Brinksmeier, Stefanie Reese and Jens Sölter Left: Grinding a component. This process Plastic deformation of the sur- oped a new way of looking at man- can generate a lot of heat. Scientists and face layer or “skin” of the material ufacturing processes: depending engineers are looking for ways to pre- is especially important. It creates on the production technique used, vent thermal damage to the component. permanent forces inside the mate- the mechanisms inside the material rial which are referred to as resid- may be mechanically, thermally or No matter what manufactur- ual stress. Just as building muscle chemically activated. For example, ing technique is used, the aim is to strengthens the spine, plastic de- let’s take the case of hardening transform the material into a speci- formation of the surface layer can steel again. The high temperatures fied form with defined dimensions generate greater internal strength reached during the heating phase and surface roughness. In addition as long as the resulting residual and the dramatic temperature to these geometric properties, the stress is mathematically negative changes resulting from rapid cool- manufacturing process is required and therefore compressive. ing cause thermal stress, resulting to “adjust” the material properties in a modification of the material. of the product to optimise it for its ut to return to the original This would be described as a pro- future function and substantially B question, how can the surface cess with a thermal effect. improve them compared with the layer of a material be strengthened Turning, milling, drilling and original condition – but without al- during processing to give the fin- grinding, on the other hand, all tering the composition of the ma- ished component improved func- involve material being removed terial. tional properties for its intended as chips. Their effects are thermo- But how can manufacturing use? It is, indeed, possible to per- mechanical – in other words, the processes improve the material? manently enhance these proper- modification is achieved by a com- One well-known example is heat ties during manufacturing. But bination of thermal and mechani- treatment, used for example to achieving the exact desired effect cal internal material loads. In elec- harden steel. When the material requires an understanding of how trochemical machining, chemical is heated and then quickly cooled, a manufacturing process works in effects are also involved. The ul- the molecular lattice structure of terms of the physical and chemical timate aim is to apply the effects Illustration: Leibniz-IWT Bremen Illustration: the steel is stressed, giving the ma- processes that it initiates inside the or internal material loads in a con- terial its hardness and wear resist- material. For the majority of indus- trolled manner. If this is achieved ance. The same effect can also be trial manufacturing processes, we successfully, the material’s resist- achieved without heating, by uti- do not currently have the required ance to wear and corrosion and The Right Signature lising external forces that achieve level of knowledge. the strength of a component can a permanent “plastic” deformation This was the starting point for be significantly increased. of the material. This happens when the transregional Collaborative Re- It may sound simple, but it’s for Every Process we bend a wire into the desired search Centre “Process Signatures”. actually very complex. The fact is shape, for example. The team of researchers has devel- that it is very difficult to achieve The hardness, residual stress and other properties of a component’s surface layers are crucial to its functionality and durability. To achieve specific improvements to the component’s “skin”, The effects of grinding: When the component skin is heated, this can harden the workpiece material near the ground surface engineers need a more detailed understanding of the physical and chemical processes at work (at the top of the image). The hardened areas, which appear white in the images, are made visible by special preparation of the component. As the heat input is increased (shown from left to right), the thickness of the hardened layer increases. during manufacturing processes and how these can be exploited to modify the material properties.

he engineered products that For the manufacturer and the loads, such as gears, roller bearings B. Kolkwitz T we use on a daily basis, be it a factory, the decisive factors are low or engine and turbine parts, this / toaster, a bicycle or a lawnmower, are costs, minimal weight and other means special steels. In the aero- designed to do their job as reliably as factors such as energy consump- space industry, the preferred ma- possible. This is what the consumer tion. However, the first considera- terials are lightweight metals such expects in all areas of life: he or she tion for any product or compo- as aluminium and titanium alloys, is critical and usually has a broad nent is the material it is made of. and, increasingly, fibre-reinforced

range of products to choose from. For parts that are subject to high plastics. Illustrations: Leibniz-IWT Bremen 28 Engineering Sciences german research 2 / 2019 german research 2 / 2019 29

tematic investigation of the re- lationship between the internal material loads during machining and the resulting material modifi- cations – a relationship referred to as a “Process Signature”. Through their work in the Collaborative Re- Aufnahme: bias Bremen search Centre, the researchers are Simulation: RWTH Aachen, AIA, G. Brito-Gadeschi aiming to address this knowledge Material is removed from the surface layer of the component using laser pulses. High temperatures can modify the molecular lattice gap. For a representative range of structure (white area in the left image). Right: Simulations are used to obtain information about temperature profiles inside the material. manufacturing processes involving different types of internal material measure the relevant variables with terial properties are likely to result In addition to the economic ben- Lisa Ehle

