Quench your thirst for knowledge while enjoying a relaxed drink – that’s what the Science Pub is all about. In an informal atmosphere, leading researchers serve science in a refreshingly accessible way: entertaining, understandable, and full of “aha” moments.

A little more than 100 years ago, flying was still a dream. Today, aviation is an integral part of everyday life: we fly for business, to visit friends, or to go on holiday. After decades of technological progress and economic optimization, the aviation sector is now entering a new phase. The path forward leads from what is merely economically optimal to what is also environmentally, socially, and globally sustainable.

In the Science Pub talk, Dr. Christian Koch, lead of subproject B01: Functional integration and performance retention of propulsors — waste heat recovery, presented a range of forward-looking ideas and technologies that could shape this transformation. Through clear, accessible explanations, the presentation highlighted that aviation must be understood as a global industry and that international, interdisciplinary collaboration is key to making sustainable innovation a reality.

Organized by the Society for Natural History in Württemberg and the State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart, the event was moderated by Tobias Wilhelm and drew strong public interest. Numerous questions, ranging from technical details to broader reflections on the future of mobility, showed just how much this topic resonates with the audience.