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Change and further development: The transition of the Research Department “Plasmas with Complex Interactions” to the Plasma Science Hub
In 2009, the Research Department Plasmas with Complex Interactions (RDPCI) was established with a clear mission: to intensify the networking of plasma related research groups on RUB campus. Over the past decade, RDPCI has been at the forefront of plasma research, making significant contributions to both fundamental science and practical applications.
As we approach the end of 2025, we mark the close of this esteemed research department. However, this is not an end, but a transformation. The knowledge, expertise, and innovation that have been built up within the RDPCI will live on and evolve into a new initiative: the Plasma Science Hub.
The Plasma Science Hub: A New Era
The Plasma Science Hub is designed to build upon the strong foundation laid by RDPCI. It will serve as a dynamic platform for interdisciplinary collaboration, fostering advancements in plasma science and technology. The Hub will focus on:
- Cutting-edge Research: Continuing to push the boundaries of plasma physics, with a particular emphasis on complex interactions and novel applications.
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Bringing together experts from diverse fields to tackle complex challenges and explore new opportunities.
- Innovation and Impact: Translating research findings into real-world solutions, benefiting industry, society, and the environment.
- Education and Outreach: Inspiring and training the next generation of plasma scientists, and engaging with the public to share the excitement and importance of plasma research.
A Heartfelt Thank You
We would like to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who has been part of the RDPCI journey. To our dedicated researchers, students, and staff, your hard work, creativity, and passion have made this department a beacon of excellence in plasma science. To our collaborators and partners, your support and cooperation have been invaluable. To our funders, your commitment to advancing plasma research has enabled us to achieve so much.
Looking Ahead
While we bid farewell to RDPCI, we eagerly anticipate the future of the Plasma Science Hub. We invite you to join us on this exciting new chapter, as we continue to explore, innovate, and make a difference in the world of plasma science.
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5th Workshop on FAIR Data in Plasma Science (FDPS-V)
We are pleased to announce the 5th Workshop on FAIR Data in Plasma Science (FDPS-V), which will take place on 11–12 May 2026 at Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB), Germany. Virtual participation will also be available. The workshop continues the annual series of events on research data management within the low-temperature plasma (LTP) community. Its goal is to present current developments and to strengthen community exchange on this topic.
FDPS-V will provide an overview of successful solutions for collaborative research data management aimed at making data findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR), thereby fostering broader use of data-driven research methods. The program will cover best practices for everyday research activities as well as infrastructure tools for research data handling. Successful examples from plasma research groups and collaborative research centers will be presented. In addition, future developments and standardization efforts for data sharing and reporting within the LTP community will be discussed.
The workshop will be held as a hybrid event, and participation is free of charge. Please save the date and register via the link provided on the workshop website.
Attendance in person at INP is limited, so early registration is encouraged. The application form will be closed on 3th May, 2025.
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Project week during the autumn holidays
During the autumn holidays, highschool students in classes 8 and 9 enjoyed an eventful week full of physics, experiments and research at the Alfried Krupp Schülerlabor at the Ruhr University Bochum. In the workshop ‘From Plasma to Gold Coating,’ the students discovered the exciting characteristics of luminous gases and their numerous applications, such as in surface coating. They visited laboratories, observed researchers at work and learned that plasmas can also be ignited in liquids. In Prof. Scherer's lecture ‘From Diamonds, Pencil Tips and Symmetries,’ they learned how to (theoretically) turn a pencil tip into a diamond. Other highlights included a visit to the planetarium, meals together in the mensa and a physics duel followed by pizza. We would like to thank all participants for their curiosity and fascination for physics and are already looking forward to the next project week!
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International School on Low Temperature Plasma Physics
In the beginning of October, chosen Master and PhD students within the field of plasma physics, engineering and chemistry had the chance to get in contact with leading experts and lecturers. During the International School on Low Temperature Plasma Physics and the subsequent Master Class on Smart organic coatings by plasmas, fundamentals of plasmas and cutting-edge reserach has been discussed in lectures and during a poster session. Hands-on experience was obtained during three workshops lead by reknown professors from France and Portugal.
Since 28 years, the plasma school is organized by leading experts in the field of plasma physics. This year, the international chair was located at University of Mons in Belgium, while the local organizing team was located at Ruhr University in Bochum. The plasma school has also been funded by the CRC 1316 and the Research Department "Plasmas with Complex Interactions".