/ loads, Process Signatures are being the required temporal and spatial from a specific adjustment to the efits, Process Signatures also offer developed. These signatures are the resolution. So the CRC follows a process. Clearly, a simulation tool an opportunity to reduce resource scientific key to achieving specific two-pronged strategy, developing such as this has the potential to sig- consumption. This could contrib- material properties in the surface new, high-resolution in-process nificantly improve manufacturing ute to more sustainable manu- zones of components during the measurement techniques and at processes. facturing long after the project is production process. the same time designing new tools As well as being used “offline” finished. Changes in the material can for computer-assisted simulations to support the optimisation of a Illustration: RWTH Aachen, Gfe be detected relatively accurately of manufacturing processes. The manufacturing process, simula- the desired internal loads during the various relationships involved, using appropriate measurement objective is to observe what hap- tions could potentially also be used the process. The mechanical and from the settings on a machine to techniques: residual stress, for ex- pens inside the material during the “online” to provide valuable data thermal effects that influence the the resulting material properties of ample, can be measured using X- process in a “virtual” manner, or by during a process. The second sce- condition of the material’s surface the component, are not well docu- rays. However, to identify Process means of measurements. nario, also referred to as “real-time layer depend on both the machine mented or understood. Signatures it is also necessary to High-precision measurement simulation”, is still in the future, settings and the material being ma- Until the transregional research understand the internal material techniques provide crucial data, for but research is already being car- chined. It is the material properties, group – involving researchers from loads that occur during the process. example on the geometry and de- ried out in this area. The long-term such as thermal conductivity, that the University of Bremen, RWTH Determining these experimentally formation of the molecular lattice goal is to be able to use in-process influence the processes leading to Aachen University and Oklahoma with established measuring tech- structure of the material. But this measurements and real-time sim- a material modification. State University (USA) – was es- niques is much more difficult, and alone is not enough to understand ulations to design manufacturing In industry, the desired proper- tablished, there had been no sys- sometimes it is simply impossible to the physical and chemical processes processes that give the finished ties are usually achieved by “ap- taking place. It is important to un- component the exact functional proaching” them incrementally, the derstand the relationship between properties required. Fotos (3): Ulrich Reiß machine settings being gradually the mechanisms occurring on a Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Prof. h.c. Dr.-Ing. E.h. adjusted until the required prop- small scale in the material and the he challenge of describing Ekkard Brinksmeier is the deputy managing director of the erties are obtained. The reason for larger-scale effects that result. The T manufacturing processes in a Leibniz Institute for Materials Engineering this time-consuming method is that small scale is the microstructural new way using Process Signatures IWT Bremen and the spokesperson for SFB/ level, what is happening inside the has been keeping the project team TRR 136. Above: Electrochemical machining (ECM) material. The large scale includes busy for four years. Since 2018, Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Stefanie Reese is the director of the Institute of Applied removes areas of material at the surface the manufacturing process which the researchers have been building Mechanics at RWTH Aachen University and through chemical reactions, resulting in is intended to give the material on this work by developing and deputy spokesperson for SFB/TRR 136. a fissured structure. Right: In milling, the desired properties. Modern refining Process Signatures with Dr.-Ing. Jens Sölter Andreas Tausendfreund material is removed by cutting edges / simulation techniques enable the the aim of improving the adjust- is a research assistant in the department of (just seen at the top of the image). The researchers to link the two scales. ment of material properties in the Manufacturing Processes at the University of Bremen and the managing director of SFB/ deformation of the material is recorded For example, it is possible to rep- surface layers of components in TRR 136. during the process using a new measure- resent and investigate on a com- industrial manufacturing. In the Contact: SFB/TRR 136, Universität ment technique called speckle photo­ puter how the process of grinding long term, this could contribute to Bremen, Badgasteiner Str. 1, graphy. The degree of deformation is affects the molecular lattice struc- the production of more resilient 28359 Bremen, Germany

represented by the colour code. Illustration: U Bremen, BIMAQ ture of the material and what ma- and more durable components. www.prozesssignaturen.de/en 30 LifeKapitelobertitel Sciences german research 2 / 2019 germangerman researchresearch 22 // 20192019 31

