Topic: From Biomineralization to Bio-Inspired Design Principles, Multiscale Characterization of Biological and Synthetic Materials

Lecturer: Prof. Wolfgang Wagermaier, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces

Time: March 6, 2026, 10:00-11:30, UTC+8

Venue: Lecture Hall 201, West Campus Library, School of Materials Science and Engineering

Biography: Dr. Wolfgang Wagermaier is a materials scientist and guest scientist at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces in Potsdam, Germany, where he previously led the research group “Hierarchical Structure of Biological and Bio-inspired Materials” for more than ten years. He studied Materials Science at the University of Leoben, Austria, and received his PhD on synchrotron X-ray diffraction studies of bone structure and deformation. His research focuses on multiscale characterization and structure-function relationships in biomineralized, bio-inspired and complex synthetic materials. He is also founder and CEO of a science-based company for advanced materials characterization.

Abstract: Biological materials provide powerful models for understanding how hierarchical architecture, adaptive responses and multifunctionality generate robust performance across length scales. This presentation discusses structure-function relationships in biomineralized tissues such as bone, where mineralization, transport pathways and local interfaces govern mechanical behavior. Advanced characterization methods, including synchrotron X-ray scattering, microscopy and in-operando approaches, reveal how dynamic structural changes can be linked to materials function. These concepts are then extended to broader bio-inspired design principles and to the question of how insights from natural systems can contribute to more sustainable materials concepts. The presentation concludes with the perspective that advanced characterization can also enable translational pathways, including science-based service models at the interface of research, infrastructure and application.

Rewritten by: Li Huihui

Edited by: Li Tiantian

Source: School of Materials Science and Engineering