University of Freiburg Biologist Honored

The University of Freiburg biologist, Dr. Linnea Hesse, has received the Camillo Schneider Award ("Camillo-Schneider-Preis"). The German Dendrological Society ("Deutsche Dendrologische Gesellschaft") confers the award in recognition of outstanding work by junior scientists in dendrology. In her thesis, Hesse researched the branch-stem attachments of the dragon tree (Dracaena marginata). Based on her findings, she developed concepts for optimizing technical fiber-reinforced ramifications inspired by natural structures. The results of her work provide a future foundation for resistant, architectural supporting pillars as well as car and aircraft parts. The award is endowed with 2,500 euros.

Dr. Tom Masselter and Prof Dr. Thomas Speck of the Plant Biomechanics Group Freiburg served as advisors for the thesis entitled "Qualitative and quantitative analysis of plant branchings and their biomimetic potential using the example of Dracaena marginata." In cooperation with Dr. Jochen Leupold of the Freiburg University Medical Center and Prof. Dr. Jan Gerrit Korvink of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hesse developed new methodological approaches based on magnetic resonance tomography that can be used, among other things, to investigate the three-dimensional structure and biomechanical behavior of plant structures as they grow branches. With the aid of the new process, the researchers have demonstrated that the dragon tree's branch-stem attachments feature a tissue structure that adapts to mechanical loads. These findings may in future allow the creation of technical fiber-reinforced ramifications with fiber orientation optimized for load bearing.

More information on Hesse's research