Kerstin Kaufmann Beautiful Monstrosities

Double flowers are the result of a battle between genes that activate or inhibit the development of different kinds of structures and organs. Molecular biologists are par- ticularly interested in mutants because they provide clues about the mechanisms of flower development and their evolutionary origin. This area of research reveals more about the highly complex “regulatory code” of flowers.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s “perfoliate rose”. Watercolour commissioned for Metamorphosis of Plants, probably painted around 1790 by a pupil of the Weimar drawing school. Illustration: from Goethe, Die Schriften zur Naturwissenschaft (LA), I,9 (Hrsg. D. Kuhn), 1954, Tafel XVI 2 Illustration: from Goethe, Die Schriften zur Naturwissenschaft (LA), I,9 (Hrsg. D. Kuhn), 1954, Tafel 32 Life Sciences german research 2 / 2019 german research 2 / 2019 33

rom the Little Prince and his scribed a “hundred-leaved rose”, Goethe cited the “perfoliate rose”, F rose to the talking tiger lily that because in antiquity the love of where a new flower grows out of Alice meets in Wonderland, or Mr. plants prompted the propaga- a double one. In the 20th century, Ribblestone’s moon flower in the tion of special flowers, including the “secret relationships” or “ho- more recent children’s book Die “double-flowered” roses with ex- mologies” between different floral Mondblume, flowers inspire the hu- tra petals. organs were also recognised as evi- man imagination. They are integral In the 17th and 18th centuries, dence of their common evolution- to human cultural history: even in these unusual forms piqued the in- ary origin. Ancient Egypt, the love of flowers terest of botanists who were trying While some mutant flowers and ornamental gardens is reflected to bring order to this morphologi- are popular with gardeners, others in poetry and religious rituals. But cal diversity. In 1768, embryologist are only of interest to researchers. flowers are also the basis of sexual Caspar Friedrich Wolff postulated Descriptions of mutated flowers or reproduction and fruit develop- that leaves and all the organs of “monstrosities” became popular in ment in plants, making them cru- a flower – sepals, petals, stamens the 19th century, but it wasn’t until cial to food production and crop and carpels – have a shared de- the advent of modern techniques breeding. velopmental origin. The idea that in genetics and molecular biology In Ancient Greece, the works leaves and floral organs were re- that their secrets began to be un- of Theophrastus (ca. 374/369 – lated was brought to greater atten- ravelled. Once again researchers 288/285 BC), a pupil of Aristotle, tion by Johann Wolfgang von Goe- focused on double flowers, this marked the beginning of scientific the in his Metamorphosis of Plants, time in the model plants thale

