"What really excites me about Bremen is the city's depth of history, combined with its global outlook for technology."
Prof. David May is an expert in composite materials, Image: ECOMAT/Rathke
Professor David May has been working as the new Director of the FIBRE Faserinstitut in Bremen since August 2024. His field of expertise is the processing of composite materials. His future plans include strengthening and expanding cooperation with ECOMAT, as he reveals in this interview.
Professor May, what was your first point of contact with Bremen?
Actually, I had only ever been to Bremen once before in my entire life, and that was in my very first year of research. We went on a field trip, which included a visit to the Airbus plant, among other things. After that, my work in Kaiserslautern brought me into contact with the Faserinstitut in Bremen many times. The world of composite materials really isn't that big – everyone knows everyone else.
What kind of welcome did you receive?
My impressions have been entirely positive. I feel my colleagues in this specialist area have a great deal of enthusiasm and are keen to push things forward by working together. I'm really happy about that, and this was definitely an important consideration in my decision.
I then went on a round of introductions which included visits to the different sites run by the Institute and its partners. I went to the university and ECOMAT and even attended our Cotton Conference at the Baumwollbörse Cotton Exchange.
May brings a wealth of experience in the field of process simulation and monitoring, Image: ECOMAT/Rathke
How is your decision to come to the Faserinstitut in Bremen related to your specialist interests and strengths?
I find the combination of the city's wealth of history with its high tech global outlook especially fascinating. The Institute has retained its roots in materials testing and has constantly reinvented itself reinvented and is also excellently interconnected. I've been working in the field of processing technology for more than ten years and am also involved with process simulation and monitoring. The Faserinstitut's expertise in image analysis and monitoring is directly aligned with my own specialist areas. The research carried out here is at an extremely high level – from production technologies down to a profound understanding of the materials themselves. The new CRYOLAB, where testing at extremely low temperatures is performed, is especially impressive.
Are all these subjects old hat for you or are you also learning new things?
As a researcher, getting insights into new fields is always fascinating. Testing cotton, which is one of the Institute's traditional tasks, is something new for me, but there are also many overlaps with my research fields. Measuring systems and monitoring are also a new area for me. Although I have also gained some initial experience in this area, the Fiber Institute is much more advanced in this area, even developing its own data evaluation routines. It's the combination of tradition and innovation that makes the Institute especially interesting for me.
As Director, you'll have a pretty heavy workload. Many scientists find it a wrench when things take them away from their main areas of interest. Do you still have time for research?
I was already working at Director level in Kaiserslautern, where I was responsible for things like budgets and economic planning. So that's nothing new for me. However, continuing to work actively as a scientist is still important to me. The key to this is having good working relationships with postgraduates and students alike. I supervise PhDs, read articles by students and join submissions. I also write papers myself and of course I have to be deeply involved in order to develop the research strategy with the team.
There are also subjects that are particularly close to my heart, with which I've been involved for many years, such as my work in international committees for standardisation and benchmarking in the processing of composite materials. I want to maintain this depth of scientific knowledge.
You've become Institute Director at the age of 38. Was this the career you had in mind when you were a student?
I was an extremely inquisitive child and always had a subscription for the "Bild der Wissenschaft" scientific magazine. Even at that early stage, I toyed with the idea of having a career in the sciences. I've been so very fortunate to have outstanding mentors in my career, especially in Kaiserslautern. This support was the decisive factor in helping me achieve the expertise which has brought me here, to Bremen.
Would you like to pass on the support you've experienced to future generations?
That is extremely important to me. However, we do have a paradoxical situation in the world of science. We're aware that the system is based on a state of flux i.e. many of those you promote will leave the institute..
I had a trainee researcher group who helped me tremendously, and I'm doing my best to encourage our scientific colleagues to set up similar groups, for example for post-doc postings in other countries.
At the end of the day, we'll also benefit from that as an Institute, by preparing people for the future, in science or industry, and being able to place them successfully. This is really close to my heart, because I know just how hard this route can be.
In addition to his work at the institute, May continues to conduct research in his specialist field, Image: ECOMAT/Rathke
You've been to ECOMAT a number of times now. What impression have the buildings and the staff made on you?
I was extremely impressed by my first visit to ECOMAT, especially the size of the centre and its top-level, professional equipment. The technology centre, the plastic and fibre testing laboratories, the contemporary offices: all the infrastructure is of an exceptionally high standard.
