First Reallab Open House Day in Berlin
At the intersection of science, technology, and everyday life, practices, prototypes, and innovative solutions are emerging to drive societal transformation toward sustainability. Berlin, a growing metropolis, is also on the path to climate neutrality and aims to become a “sponge city”; social cohesion is essential in the areas of mobility and the heating transition.
In this context, StadtManufaktur Berlin invites you to the 1st Open Real-World Lab Day on October 10, 2024!
The Open Real-World Lab Day is supported by the Network of Real-World Labs for Sustainability and the Society for Transdisciplinary and Participatory Research (GTPF) and will take place nationwide in 2025: In the context of local, sustainable transformation, this event aims to bring to life the challenges, experiences, and successes of real-world lab work, transdisciplinary and participatory research, technology, and innovation in real-world labs in Berlin. We have invited researchers, staff, students, and partners from TU Berlin and UdK Berlin to share their interests in transformation, motivations, solutions, and questions on this day.
Please register for Part I and Part II by October 9 via email at stadtmanufaktur-TB-info@win.tu-berlin.de.
Program for the Real-World Lab Open House on October 10, 2024
Part I HybridLab Berlin
10:00–10:45
Welcome and Introduction to the Day: Why Real-World Lab Research?
With
Dr. Audrey Podann, Dr. Anja Steglich, Science & Society Unit, Executive Board of TU Berlin
Dr. Leslie Quitzow, Federal Foundation Bauakademie
Julia Feier, Berlin Senate Department for Urban Development, Construction, and Housing, Unit for Special Projects and IBA
Part 1
Pitches 10 + 5, Presentation and Q&A
10:45 – 11:00 a.m.
“Reallabor B(e) Ware – Building Structures Made from Waste Materials, Made in Berlin”
Dr. Nina Pawlicki, Sina Jansen, Natural Building Lab (TU Berlin)
The construction sector faces a massive resource problem. In 2019, construction and demolition waste accounted for 57% of Berlin’s total waste generation. Studies such as the RESCUE study by the Federal Environment Agency (2019) show that the use of raw materials in the German construction sector must be drastically reduced by 60% by 2050 to meet climate targets. In the B(e)-Ware real-world laboratory, the necessary planning and construction processes involving reused building materials are being developed to bridge the gap between the state of research, technology, and construction practice within the currently applicable regulatory framework. To this end, Berlin waste (B-grade material) is being repurposed as a valuable resource (A-grade material) for the construction sector, and a concept for the simplified implementation of sophisticated building structures made from local waste materials is being developed and tested.
11:00 – 11:15
“InnoCErt”
Camilo Almendrales, Center for Technology and Society
As part of the “innoCErt” project at the Technical University—which aims to use certifications to incentivize innovation toward more resource-efficient solutions in the takeout food sector—we at the Center for Technology and Society are applying a real-world laboratory approach to the issue of packaging waste from the users’ perspective. Our project is divided into three work packages: HomeLabs (the perspective of consumers at home), GastroLabs (the perspective of the food service industry), and PublicSpaceLabs (the perspective of the general public, particularly with regard to littering).
11:15 – 11:30
“Forest Real-World Laboratory”
Sara Reichelt, Athena Grandis
Faculty IV of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Communication Systems Group, TU Berlin Foundation for Innovation in Higher Education
Forests fulfill a wide range of ecological, social, and economic functions. Not only are they among the most species-rich ecosystems on Earth, but they also play a crucial role in the global climate system. In the “Forest Real-World Laboratory,” we view the forest as an ecosystem that must be preserved, recognizing that human activities pose one of the greatest threats. In the “Forest Real-World Lab,” we develop solutions designed to promote both knowledge transfer and the prevention of forest fires. In collaboration with local communities, we create prototypes for forest protection. The goal is to combine the strengths of different communities. These collaborations are essential for the participatory development of practical conservation measures. For the first prototypes, we placed particular emphasis on combining design and functionality and tested them in workshops
11:30 – 11:45
“ROUND ABOUT WATER Real-World Laboratory”
Anne Werner, Verena Holder, Faculty VI: Planning, Construction, and Environment, Department of Landscape Architecture and Open Space Planning, TU Berlin
As part of a bachelor’s thesis, the Round-About-Water real-world laboratory concept examines practices related to urban stormwater, as applied at Ernst-Reuter-Platz in Berlin. The traditional practice of diverting stormwater into the sewer system in urban areas is contrasted with the use of stormwater for on-site soil processes and vegetation. Through a variety of different measures implemented in individual microcosms, the urban climate can be regulated, thereby addressing challenges posed by climate change.