interest in the secrets of flowers a work inspired by his journey cress (Arabidopsis thaliana) and the Claudia Vojta / and the sheer diversity of their through Italy (1786 –1788). As a common snapdragon (Antirrhinum forms. Theophrastus even de- particular example of his theory, majus). In double flowers, the male Arabidopsis thaliana inflorescence: The topmost part of an inflorescence with four- and female reproductive organs petalled flowers can be seen here. (stamens and carpels) are replaced by petals and sepals. Similar, if less Wiki Commons Illustration: visually attractive, mutants exhibit Experimental plants in the greenhouse: Thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana) is a popular model organism. changes in the stamens and carpels. In homeotic mutants, where cer- tities of the flower. Research us- on a combinatorial basis to form cording to which all types of floral tain types of floral organs are re- ing model plants has identified an the four different types of organs organs are equivalent to a leaf? placed by others, normally only a important model for the specifi- in a flower. If one of these genes few developmental control genes cation of floral organs, known loses its function through muta- f several homeotic gene classes are faulty. The “monsters” that in as the ABC model. In principle tion, the still intact gene classes I are deactivated at the same time, some cases have been delighting it can be applied to all flowering take over the specification of the then leaf-like organs do indeed gardeners for thousands of years plants – whether grasses, poplars corresponding organs, which are form. At the beginning of the new only have mutations in one or a or sunflowers. Some evolutionary then replaced by a different type millennium a new class of homeotic few of the 30,000 or so genes in the changes in the flower structure, of organ according to their func- genes was discovered, mutations of plant genome. for example the development of tion. For example, B and C func- which resulted in the formation of The basic regulatory function petal-like organs instead of se- tion genes together specify sta- leaves rather than floral organs. Al- of these special genes is relatively pals in tulips, can be explained by mens and C function genes alone though these “monsters” are not conserved between different plant simple adjustments in the model. control carpels. When B function reproductively successful, they are species, although the appearance, The ABC model became widely genes mutate, then instead of sta- treasure trove for researchers. It Alberto Salguero / number and size of the floral or- known thanks to an article in Na- mens an extra ring of carpels can was thanks to them that the long- gans vary from one species to ture in 1991 by Enrico Coen and form in the flower, and sepals form postulated “secret relationships” another. This means that when Elliot Meyerowitz, two pioneers instead of petals. This model can between plant organs were firmly related homeotic genes are deac- in plant developmental genetics. describe fundamental mechanisms identified. They also gave us our tivated in different species, similar According to this model, three of flower development, but can it first glimpse into the molecular

Illustration: Wiki Commons Illustration: changes occur in the organ iden- classes of regulatory genes interact substantiate Goethe’s theory ac- mechanisms that underlie the ap- 34 Life Sciences german research 2 / 2019 german research 2 / 2019 35

Flowering Arabidopsis mutant with “cauliflower” phenotype.

meotic genes at the molecular level? All homeotic genes code for what are known as transcription factors, which can interact with each other in a combinatorial organ-specific man- Illustration: AG Kaufmann ner. Transcription factors are pro- teins that can activate or inhibit the activity of other genes. Our work and that of our researchers has shown that these transcription derstand factors have thousands of binding the “regula- Illustrations: AG Kaufmann sites in the genome, and at least tory code” that Left: DNA binding studies of floral homeotic transcription factors – an EMSA experiment. Right: Expression of a floral homeotic several hundred genes are directly encodes the protein as GFP fusion (green) in young meristematic tissue. controlled by these factors. In fact, morphogenesis of are essential to their target genes include many different plant organs the development and differ- pearance and function of the vari- Research in Cologne (now a pro- So how do plants make differ- representatives that play a role in in the genome. entiation of organs. ous organs. In 2001, these molecu- fessor at FSU Jena). Thus, floral ent kinds of organs from non-dif- determining leaf organ morphol- But why do we want to know Ultimately, there is one major lar mechanisms were summarised organs can indeed be regarded as ferentiated stem cells, regardless ogy, for example genes that control any of this? Is seeking to under- question that fascinates research- in a model postulated by plant “modified” leaves, bringing Goe- of when and where in the plant organ polarity, trichome develop- stand the beauty of the “monsters” ers and gardeners alike: how do geneticist and evolutionary biolo- the’s Metamorphosis of Plants into these organs develop? Or, to put ment and organ growth (and thus in our gardens and their wild cous- complex multicellular organisms gist Guenter Theissen at the Max the focus of attention for Theissen it another way, how are develop- organ size). The activity of these ins all just a matter of intellectual develop from individual fertilised Planck Institute for Plant Breeding and his colleagues. mental processes controlled by ho- genes is modified such that floral curiosity? In fact, this is far from egg cells and how were they able organs form instead of leaves. useless knowledge. Flowers are to arise during the course of evo- The processes of life on a tiny scale: Section of a genomic map with binding profiles of homeotic transcription factors. crucial to plant reproduction and lution? This question will keep ther target genes are only ac- therefore the production of seeds researchers in various disciplines 18620000 18640000 18660000 18680000 18700000 18720000 18740000 18760000 18780000 18800000 18820000 18840000 18860000 18880000 18900000 18920000 18940000 18960000 18980000 O tive during flower develop- and fruits, an important food busy for a long time to come. ment, for example those required source for humans. For example, for the production of pollen. How- cauliflower is simply the result of a ever, the analysis of the target gene mutation in developmental control networks of homeotic transcription genes that delays differentiation of factors is still in its early stages. We the meristem (the tissue containing are only just beginning to under- undifferentiated cells, the part that stand how the function of individ- we eat as a vegetable) into separate ual homeotic gene classes comes floral organs. about, in other words how the de- There are also fascinating par- Prof. Dr. Kerstin Kaufmann velopment of a stamen differs from allels in the developmental pro- heads the Department for Plant Cell and that of a petal at molecular level, cesses of plants and animals. In Molecular Biology at HU Berlin. and how exactly the master tran- the animal kingdom we also find Contact: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, scription factors select their bind- homeotic mutants, for example Institut für Biologie, Lehrstuhl für Pflanzliche

