Discover sustainability

What does the future look like? A question that occupies many people. But while some only speculate about it, the Department of Mechanical and Plastics Engineering is working on solutions for tomorrow. Our vision? To be the leading institution for students and research partners in the field of sustainable methods and technical solutions. And we are already well on our way. All professors in the department are actively committed to sustainable development in teaching and research. They will not only maintain what has already been achieved, but also build on it. This is why the department is also actively involved in Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences' sustainability strategy.

But what does this look like in concrete terms? The topic of sustainability is already presented in many courses. These include, for example, recycling, eco-design in product development, life cycle assessment and plastics based on renewable raw materials. The comprehensive module on the development of sustainable technical systems, which is integrated into all degree courses, is particularly exciting. Here, students can develop sustainable solutions in project work and thus actively contribute to progress. Sustainability is also the focus of research projects. Whether optimizing the combustion of modern fuels such as methane, increasing the proportion of renewable raw materials in plastics by incorporating natural fibers or the use of bioplastics - the research results often flow directly into teaching.

Are you ready for a true revolution in science? Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences is the first institution in Germany to lead the way with its Doctoral Center for Sustainability Sciences! Here, the doctoral degree in this subject area (Dr. rer. Sust.) is awarded and the university is thus putting itself in the spotlight as a pioneer. What makes this center so unique? Six of the thirty-two professors in the Department of Mechanical and Plastics Engineering form the backbone of the center, making up a third of the professorial members. This is an impressive sign of the outstanding research performance and the strong anchoring of sustainability in this department.

The Department of Mechanical and Plastics Engineering is bursting with energy. We will actively shape the future and show that sustainability is not just a trend, but a necessity for a future worth living.