News
Students at the IPF: First-Hand Experiences and Insights into Research and Innovation
This week, the IPF had the pleasure of welcoming five high school students as part of the MINT-EC camp “Materials in the Cycle: Ecologically and Economically Sustainable”, organized in cooperation with TU Dresden. The camp offered a unique opportunity for students to step inside a real research environment and gain authentic insights into the world of innovation.
During their visit, the students explored a variety of fascinating activities. They conducted mechanical testing of plastics through tensile and impact bending experiments, thermoformed PET into boxes, and carried out crash tests captured with high-speed cameras. They visited the Digital Materials Factory to observe cutting-edge processes, examined micro-scale structures with a scanning electron microscope, experimented with droplets on hydrophobic surfaces, and discovered the stitching lab, where parts are produced using the Tailored Fiber Placement (TFP) process.
Throughout the program, the students impressed the IPF team with their curiosity, knowledge, and enthusiasm. Their engagement reflects the core purpose of the initiative: to inspire young talents and plant seeds for future careers in STEM.
The camp is part of MINT-EC, the national excellence network for schools with outstanding STEM profiles. It aims to encourage students to pursue STEM studies and careers, build cooperation networks between schools, universities, research institutions, and companies, and provide hands-on experiences in real research environments — precisely what this week’s program delivered.
26.09.2025