4th International Network Meeting of EUSMAT – 2024/25
With the support of the DAAD the activities included a virtual lecture series (October-November 2024) as well as a one-week meeting in presence (June 2025).
Meeting in presence in Saarbrücken – June 2025
The meeting took place from June 23rd to 28th, 2025 at the Saarland University. a total of around 45 people participated in the different activities during the whole events. With the support of the DAAD, from the international group a total of 27 international former students from various international EUSMAT programs came from all over the world to take part in the 4th International Alumni Network Meeting of the European School of Materials (EUSMAT) at Saarland University. The thematic focus of the meeting was Circular Materials and Sustainability, as well as Diversity Management. The activities during the week included various expert panels on circular materials and digitalization, as well as practical workshops on diversity and life cycle modeling. It was a great opportunity not only to further their education and network with a global community, but also to reconnect and learn more about everyone’s career and life paths after graduation.
The Alumni Meetings are an important building block of EUSMAT’s lifelong learning strategy and contributes to the ongoing dialogue with former students and researchers. Additionally, we want to contribute to their professional and interdisciplinary qualification. Thus, selected workshops conducted by recognized experts were offered.
Alumni Meeting – Presentations of Alumni:
Each participant introduced him/herself, reporting about his/her studies in Germany or in the EUSMAT programmes, career path and current activities.
Expert panel with discussion – Circular materials and the role of digitalization:
Renowned German and international experts presented various aspects of this multidisciplinary topic through keynote presentations and engage in discussions with the audience.
“Circular Economy through the lens of sustainability management: what we know and don’t know”
– Prof. Dr. Katharina Spraul, Professorin für Betriebswirtschaftslehre, insbesondere Sustainability Management, RPTU, Kaiserlautern
“Smart sorting metal scraps into dozens of bins: a challenge for robots and AI“
– Prof. Dr. Eric Pirard, Géoressources, Minéralurgie & Métallurgie Extractive, University of Liege, Belgien
“Materials as a service? On the development of sustainable product-service systems”
– Prof. Dr. Christian Köhler, Professor für Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen, HTW Saar, Saarbrücken
“Innovative Engineering Strategies for Enhancing Polymer Sustainability”
– Prof. Dr. Valeria Pettarin, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Manufacturing engineering and mechanical properties of plastic parts, Argentinien
Prof. Michael Vielhaber, Professur für Konstruktionstechnik, Universität des Saarlandes, Saarbrücken
“Eco-Design and Safe and Sustainable by Design”
– Prof. Dr. Gesa Beck, Professorin für Umweltverfahrenstechnik, Direktorin des Instituts für Angewandte Ressourcenstrategien (IARS), SRH Berlin University of Applied Sciences, Berlin
Workshop on Diversity Management
Dr. Claudia Heß (EUSMAT): The workshop focuses on Diversity (Management), a topic that has become increasingly important in both academia and industry. With the rise of globalization and the growing skills shortage in many European countries, it is essential for organizations to integrate diversity into their strategies and promote societal awareness of inclusion. Companies and universities are already implementing concepts that focus on equal opportunities. In the future, effective diversity management will distinguish organizations that can harness their full potential from those hindered by the challenges diversity can bring. The workshop will start with a theoretical introduction to diversity, exploring its meaning, various forms, and relevance for organizations like universities and companies. The participants will refelct on identities, biases, and privileges in order to understand the key success factors of a good diversity management.
Sustainability and Life Cycle Modelling Training Workshop
Prof. Gesa Beck and Caitlin Walls: The workshops will cover methods of sustainability studies, focusing on ecological, economic, and social impact assessments. Tools for sustainability analysis, including sensitivity and uncertainty analyses, will be demonstrated. The topic of economic evaluation will be explored in detail using case studies. Participants will assess the economic feasibility of processes and products using Material Flow Cost Accounting (MFCA). MFCA is a tool for optimizing resource efficiency and effectively reducing operational costs. It is used to facilitate economically sustainable decisions for industrial processes and production.
Visits to Research Institut
Visits to the Leibniz Institut für Neue Materialien (INM) and Helmholtz-Institut für Pharmazeutische Forschung Saarland (HIPS) were offered to participants to learn about the current activities of each institution.
Excursion to companies of the region
Excursions to thee companies of the region were organized together with the DGM-Younster forum.