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Several contributions on the International Conference on Phenomena in Ionized Gases (ICPIG)
In July, the scientific work of the CRC 1316 has been presented in four talks and several posters in Aix en Provence during the ICPIG conference. At this conference, various fields within plasma physics are joined: Modelling and experiments, from fundamental research to applications. CRC Members from the physics, chemistry and engineering department contributed to the fruitful scientific exchange. One highlight was an excursion to the ITER site; the large research reactor for fusion, currently being built in Cadarache.
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Plasma experiments with the mouse
On 3th October, we celebrated the nationwide Mouse Day.
The Faculty of Physics at Ruhr-University Bochum invited children to discover the exciting world of physics and try their hand at lots of experiments.
In our workshop, the children were able to explore the glow of plasma and its applications. As a souvenir, the Mouse fans coated small ducks with gold using plasma.
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Lab visit in Brazil
From Bochum to Brazil! Sarah Thiel set off on her journey and spent an exciting exchange semester at the Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar) in Brazil. Sarah is studying for a master's degree in biology at the RUB and is conducting research on enzyme immobilization in a project run by SFB1316. In Brazil, she continued working on her research project and learned new methods. But outside of research, Sarah also learned what it's like to live alone in a completely foreign country – with a new language, new people, and a completely different culture. In addition to new friendships, she brings back great impressions of everyday life in Brazil and unique experiences.
The stay took place as part of the Research School's Visiting International Professor Program, which is made possible by a cooperation between RUB and UFSCar. The research stay was funded by SFB1316.
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CRC annual meeting in Hamminkeln
Building on the success of last year, this year’s general assembly of CRC 1316 once again took place in Hamminkeln-Dingden.
Over the course of three days, the CRC 1316 members discussed recent results and especially focussed on the upcoming scientific work.
The overwhelmingly positive feedback highlights the importance of this annual gathering in fostering scientific dialogue and advancing collaborative research.
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Announcement for the 4th Workshop on FAIR Data in Plasma Science
We are happy to announce the 4th Workshop on FAIR Data in Plasma Science (FDPS-IV), which will take place online and in-person on
12-13 May, 2025 at the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) in Greifswald, Germany.
This workshop is intended to provide an overview of successful solutions for collaborative research data management with the goal to make data findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable (FAIR). It is a continuation of annual events on research data management in the low-temperature plasma (LTP) community in the past years. Open for everyone, the FDPS-IV workshop provides insights into best practice in day-to-day research work as well as infrastructure tools for handling of research data. To even broaden the discussion on future applications, a poster session will be held in-person.
Call for poster contributions
Researchers, data managers, and practitioners are invited to contribute to the discussion with a poster on their solutions on research data management. Submissions that highlight real-world experiences, best practices, and insights related to the integration of FAIR principles into research workflows are encouraged.
Registration
The workshop will be held as a hybrid meeting and participation is free of charge. Please save the date and register by following the registration link on the workshop website: https://www.plasma-mds.org/ws-fair-data-plasma-science-4.html.
Poster contributions must be submitted during the registration process. Please note that the attendance in person at INP and the number of poster spaces is limited, so early registration is encouraged to secure your spot (max. DIN A0, portrait format).
The registration will be closed on 4th May, 2025.
Contact
The workshop organization is part of the activities of the working group Experimental Plasma Physics at the Kiel University (CAU), the INF project of the CRC 1316 at the Ruhr-University Bochum (RUB) and of the department Plasma Modelling and Data Science at Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP).
Dr. Markus Becker
Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP)
Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2
17489 Greifswald
Germany
E-mail:
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The student's project week during the fall vacations
The project week at the Ruhr University Bochum took place again this autumn break. Students could choose from three workshops. In the workshop 'From Plasma to Gold Layer', they learned exciting facts about the properties and diverse applications of plasmas. The students used the sputter coater to create thin layers of gold and examined the coatings. They investigated the best way to deposit the layers and presented their research in a poster session. The project week also provided an opportunity to learn about the working environment of scientists and current research projects and to get a taste of university life.
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Luminous plasmas were ignited at MINTsight.BOchum
On 18th February the MINTsight.BOchum, a study orientation day took place. High school students attended a lecture, were guided through laboratories, and could participate in exciting workshops. In our plasma workshop, students gained hands-on experience with these fascinating gases and gained insight into studying electrical engineering and physics, as well as plasma research at the Ruhr University Bochum.