Chr2 Zell- und Molekularbiologie, AT2G45120.1 AFO MAP1A GCP1 GAE4 CRR4 BEN1 LBD18 DHDPS2 AGP8 CYP76C4 AT2G45610.1 AGL6 ATPEX16 PEX11D BAL DTA2 BAM7 AT2G45920.1 ATHH2 ATBRM ATMPK12 AT2G46170.1 AT2G45126.1 ATGOS12 AT2G45250.1 AT2G45320.1 AT2G45403.1 AHL22 AtGRF9 CYP76C1 AT2G45630.1 AGL20 AT2G45700.1 PEX11D CPFTSY DTA2 ATROPGEF4 AT2G45930.1 AT2G45990.2 UBC6 ATMPK12 AT2G46170.2 ing sites in the genome. However, fruit flies with legs instead of an- ATSPX3 ATGOS12 AT2G45250.2 emb1067 AT2G45406.1 AT2G45434.1 AtAUR3 CYP76C1 AT2G45630.2 AT2G45670.1 AT2G45720.2 CPFTSY AT2G45850.1 AT2G45910.1 ATHH2 ATBRM AT2G46080.1 GC4 Philippstraße 11–13, 10115 AT2G45135.2 AT2G45210.1 AT2G45260.1 emb1067 LBD19 ZPR1 AT2G45500.1 CYP76C2 ATSAP18 AT2G45680.1 PEX11D ATPMM AT2G45860.1 AT2G45940.1 AT2G46000.1 AT2G46050.1 KPHMT1 AT2G46200.1 AT2G45135.1 AT2G45220.1 ATRAD51C AT2G45340.1 AT2G45412.1 AT2G45460.2 AT2G45540.1 AT2G45600.1 AT2G45670.2 AT2G45730.1 AT2G45800.2 AT2G45870.1 ASK20 AT2G46040.1 ATWRKY43 AT2G46200.2 with the aid of new technologies tennae. Although homeotic genes Berlin, Germany PVA12 ATATG8E ATRAD51C AT2G45360.1 AT2G45460.3 AT2G45540.2 AT2G45620.1 AT2G45695.1 AT2G45750.1 AT2G45820.1 AT2G45900.1 ASK20 AT2G46060.1 AT2G46150.1 AT2G46220.1 CDS4 AT2G45290.1 AT2G45380.1 AT2G45460.1 CYP76C3 ATSAP18 AT2G45710.1 AT2G45800.1 ATHH2 AT2G46060.2 AT2G46160.1 CDS4 AT2G45300.1 AT2G45380.2 AT2G45500.2 AT2G45590.1 AT2G45720.1 AT2G45810.1 CYP86A8 AT2G46090.1 AT2G46190.1 CDS4 CYP704A2 AT2G45840.1 AT2G45980.1 AT2G46100.1 AT2G46210.1 and interdisciplinary approaches, evolved independently in plants ATHAM1 AT2G45520.1 AT2G45850.2 AT2G45990.3 AT2G46100.2 www2.hu-berlin.de/biologie/ AT2G45161.1 AT2G45530.1 AT2G45990.1 ATWRKY43

ATATG8E AT2G45990.4 AT2G46140.1 Graphic: AG Kaufmann it will one day be possible to un- and animals, in both systems they flower AT2G45180.1 36 About this Publication german research 2 / 2019

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