Dillinger-Hütte, Dillingen: Dillinger Hütte is one of the most traditional steel companies in Europe and is today a leader in the production of heavy plate for demanding applications. Whether wind turbines, bridges or industrial plants – steel from Dillinger is in demand worldwide. At the same time, the company is pressing ahead with its transformation towards climate-neutral production. The visit offers exciting insights into modern steel production, technological innovations and the path to greater sustainability in the industry.
Purem by Eberspächer, Saarbrücken: As a specialist in exhaust gas purification and acoustic systems, clean and quiet mobility is our goal. The innovative products from Purem by Eberspaecher improve air quality and sustainably reduce traffic noise. Our lightweight designs contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions. As a leading global player, we offer solutions for all major car and commercial vehicle manufacturers. In this way, we help to comply with the applicable limits for emissions and acoustics.
Fresenius, Sankt Wendeln: Fresenius Medical Care develops and produces high-tech products for dialysis in St. Wendel, including dialyzers and materials for peritoneal dialysis. A particular focus is on materials development: the polysulfone membrane, for example, was established here and is considered the medical standard worldwide – a clear example of the close connection between medical technology and materials science.
Excursion to Trier (old German city)
To finish the wonderful week, EUSMAT organized a nice excursion day to Trier, an ancient city founded by the Romans located in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, within the Moselle wine region. The participants got to walk around the beautiful city and had a farewell-lunch together.
Virtual lecture series “Sustainable Technology and Circular Economy” (Webinars)
A virtual lecture series took place in October and November 2024 to create a space for discussion. Knowledge and experiences related to the implementation of sustainability practices in different countries will be shared to promote innovative and entrepreneurial activities that could have a positive impact locally or globally.
The main interest was to compare practices and regulations of sustainability practices implemented in developed countries (e.g. EU countries) and in less economically developed countries (e.g. Latin American countries).
The participation was open to everybody and free of charge. The videos are now available online on our YouTube channel.
Webinar 1: Implementation of a Circular Economy System: Policies, Challenges, and Opportunities.
To watch the webinar on YouTube, click here: https://youtu.be/zIAJcbmxa8I
Thursday, October 17th, 2024
From 15:00 – 17:00 hs (CET)
A Circular Economy (CE) system prioritizes sustainability and environmental stewardship, representing a transformative approach to economic development. In a CE system, resources are used for as long as possible, with the objective of recovering and regenerating products and materials at the end of their service life. This regenerative system is designed to benefit businesses, society, and the environment by reducing waste, lowering resource consumption, and minimizing ecological impact.
The effective implementation of the circular economy requires the establishment of comprehensive and well-designed political and regulatory frameworks that facilitate the implementation of sustainable practices in the domain of production, consumption and waste management. In conclusion, the transition to a circular economy represents a multifaceted challenge that requires the coordinated efforts across policy, science, and society. By implementing robust policies and leveraging scientific advancements, we can move towards a sustainable future where economic growth is decoupled from environmental degradation, ensuring the well-being of both current and future generations.
Speakers
Agustina Guitar and Flavio Soldera, both from Saarland University and organisators of the event, will present an introduction to the topic and present the different initiatives going on at University and further research centers in Saarbrücken, in particular the Project CIRKLA – UniGR Center for Circular Economy of Materials & Metals.
Circular Economy: Your Passport to Embark on the Journey towards Sustainability
Josefina Cura
EIG Engineering Consulting; Mar del Plata, Argentina / Miami, USA
Josefina Cura is a Materials Engineer and holds a Master’s degree in Circular Economy and Environmental Management in Businesses. She also has training in Carbon Footprint Calculation, Water Footprint, Occupational Safety and Health, and Environmental Engineering, among others. She is an expert in Sustainability and Circular Economy, with a solid track record in consulting and advising various industries. As the Director of the Sustainability and Circular Economy area at EIG ENGINEERING CONSULTING, she has led innovative projects in Argentina, focusing on process improvement that positively impacts both the environment and the occupational safety and health of individuals. Josefina understands that organizations must ensure optimal conditions in these areas to achieve sustainability. Currently, she is expanding the consultancy into new markets in the United States, aiming to inspire students and professionals to embark on the journey towards a more sustainable future.
ABSTRACT
In an era where sustainability is not just a choice but a necessity, the circular economy emerges as a transformative approach that invites organizations of all sizes and sectors to rethink their operations. This presentation will explore how the circular economy serves as a passport for businesses, providing the tools and strategies needed to reduce waste, enhance resource efficiency, and foster innovation.
