The event was part of the diverse workshop program offered by the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics at Aachen University of Applied Sciences, which provides interesting insights into technical and scientific topics.
To kick things off, Ms. Jacobi introduced the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics and provided an overview of the various degree programs. Prof. Rolf Schmitt then invited the participants on a “slide” through the world of tribology—the field that deals with friction, wear, and lubrication.
It quickly became clear that friction is far more than just a physics term from the classroom. Together, they discussed why friction generates heat, why it sometimes causes noise, and what challenges it poses, for example, for rail transport. The examples from nature were particularly impressive: from animals that make targeted use of friction to our joints, which function almost frictionlessly and thus serve as a model for technical developments.
The workshop vividly demonstrated how closely scientific phenomena and modern engineering are intertwined.
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Mr. Schelling for inviting us to this workshop, to Ms. Jacobi for organizing it, and especially to Prof. Schmitt for making the workshop so entertaining and practice-oriented!
