Guest Lecture: Prof. Dr. Marek Sierka

The Collaborative Research Center 1415 was delighted to welcome Prof. Dr. Marek Sierka from Friedrich Schiller University Jena as a guest speaker. In his scientific lecture, “From 2D Glass to Digital Glass: Atomic Models and Data-Driven Design,” held on April 17, 2026, he discussed how the structure and formation of glass can be understood at the atomic level and how this knowledge can be used to digitally design new glass materials.

The lecture connected experimental atomic-scale observations—such as ultrathin silica bilayers on Ruthenium (Ru (0001))—with advanced computational and data-driven approaches. By examining the transition from a crystalline sheet to a disordered glass structure, Prof. Sierka illustrated the atomic mechanisms underlying glass formation. He further demonstrated how these insights can be scaled up into a digital, ontology-based data infrastructure and a closed-loop workflow that integrates atomistic simulations, machine learning, and automated synthesis. This approach aims to accelerate the discovery of new glass compositions while significantly reducing trial-and-error in materials design.

The CRC 1415 sincerely thanks Prof. Dr. Marek Sierka for his inspiring visit to Technische Universität Dresden.