Drawing on examples from Argentina and Florida, we will illustrate practical applications of circular principles that can be implemented by any organization, regardless of its scale or industry. We will also discuss the importance of supportive regulatory frameworks and financial incentives that empower businesses to embrace sustainable practices.
Join us to discover how the circular economy not only addresses environmental challenges but also creates new opportunities for growth and resilience. Together, we can embark on this essential journey towards a sustainable future.
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Regulatory and practical considerations for a transition to a circular economy
Melanie Kuhn
Anthesis, Boston, USA
Melanie Kuhn leads the greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting service line North America at the sustainability consulting firm Anthesis where she supports clients across various sectors and industries on their decarbonization strategies. She is currently based in Boston, MA.
Melanie is an alumna of the Materials Science and Engineering program at Saarland University and Ecole d’Ingenieurs en Genie des Materiaux (EEIGM). She pursued her Ph.D. at Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal, Canada, developing 3D-printed high temperature fuel cells. She then studied the physical-chemical properties of materials for use in fuel cells, first as a post-doctoral researcher at Tohoku University, Japan, and then at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Boston, USA. She has 29 peer-reviewed publications with over 1000 citations, and is a co-author in “Fuel Cell Science and Engineering” (Wiley‐VCH Verlag & Co, 2012).
Following her academic research, Melanie worked close to 10 years for the multi-national, technical materials manufacturing company Saint-Gobain in various business units and global roles. She holds several patents for the development of new material and seal design solutions. She was head of R&D for Saint-Gobain’s Omniseal business, leading a global team of engineers and managing a global IP and product development portfolio for high-performance sealing technologies. She also spearheaded a newly created hydrogen technology platform with the goal to enable the hydrogen economy through reliable and safe sealing solutions.
Melanie became increasingly interested in ESG topics, starting the build out of product carbon footprint and life cycle assessment (LCA) capabilities, fostering an ecoinnovation mindset and quantifying GHG emissions for the business. She then became global head of sustainability for the Performance Ceramics and Refractories business at Saint-Gobain, leading the corporate sustainability efforts, strategy and reporting. She drove the circular economy program involving a recycling project portfolio across all manufacturing sites globally, identifying secondary raw material sourcing options and developing end-of-life and circular economy solutions.
Melanie then pursued her career in corporate sustainability consulting, first at Guidehouse and now at Anthesis, focusing on corporate and product level GHG emission accounting, climate targets and abatement strategies. She has worked with clients from both the private and public sector and across various industries. She was a subject matter expert and lead instructor for Supplier LOCT, a supply chain focused climate school and climate action collaborative. She also worked as part of Macquarie Asset Management’s net zero team, a global private equity firm, to support infrastructure portfolio companies on their net zero transition. She co-authored thought leadership on new disclosure requirements for corporations related to resource use and circular economy.
Webinar 2: Energy Transition: Challenges towards the implementation of renewable energies for industrial decarbonization
To watch the webinar on YouTube, click here: https://youtu.be/TmPq0iLvDYI
Tuesday, November 5th, 2024
From 14:00 – 16:00 hs (CET)
The global energy transition marks a pivotal shift from fossil fuel dependency to renewable and sustainable energy sources. This transition is driven by the urgent need to combat climate change, accelerate decarbonization, and achieve energy security. The implementation and production of electricity from solar, wind and hydrogen (H2) sources come with unique challenges that need to be addressed to ensure a smooth and effective transition.
While solar energy is abundant, its production is intermittent and requires large amounts of land. The development of advanced storage technologies can reduce intermittency and increase the reliability of solar power. Similar to solar, wind energy faces challenges related to supply chain and material constraints. Wind turbine manufacturing relies on materials such as steel, copper and rare earth elements, which can pose risks to scaling up. Ensuring a sustainable and resilient supply chain is critical to the continued growth of both the solar and wind energy sectors. Another link in the chain is the production and transport of green H2, not only as a means of storing and transporting energy, but also for industrial use, such as in the steel industry.
Strategies for ensuring circularity, i.e., reuse and recycling of components and materials from solar panels and wind turbines, should play a vital role in order to minimise environmental impact and ensure the sustainability of renewable energy systems.