I spent the first few weeks discovering more and more of the benefits offered by this place. Time and time again, the many people working here, the events, and the regular meet-ups, create spontaneous opportunities for networking and exchanging ideas. Its proximity to major partners such as Airbus at ECOMAT as well as Ariane also provides tremendous potential for long-term relationships.
You've just mentioned Airbus. You have an endowed professorship and it is planned for you to work on joint technology. Do you already have a vision of how you will fulfil this task?
We're working on developing weld-free connections for aviation. This is a very exciting area of research. Traditional aircraft are full of welded joints, which not only add weight but involve additional manufacturing steps. Welds also affect how mechanical forces are distributed and generate points at which stress is concentrated. For these reasons, we're working on alternatives such as thermoplastic welding.
Thermoplastic welding creates a uniform joint which can distribute the forces just as well as a traditional weld. It's particularly exciting that we have expert partners here, in the same place, such as the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Materials and the Leibniz Institute for Material Technology, which research on adhesive technologies and hybrid structures.
What actual tasks are involved in your work as an endowed Professor?
We're planning to build new facilities in which we can weld test pieces. This involves working with special technologies such as ultrasonic welding and resistance welding, processes that are already well-established in the processing of plastics and which we want to expand into composite applications for aviation. To achieve this, we're developing sensor systems that can give us precise information about the forces and material reactions involved, so we can determine the best possible process parameters and control them. I think this has great potential for enhancing the Institute's reputation in these areas on a global level.
You've been in post for a few weeks now. Have you had the chance to draw up initial strategies and plans for the future?
I have three main goals for the future: advancing welding technologies, making use of the synergies between our research fields of fibres and fibre composite materials and reinforcing networks and cooperative ventures.
My aim is to set up a laboratory that is able to quickly provide accurate statements about fitting welding processes as they are used for a diversity of materials and applications.
Feels at home in Bremen: Prof. Daivd May, Image: ECOMAT/Rathke
And now, a completely different topic. Until now, you've lived in Southern Germany. How do you find life with us Northerners here in Bremen?
We were fortunate that we were able to move house in summertime, and up until now, we've seen Bremen at its most beautiful. We also like the way people in Bremen think and behave. Of course, it's noticeable that people in a different area have other things that make them "tick", but I've found the people of Bremen to be uncomplicated and approachable, so far, especially in the university environment.
Have you already tried a fish roll?
(laughs) Not yet, but we've already encountered Knipp (the local sausage) and enjoyed it!
That's a good start! And it looks like you already enjoy another Bremen tradition: there's a mountain bike in your office. Is cycling a hobby?
Yes, absolutely. The forests of the Palatinate (in southern Germany) were perfect mountain-biking country, but Bremen has the benefit that you can easily go on long-distance rides, even with the children. It's much easier for the little ones because there are no mountains in Bremen. We particularly enjoy cycling over the Deich embankment into the surrounding Blockland, as long as the weather is willing. We also often visit the city's wonderful parks and attractions such as the Stadtwaldsee lake in the Stadtwald municipal forest, the Bürgerpark (People's Park) and the Rhododendron Park.
One last question: what advice do you have for young graduates or school students?
Now that's a tricky question, especially in view of the fact that the numbers of students enrolled in technical subjects in Germany is diminishing, and that's something I worry about a great deal. I am absolutely convinced that our prosperity is extremely dependent on having well-educated engineers and technical experts.
What I would like to tell young people is that it is engineers who develop innovative and application-oriented solutions to make “dirty” machines “clean” and get rid of microplastics in the ocean, etc. It is important not to turn your back on the technical professions, but to play an active role in shaping a more sustainable future.
I would encourage women, in particular, to take an interest in technical careers. There are so many opportunities here and it is essential that we make use of every chance we get and use it for the future.
Many thanks for the interview!
About Prof. Dr. David May
Professor May, who is 37 years old, took over from Prof. Dr. Axel Herrmann, who retired in April. In addition to being Institute Director, Professor May also holds the Airbus Endowment Chair and will work on joint technologies at Airbus. Born in Baden, Southern Germany, Professor May previously held a research post at the Leibniz Institut für Verbundwerkstoffe (IVW – Leibniz Institute for Composite Materials) in Kaiserslautern, Germany.
