spanning from synthetic polymer chemistry and polymerization catalysis to polymer physics, nanotechnology, bionics, biobased plastics, and processing. Today an
important focus of applied polymer research in FMF is placed upon the development of sustainable materials for applications in lightweight engineering, energy
technology, medicine, and microsystems technology.
Inspired by Staudinger’s vision concerning macromolecular system engineering
and macromolecular biometics, the new Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials
and Bioinspired Technologies (FIT) was founded in 2010. A new research building
will be completed by 2015 at the campus of the University of Freiburg near
Freiburg airport (Fig. 7). The primary research objectives of FIT include the
development of adaptive and responsive macromolecular materials and surfaces,
biobased and biomimetic materials and their biosystem integration, as well as
advanced embedded energy autonomous microsystems, which do not require external power supply because they contain built-in power harvesting and storage.
During Staudinger’s era, the Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry was just an
isolated tiny island hidden in the organic chemistry department. In the days after
Hermann Staudinger, the Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry has been turned
into a world-class polymer research center. Today, interdisciplinary polymer science and engineering have top priority at the University of Freiburg, creating a
unique interdisciplinary and interfaculty research environment for basic and
applied polymer sciences by bridging the disciplines of chemistry, physics, biology,
medicine, and microsystems engineering. Since the mid-1980s, several chairs have
been established in other faculties. These include the chairs of experimental
polymer physics (Gert Strobl, 1985–2006, followed by Gu ¨nter Reiter in 2008)
and theoretical physics (Alexander Blumen since 1991) in the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, as well as the chairs for chemistry and physics of surfaces and
interfaces (Ju ¨rgen Ru ¨he since1999) and process technology (Holger Reinecke since
2004) in the Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK) of the Engineering Faculty. Polymer sciences also play a prominent role in bionics research
(Thomas Speck, professor of botany, functional morphology, and bionics in the
Faculty of Biology, and director of the Botanic Garden of the University of Freiburg
since 2006). The aspects of forestry-based biomaterials and bioresources are
addressed by Marie-Pierre Laborie, who holds a chair of forest biomaterials in
Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources. Inspired by nature, the focus of the
interdisciplinary polymer research at The University of Freiburg is placed upon the
sustainable development of highly energy- and resource-efficient multifunctional
polymeric materials for modern technologies.
The unique polymer research environment in Freiburg has stimulated
scientific achievements in top-notch polymer research. Moreover, it has motivated
and enabled numerous young scientists to start a successful career in industry and
academia, among them German professors like Gu ¨nter Victor Schulz (Mainz), Werner
Kern (Mainz), Rolf C. Schulz (Mainz), Helmut Ringsdorf (Mainz), Gerd Greber
(Vienna), Ernst G. Klesper (Aachen), Hartmut Seeliger (Ulm), Hans R. Kricheldorf
(Hamburg), Walther Burchard (Freiburg), Manfred Hallensleben (Hannover), Claus
Eisenbach (Stuttgart), Reimund Stadler (Bayreuth), Martin Mo ¨ller (Aachen),
Hermann Staudinger and Polymer Research in Freiburg
35
important focus of applied polymer research in FMF is placed upon the development of sustainable materials for applications in lightweight engineering, energy
technology, medicine, and microsystems technology.
Inspired by Staudinger’s vision concerning macromolecular system engineering
and macromolecular biometics, the new Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials
and Bioinspired Technologies (FIT) was founded in 2010. A new research building
will be completed by 2015 at the campus of the University of Freiburg near
Freiburg airport (Fig. 7). The primary research objectives of FIT include the
development of adaptive and responsive macromolecular materials and surfaces,
biobased and biomimetic materials and their biosystem integration, as well as
advanced embedded energy autonomous microsystems, which do not require external power supply because they contain built-in power harvesting and storage.
During Staudinger’s era, the Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry was just an
isolated tiny island hidden in the organic chemistry department. In the days after
Hermann Staudinger, the Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry has been turned
into a world-class polymer research center. Today, interdisciplinary polymer science and engineering have top priority at the University of Freiburg, creating a
unique interdisciplinary and interfaculty research environment for basic and
applied polymer sciences by bridging the disciplines of chemistry, physics, biology,
medicine, and microsystems engineering. Since the mid-1980s, several chairs have
been established in other faculties. These include the chairs of experimental
polymer physics (Gert Strobl, 1985–2006, followed by Gu ¨nter Reiter in 2008)
and theoretical physics (Alexander Blumen since 1991) in the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, as well as the chairs for chemistry and physics of surfaces and
interfaces (Ju ¨rgen Ru ¨he since1999) and process technology (Holger Reinecke since
2004) in the Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK) of the Engineering Faculty. Polymer sciences also play a prominent role in bionics research
(Thomas Speck, professor of botany, functional morphology, and bionics in the
Faculty of Biology, and director of the Botanic Garden of the University of Freiburg
since 2006). The aspects of forestry-based biomaterials and bioresources are
addressed by Marie-Pierre Laborie, who holds a chair of forest biomaterials in
Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources. Inspired by nature, the focus of the
interdisciplinary polymer research at The University of Freiburg is placed upon the
sustainable development of highly energy- and resource-efficient multifunctional
polymeric materials for modern technologies.
The unique polymer research environment in Freiburg has stimulated
scientific achievements in top-notch polymer research. Moreover, it has motivated
and enabled numerous young scientists to start a successful career in industry and
academia, among them German professors like Gu ¨nter Victor Schulz (Mainz), Werner
Kern (Mainz), Rolf C. Schulz (Mainz), Helmut Ringsdorf (Mainz), Gerd Greber
(Vienna), Ernst G. Klesper (Aachen), Hartmut Seeliger (Ulm), Hans R. Kricheldorf
(Hamburg), Walther Burchard (Freiburg), Manfred Hallensleben (Hannover), Claus
Eisenbach (Stuttgart), Reimund Stadler (Bayreuth), Martin Mo ¨ller (Aachen),
Hermann Staudinger and Polymer Research in Freiburg
35