Academic Quarter

On Wednesdays for three quarters of an hour

The lunchtime talks, taking place in loose intervals each semester, offer the opportunity to receive insights into the latest research areas from university colleagues in an informal atmosphere. Questions of research policy can also be addressed.

Dates for the academic quarter for the winter semester 2026/27

You can already look forward to these lunchtime talks with the FiF in the winter semester 2025/26, which will provide insights into current research areas and science policy topics.

These events take place in an informal setting and promote interdisciplinary exchange within the university.

Dates :

  • 4th November 2026 with Prof.'in Dr. Sandra Meireis – Department of Architecture; Theory and Science of Architecture
  • 9th December 2026 with Prof. Dr. Alexander Friedrich– Department of Philosophy; ERC Synergy Grants
  • 20th January 2027 with apl. Prof. Dr. rer. nat. habil. Simon Poppinga – Biology Department; Scientific Director of the Botanical Garden
  • Additional Date
    25th November 2026 Presentation of the IANUS Prize for outstanding academic theses in the field of scientific-technical peace and conflict research
    5:00 p.m.; Science and Technology for Peace and Security (PEASEC), Pankratiusstraße 2, D-64289 Darmstadt

Link for the Zoom Meeting

Meeting-ID 674 8630 3785

Code 002702

Why do we still need architectural theory in the midst of the polycrisis?

Since its institutionalisation within academia in the 1960s, the scope of architectural theory has steadily expanded. Whilst the initial focus was on the production and reception of architecture, today the emphasis is on broader societal and spatial contexts. To understand our existence in the 21st century, architectural theory questions established subjects, perspectives and narratives: digitalisation, capitalism, climate change and neo-colonialism are intricately intertwined within the built environment. Can a single discipline rise to this challenge – and, if so, how?

The thermal vicious circle: What is cooling equity?

Modern societies rely on massive consumption of artificial cooling. Paradoxically, cooling technology contributes significantly to the warming of our environment through greenhouse gases and urban waste heat. Cooling means heating: a thermal vicious circle – one that is not only thermodynamic but also thermopolitical in nature. As temperatures rise, access to cooling is becoming less a matter of comfort and more a matter of survival – and it is distributed extremely unevenly. However, if more cooling technology is not the solution but part of the problem, this raises the climate-ethical and thermopolitical question of a just way out of the vicious circle.

Understanding nature – rethinking technology?

Sticking hinges, high energy consumption, cumbersome mechanics: many technical systems work – but not particularly elegantly or sustainably. Nature shows that there is another way. Plants and animals move, steer, cling and protect themselves with astonishing efficiency – entirely without motors, rigid joints or complex control systems. How does a Venus flytrap snap shut in a fraction of a second? How does a pine cone use changes in humidity to release its seeds without expending metabolic energy? What makes the opening of a flower so smooth? And what can we learn from leeches for the development of industrial gripping systems? In this talk, we’ll delve into the fascinating world of biomechanics, functional morphology and bionics. We’ll show how, at the Botanical Garden of TU Darmstadt, we’re unravelling the mechanical principles of plants and animals – and how this is giving rise to new, sustainable technologies: from self-adjusting soft robots to adaptable, energy-saving architectural façades. Join us on a journey of discovery at the interface between biology and technology, and see how ingenious solutions from nature open up new perspectives!

Sorted by semester and surname

The Academic Quarter sorted by semester

round 27 | SoSe 2026

round 26 | WiSe 2025/2026

round 25 | SoSe 2025

round 24 | WiSe 2024/2025

round 23 | SoSe 2024

round 22 | WiSe 2023/2024

round 21 | SoSe 2023

round 20 | WiSe 2022/2023

round 19 | SoSe 2022

round 18 | WiSe 2021/2022

round 17 | SoSe 2021

round 16 | WiSe 2020/2021

round 15 | WiSe 2019/2020

round 14 | SoSe 2019

round 13 | WiSe 2018/19

round 12 | SoSe 2018

round 11 | WiSe 2017/18

round 10 | SoSe 2017

round 9 | WiSe 2016/2017

round 8 | SoSe 2016

round 7 | WiSe 2015/2016

round 6 | SoSe 2015

round 5 | WiSe 2014/15

round 4 | SoSe 2014

round 3 | WiSe 2013/2014

round 2 | SoSe 2013

round 1 | WiSe 2012/2013

The Academic Quarter celebrated its 10th birthday in 2022!

This event format was started in 2012 as an IANUS contribution by Alfred Nordmann; FiF has taken over the lead in 2019. For the celebration, Alfred Nordmann himself presented as a speaker.