Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization

The early history of the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization is closely linked to the work of the famous physicist Ludwig Prandtl.

In Göttingen Prandtl opened two research facilities that both exist until today: in 1915 the Aerodynamical Experimental Station, which concentrated on application-oriented topics in fluid dynamics and evolved into the Göttinger branch of the German Space Agency DLR, and in 1925 the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Fluid Dynamics.

Unlike those created by Gustav Eiffel in France wind tunnels of the Göttinger type feature a closed cycle for the liquids or gases to flow in.

As reasons for his choice of location he listed his own previous research and the high esteem of mathematics at the University of Göttingen.

On April 11, 1945, the British military government temporarily closed the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Institute and the Aerodynamical Experimental Station and installed a committee to decide about the future of both research facilities.

In June a decision was made: The Aerodynamical Experimental Station was permanently closed and its experiments were disassembled.

Having been built for the purpose of fundamental research only, the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute was permitted to carry on its work and was reopened on August 1, 1946.

In 1996 the institute again chose a new research focus and appointed Prof. Dr. Theo Geisel, who opened the Department of Nonlinear Dynamics.

1907: Ludwig Prandtl builds the first German wind tunnel in Göttingen 1915: The Kaiser Wilhelm Society founds the Aerodynamical Experimental Station on the premises between Böttinger and Bunsen Street 1925: The Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Fluid Dynamics is opened at the same location and united with the Aerodynamical Experimental Station 1945: The British military government shuts down both research facilities August 1, 1946: The Kaiser Wilhelm Institute is reopened 1948: The institute becomes part of the Max Planck Society 1969: The institute receives three departments focused on molecular physics 1993: The last department working in fluid dynamics is closed 1996: Prof. Dr. Theo Geisel is appointed and opens the Department of Nonlinear Dynamics 2001: The last department in molecular physics is closed 2003: Prof. Eberhard Bodenschatz and Prof. Stephan Herminghaus are appointed and open the Department of Hydrodynamics, Pattern Formation and Nanobiocomplexity and the Department of Dynamics of Complex Fluids November 19, 2004: The institute is renamed Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization 2017: Department of Nonlinear Dynamics is closed 2018: Prof. Ramin Golestanian is appointed director and opened Department of Living Matter Physics 2023: The Department of the Dynamics of Complex Fluids is closed with the retirement of Prof. Stephan Herminghaus The research conducted at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization covers a broad spectrum, mainly in the physics of complex systems.

Pattern forming systems are particularly interesting, and the understanding of the general features are the topic of current research.

This is especially true for complex fluids, whose properties are determined by mesoscale Coulomb interactions and the presence of large molecules.