Speakers
Deployment of solar energy in Argentina / Recycling Traditional Photovoltaic Modules / Perovskite photovoltaics and circular economy
Kurt Taretto
Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Neuquén, Argentina
Kurt R. Taretto was born in Buenos Aires (Argentina) in 1974. He obtained Electrical Engineer degree from the University of Comahue in 1998 and went on to specialize in solar cells at the Institut für Physikalische Elektronik, University Stuttgart (Germany), where he earned a PhD in Electrical Engineering in 2003. After completing his studies, Dr. Taretto worked as a post-doc scientist at SONY Materials Science Lab in Stuttgart, focusing on dye-sensitized solar cell modeling. Dr. Taretto then embarked on an academic career in Argentina, where he achieved the position of full tenure professor in 2011. He established the Photovoltaics Characterization Laboratory at Comahue University, with a specific focus on modeling and characterization of thin film solar cells. His research interests encompass various areas, including the impact of grain boundaries on solar cell output, fundamental efficiency limits, analytical physical models for thin-film solar cells (including graded bandgap and tandem devices), and imaging techniques applied to transient characterization of perovskite solar cells. Throughout his career, Dr. Taretto has authored over 37 journal articles, as well as two books and book chapters. He maintains close collaboration activities, involving continuous scientific exchange activities with groups from Dresden, Jülich, and Freiburg in Germany.
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Synfuels production and their contribution to the global energy transition
Alejandro Gesino
Enertrag SE, Gut Dauerthal, Germany
Alejandro Gesino was born in Mar del Plata (Argentina) in 1977. Graduated as Informatics Engineer in 2005 and since 2010, holding a PhD degree “Magna Cum Laude” at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Kassel, Germany, in the field of power reserve provision with wind farms.
Having lived in Germany for more than 11 years, Dr. Gesino has more than 28 years of senior experience in key sectors related with the energy transition, as renewable energy generation and grid integration, energy storage, green H2 derivatives production and electricity grids (transmission and distribution). Alejandro is also active in the field of education in Germany and Argentina, currently supervising several graduate and postgraduate thesis.
Mr. Gesino is currently responsible for Business Development and PtX projects management for the German company ENERTRAG being responsible for projects focused in the Caribbean and Latin America region, managing large complex projects applying functional, business, and technical knowledge to deliver the best project configuration.
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Disruptive changes: what the energy transition means for the steel industry
Nils Harste
Stahl Holding Saar, Dillingen/Saar, Germany
Nils Harste was born in Saarbrücken in 1990. He studied materials science and -engineering at Saarland University, specializing in steel. He completed his degree in the field of AI-supported quantitative microstructural analysis of steel.
After his studies, Mr. Harste worked for 6 years for an international company in Munich in the field of mechanical engineering and testing technology, where he built up the steel division. He then returned to his home state, Saarland, and managed the sales department of a start-up before returning to his passion, the steel sector.
Mr. Harste is currently responsible for energy procurement and the energy strategy for the transformation of SHS – Stahl-Holding-Saar, the management holding company of AG der Dillinger Hüttenwerke and Saarstahl AG.
Webinar 3: Embracing Circularity: Sustainable Design, Circular Materials, and Recycling Innovations
To watch the webinar on YouTube, click here: https://youtu.be/4GqIigJrnw4
Thursday, November 28th, 2024
From 15:00 – 17:00 hs (CET)
The circular economy model emphasises the efficient use of resources, waste minimisation and sustainability. It forms a regenerative system in which products and materials are continuously reused, repaired and recycled to minimise environmental impact.
Integrating these principles into the design process is known as circular design. This approach considers the entire life cycle of a product or material. The aim is to create durable, easily repairable and fully recyclable products that are not only functional and aesthetically pleasing, but also environmentally friendly and resource efficient. By prioritising circular design principles, manufacturers reduce the demand for virgin resources, cut greenhouse gas emissions and reduce waste generation, thereby promoting a more sustainable and resilient economy.
Although circular design encompasses a variety of factors, material recycling plays a key role within the circular economy framework. It facilitates the recovery and reuse of materials from end-of-life products. The effectiveness of recycling systems depends on the implementation of effective collection, sorting and processing procedures for recyclable materials. These procedures must ensure that the materials in question are reintroduced into the production cycle and not sent to landfill.
