GRK 2250 Summer School in Lecco, Italy 🇮🇹

Summer School of GRK 2250 in Lecco – Scientific Exchange and Insights into Research on Structural Safety

Lecco, June 2025 – In an impressive international setting, this year’s Summer School of the Research Training Group GRK 2250 "Mineral-bonded composites for enhanced structural impact safety" took place at the Politecnico di Milano in Lecco, Italy. Over several days, the program offered a unique opportunity for intensive academic training, professional exchange, and international networking in the field of structural impact safety using mineral-bonded composites.

The core of the event consisted of high-level lectures by internationally renowned experts. Professors Matteo Colombo, Marco di Prisco, and Liberato Ferrara – all leading figures in material and structural research – gave presentations on current developments, experimental methods, and innovative applications in impact-resistant structures.

Another major focus was on the presentations by participating PhD candidates, who introduced their individual research projects. The aim was to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and explore opportunities for future collaborations between research institutions and international partners.

The program was complemented by exclusive lab tours at Politecnico di Milano, including a visit to the Shock Blast Tube, a facility used to simulate dynamic impact loads. Here, participants gained valuable insights into experimental testing methods used to study material behavior under extreme conditions.

A particular highlight was the excursion to Mendrisio, Switzerland, to SUPSI (University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland). Participants were introduced to state-of-the-art testing facilities and attended expert lectures by Professor Ezio Cadoni and Dr. Daniele Forni. Discussions once again centered around impact-loaded materials and structural systems.

The Summer School concluded with a visit to the EU Joint Research Centre (JRC) in Ispra. There, attendees had access to the European Laboratory for Structural Assessment (ELSA), including its impressive reaction wall used for large-scale testing, as well as the Large Hopkinson Bar Facility, a system designed to characterize materials under extremely high loading rates.

This Summer School was not only an outstanding educational experience but also a milestone in the international networking efforts of GRK 2250. It allowed early-career researchers to engage directly with cutting-edge research and actively contribute to advancing the field.