Jul 09, 2026
D³ at the Dresden Science Night
An evening filled with curiosity, experimentation, and enthusiasm for mechanics and materials science: At Dresden Science Night, RTG 2868 D³—Data-driven Design of Resilient Metamaterials—was represented alongside the Chair of Computational and Experimental Solid Mechanics.
Visitors of all ages were able to experience research up close and get hands-on. The newly developed mobile testing machine was in constant use: a wide variety of materials were tested—from hamburger-shaped gummy candies and Smurfs to modern metamaterials. Using photoelasticity, mechanical stresses were made visible and brought to life in fascinating color images.
The Bridge Builder Challenge also drew a great deal of interest: children, teens, and adults could design, test, and immediately improve their own virtual bridges. This vividly demonstrated how engineering simulations work and how structures react under stress.
A special highlight was the debut of the D³ Van. In the future, this vehicle will bring experiments in mechanics, materials science, and data-driven engineering directly to schools. With this initiative, RTG 2868 D³ aims to reach young people where they learn and inspire them early on to take an interest in technology, research, and science.
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all visitors as well as to the dedicated team whose creativity, enthusiasm, and hard work made this evening possible.
