"Beyond Concrete: Fibers and Polymers for Tomorrows Buildings" - University-wide inaugural lecture with Professor Christina Scheffler

When new professors present their work at the TUD Dresden University of Technology, it's not just about their personal core research areas. The university-wide inaugural lectures are a showcase for those minds who are to strategically shape the academic profile of the TUD - internationally visible, interdisciplinary networked and with a clear view to the future.

On April 16, 2026, the focus will be on a scientist who stands for precisely this combination of innovation and relevance: Christina Scheffler. Her lecture has the programmatic title "Beyond Concrete: Fibers and Polymers for Tomorrow's Buildings " - and promises nothing less than a change of perspective in the construction industry.

Rethinking materials

Concrete is an integral part of modern architecture - but its ecological and technical limitations have long been known. This is precisely where Scheffler's research comes in. For years, she has been working on the question of how building materials can be made smarter, more resource-efficient and more capable.

As head of the Fiber Engineering research group and a stakeholder in several major TUD projects, she is working on innovative composite materials. The focus here is on textile reinforcements, new mineral binders and, above all, the interfaces in between - those inconspicuous transitions that determine the stability and service life of entire structures.

What is particularly exciting is that Scheffler also takes inspiration from nature. Bio-inspired structures, such as those found in plant fibers, serve as a model for innovative material combinations. The goal is clear: to use less material while increasing capabilities.

Circular instead of disposable

Another focus of her work is the recycling of fibers and polymers in the construction industry. While traditional building materials are often disposed of after a single use, Scheffler thinks in terms of closed material cycles. Fibers should be reused and polymers reintegrated - an approach that is becoming increasingly important in view of the global scarcity of resources.

This research is not only theoretically relevant, but is also firmly embedded in large collaborative projects such as the Collaborative Research Center TRR 280 and the Research Training Group 2250, where interdisciplinary work is being carried out to make buildings safer, more sustainable and more efficient.

Science in dialog

The inaugural lecture itself is more than just a traditional lecture. It is an invitation to exchange ideas - between disciplines, institutions and people. After the event, a get-together offers space for discussions, new ideas and possible collaborations.

So anyone interested in the future of construction should make a note of this date: On April 16, 2026 at 4:40 pm in the Fritz-Foerster-Bau, Christina Scheffler will show how tomorrow's materials are already being thought of today.

The lecture and subsequent discussion will be held in English.

April 16, 2026
16:40 - 18:10 (6th DS) s.t.
FOE/244, Fritz-Foerster-Bau, Mommsenstraße 6, 01069 Dresden
Link to the registration