Tune Iron!

This year's General Asesmbly of our CRC 1487 “Iron, upgraded!” took place from February 19-21, 2025 at the Hotel Siegfriedbrunnen, Grasellenbach.

In the proven format, this year's content revolved around the upcoming second funding period “Tuning Iron”. Although the first funding phase “Understanding Iron” of the Collaborative Research Center will run until mid-2026, the course for the second funding period must already be set now.

In intensive meetings of the pillars A/S, B/Ö and C on the various material classes, the common orientation of the research questions for the goal of the next funding period “Tune Iron” was discussed as well as how specific topics of the individual research areas can contribute to the overarching goals of the CRC. An important aspect here was to further strengthen the existing networks and to prepare and network new project ideas as well as possible for the second phase. In so-called “cross-research area meetings”, bridging topics between the pillars were identified and concepts were discussed that are oriented towards the CRC's overarching goals and could be checked for transferability or specificity by the other pillars. Ideas on overarching cross-cutting topics such as research data management, the promotion of scientists in early career stages and the promotion of equality, diversity and family-friendliness in the second funding period were collected.

The evening program offered further space for networking. At a “fireside evening”, early-career researchers were able to ask professors questions about their academic careers in an informal setting. Networking also took place over delicious food and at the cozy bar.