Speakers
Unlocking the potential of aluminium recycling for circularity; an industrial R&D perspective
Alicia Vallejo Olivares
Norsk Hydro, Sunndalsøra, Norway
Alicia Vallejo Olivares works as a Research Scientist for the aluminium producer Norsk Hydro. She has a passion for the sustainable production and recycling of materials, which led her to pursue a PhD in aluminium recycling at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (2020-2023). During this period, she lectured on “Materials and Sustainable Development” and researched within the project Alpakka: Aluminium packaging circularity in Norway.
In 2019, she developed educational resources and provided technical support for the users of Granta Edupack, a software for materials selection and sustainability, for Granta Design/ANSYS, UK.
She graduated from the EUSMAT-coordinated AMASE (Advanced Materials Science and Engineering) Erasmus Mundus master program in 2018, obtaining a double degree from Luleå Technical University (Sweden) and University of Lorraine (France). She also participated in the Summer Program for Capstone Design at KoreaTech University (South Korea), supported by an EUSMAT-scholarship.
Alicia comes originally from Madrid, where she took a bachelor’s on Materials Engineering at the Technical University of Madrid (UPM) and carried out internship and bachelor projects at the Research Institute of Glass and Ceramics (ICV, CSIC).
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Recycling of mine wastes as raw materials in the construction sector: towards a smart circular economy
Rachid Hakkou
Université Cadi Ayyad, Marrakech, Morocco
Professor Rachid Hakkou holds a post-graduate diploma (DESS) in Subsoil Resource Development from the Nancy School of Geology in France. In 1993, he earned a doctorate in Geosciences and Raw Materials from the Institut National Polytechnique de Lorraine and in 2001 a PhD in Waste Management and Treatment from Cadi Ayyad University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Marrakech. He is a Professor of Higher Education at Cadi Ayyad University, where he is responsible for the “Mining Environment” module in the Earth Sciences Department and the “Industrial Chemistry” module in the Chemical Sciences Department. Since 2006, he has also been an Associate Professor at the Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (Canada).
Prof. Hakkou’s research focuses on the valorization of mine wastes as alternative aggregates for construction materials and on methods for rehabilitating mine sites. He serves on the editorial board and represents Africa in the international journal “Mine Water and the Environment” (Springer). From 2009 to 2018, he led the UCA project: International Development Research Centre (IDRC, Canada) Research Chair in “Management and Stabilization of Industrial and Mining Waste”. He has delivered numerous lectures and seminars on these topics and has published over 140 articles in international journals, boasting an h-index of 32. He has supervised 25 doctoral theses defended between 2009 and 2024.
Currently, Prof. Hakkou is involved in several funded projects from 2022 to 2026, including the APRD project on the durability of concrete and bricks from phosphate mine tailings, the RCLIB project on recycling cathodes from spent rechargeable Li batteries, and the development of advanced self-repairing materials for road maintenance. He also works on the densification of mine tailings for water recovery and previously coordinated the APPHOS project on phosphate mining waste valorization.
In 2016, he received the Hassan II Prize for the Environment in the field of scientific and technical research for his project “Mine Waste Management for Sustainable Mining Development in Morocco”. In 2020, he was awarded the David Hopper Award for Leadership in Research for Development by IDRC, Canada. In 2024, he received the Erasmus Mundus Impact Award during the 20th-anniversary celebration of the “Erasmus Mundus” action of excellence, presented by the EU Ambassador in Morocco for his active involvement in the AMASE Master program.
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Sustainable Materials by Design for the Green and Digital Transitions
Alexandre Nomine
Institut Jean Lamour, UMR CNRS-UL 7198, 54011 Nancy, France
LORIA UMR CNRS-UL- INRIA 7503, 54506 Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy
Gaseous Electronics, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova cesta 39, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Dr. Alexandre Nominé, an associate professor at the University of Lorraine and head of the School of Mines international office, leads EU-funded projects linking research and education. He heads the HERawS project focusing on raw materials sustainability for green and digital transitions, winning the “Best Business Idea” award from SusCritMat (EIT Raw Materials). His research integrates AI into non-equilibrium nanoparticle synthesis for sustainable materials. Dr. Nominé oversees the GREENANO European Master program in sustainable nanotechnologies. He received the PSE Early Career Award in 2020 and Early-Career Scientist medal of the French Society of Metallurgy and Materials. He has authored 45+ articles with 1500+ citations since 2014.
Support
The event is supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the Erasmus Mundus programme of the European Commission (EMJMD AMASE), the Interreg Großregion 2021-2027 (Project UniGR-CIRKLA) and the German French University (DFH), providing full funding for Alumni.