11:45 – 12:00
Prof. Norbert Kühn, Daniela Corduan, Faculty VI: Planning, Construction, and Environment, Department of Vegetation Engineering and Plant Utilization, TU Berlin
At the Dahlem site (Albrecht-Thaerweg 6), the TU Berlin demonstration garden at Königin-Luise-Strasse 22, and other experimental facilities in urban areas of Berlin (the former Tegel Airport and Berlin-Rummelsburg), the Research Group for Vegetation Technology and Plant Utilization conducts research on the use of plants for green infrastructure and climate adaptation.
12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. Break & Lunch Snack
12:30 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.
“LED Walkway Real-World Laboratory”
Lukas Karl Liegener, Faculty IV of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Lighting Technology, TU Berlin
Is street lighting using LED technology really more efficient than conventional lighting with high-pressure sodium lamps? Are LED streetlights more dazzling than conventional lights? What effect does a midnight dimming schedule have on the perception of objects in nighttime traffic? And what is expected of LED technology in 5 to 10 years? Answers to these and many other questions can be explored and demonstrated on the LED Catwalk in Berlin. Spanning 1,500 meters on the grounds of the German Museum of Technology, the catwalk offers visitors the opportunity to experience innovative LED lighting firsthand in a variety of ways.
12:45 – 1:00 p.m.
Bengisu Berispek, EXIST Funding Program, TU Berlin
Sustain.ALL promotes sustainability and climate education in universities and schools through art, workshops, hackathons, and yoga, and supports various groups in transforming organizations and buildings with climate adaptation measures. Over the past two years, Sustain.ALL has been a project workshop and a BUA module at TU Berlin. Now, the concept of the Collaboration Lab on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is being further developed into a
transformation hub.
1:00 – 1:30 p.m. Wrap-up and introduction to the afternoon
Part II “Walk & Talk Real-World Lab”
2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
STATION 1: “Charlottenburg Campus Transformation Space”
with the Science & Society Division and the Division of Safety Engineering and Environmental Protection, TU Berlin
ClimateHOOD_CampusPARK Charlottenburg
& “Edible Campus” Real-World Lab with Dr. Grit Bürgow, Andreas Horn
Pavilion & Knowledge Trails with Sabine Kinzel
SAI-Lab, Laboratory for Sustainable and Useful Innovations with Michael Hüllenkrämer
Green Infrastructures for the City of the Future with Dr. Anja Steglich, Dr. Thomas Nehls, Dr. Björn Kluge
STATION 2: “Plant” Real-World Laboratory, starting at 4:00 p.m.
TU Berlin Show Garden, Albrecht-Thaerweg 6
with Prof. Norbert Kühn, Daniela Corduan, Faculty VI: Planning, Construction, and Environment, Department of Vegetation Technology and Plant Use, TU Berlin
At the Dahlem site (Albrecht-Thaerweg 6), the TU Berlin Show Garden at Königin-Luise-Strasse 22, and other experimental facilities in urban areas of Berlin (the former Tegel Airport and Berlin-Rummelsburg), the Research Group for Vegetation Technology and Plant Utilization is conducting research on the use of plants for green infrastructure and climate adaptation.
STATION 3: “ClimART Real-World Lab” starting at 4:00 p.m.
with Stefan Koderisch, Center for Art & Urbanism (ZKU) Berlin
In early 2023, the Center for Art and Urbanism (ZK/U) launched the ClimART project. This three-year real-world laboratory aims to enhance urban climate resilience through artistic interventions. Non-human, human, and transhuman beings will confront their own vulnerability to climate change through interactive, data-driven installations. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry for the Environment.
We look forward to seeing you!