The Institute of Lightweight Engineering and Polymer Technology at TU Dresden regularly hosts workshops that give school classes at various levels exciting insights into current engineering research topics.

On 18.03.2025, pupils from Dresden-Plauen High School had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the fascinating world of bionics, topology optimization and additive manufacturing as part of the "Bionically inspired lightweight construction" workshop led by RTG 2868 members M.Sc. Wikentij Koshukow and Dipl.-Ing. Richard Grothe.

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In the first part of the workshop, the basic principles of bionics were explained - for example, how nature produces efficient structures through evolutionary processes and how these can be transferred to technical applications. The rest of the workshop focused on the topics of topology optimization with Fusion360 and generative design. The students were able to gain their first experience with digital design software and learned how modern design processes are used in additive manufacturing - including practical application examples.

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A practical highlight at the end was an impact experiment, in which the students had to design a construction space with given material in such a way that the impact of a steel ball is absorbed.
The focus here was on creativity, teamwork and a feel for structures.