GS-EES Block Course 2026 | Part 2 at Ulm University
Scope
The lectures of the Block Course “Materials, Functioning and Technology of Batteries” cover the full spectrum of electrochemical energy storage and conversion, from theory to engineering and from fundamentals to applications.
Poster sessions and social events like lab tours, joint dinners offer ideal conditions to connect to other young researchers in the field.
Target Group
The Block Course of the GS-EES is open to all interested doctoral researchers, master students and post-docs, no matter at which institution they are enrolled.
Dates and Venue
Part 1
4th to 7th May 2026
Justus Liebig University, Giessen
C 106, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 19
35392 Giessen, Germany
Part 2
20th to 23rd October 2026
Ulm University
Dr Barbara Mez-Starck Haus
Oberberghof 7
89081 Ulm, Germany
Costs
The Block Course is free of charge for GS-EES members and students related to CELEST. If you are uncertain whether you can participate free of charge, please get in touch with us.
For part 1, the fee for external participants is 130 €. It includes snacks, lunch, cold and warm beverages, coffee and cake during coffee breaks, dinner on the first night and a guided tour of the Liebig Museum/entry to the Mathematikum.
For part 2, the fee for external participants is 219 €. It includes snacks, lunch, cold and warm beverages, coffee breaks, Geocaching and one joint dinner.
Accomodation
Accomodation is not included.
Contact
In case of any questions related to the Block Course, please email us.
Registration
Registration will open soon. Please register before 20th September 2026.
Schedule Part 1
| Time | Monday, 4 May 2026 | Tuesday, 5 May 2026 | Wednesday, 6 May 2026 | Thursday, 7 May 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09:00-10:30 | Renewable Technology Dr. Joachim Sann | Publishing / Scientific Graphs Dr. Bjoern Luerßen | Surface Analytics in Battery Research Prof. Dr. Marcus Rohnke | |
| 10:30-11:00 | Coffee Break | Coffee Break | Coffee Break | |
| 11:00-12:30 | Arrival | Lab Tour | Poster Session II | Good Scientific Practice Dr. Christian Punckt |
| 12:30-14:00 | Welcome / Joint Lunch | Lunch Break | Lunch Break | Lunch Break |
| 14:00-15:30 | Introduction Prof. Dr. Jürgen Janek | Electrochemical Basics Prof. Dr. Jürgen Janek | Carbon Materials for Sustainable Energy Storage Prof. Dr. Bernd Smarsly | Good Scientific Practice Dr. Christian Punckt |
| 15:30-15:45 | Coffee Break | Coffee Break | Coffee Break | Departure |
| 15:45-16:45 | Electrochemical Basics Prof. Dr. Jürgen Janek | Introduction to Different Battery Chemistries Apart from Li-Ion Prof. Dr. Linda Nazar (online) | Guided Tour (Liebig Museum) | |
| 16:45-17:00 | Coffee Break | Coffee Break | Guided Tour (Liebig Museum) | |
| 17:00-18:00 | Keynote Speech: “Understanding Culture, Enhancing Teamwork: Insights for Research Excellence” Dr. Iris Wangerman | Poster Session I | Guided Tour (Liebig Museum) | |
| 18:00-20:00 | World Café & Joint Dinner | Free evening | Joint Dinner Moto59 |
Schedule Part 2
| Time | Tuesday, 20 October 2026 | Wednesday, 21 October 2026 | Thursday, 22 October 2026 | Friday, 23 October 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09:00-09:30 | Analysis of Porosity Prof. Dr. Simon Krause | Layered Materials Dr. Simon Fleischmann | Inorganic Battery Materials Prof. Dr. Maximilian Fichtner | |
| 09:30-10:00 | In operando PXRD Prof. Dr. Simon Krause | Layered Materials Dr. Simon Fleischmann | Inorganic Battery Materials Prof. Dr. Maximilian Fichtner | |
| 10:00-10:30 | Coffee Break | Coffee Break | Inorganic Battery Materials Prof. Dr. Mika Lindén | |
| 10:30-11:00 | Surface Analysis Method Dr. Joachim Bansmann | Electrolytes Prof. Dr. Dominic Bresser | Coffee Break | |
| 11:00-11:30 | Surface Analysis Method Dr. Joachim Bansmann | Electrolytes Prof. Dr. Dominic Bresser | Conclusion Prof. Dr. Simon Krause | |
| 11:30-12:00 | Surface Analysis Method apl. Prof. Dr. Christine Kranz | Molecular Framework Materials Prof. Dr. Simon Krause | ||
| 12:00-12:30 | Welcome Prof. Dr. Simon Krause | Surface Analysis Method apl. Prof. Dr. Christine Kranz | Molecular Framework Materials Prof. Dr. Simon Krause | |
| 12:30-13:30 | Lunch Break | Lunch Break | Lunch Break | |
| 13:30-14:00 | Quo Vadis Energy Prof. Dr. Maximilian Fichtner | Research Data Dr. Christian Punckt | Organic Battery Materials Prof. Dr. Birgit Esser | |
| 14:00-14:30 | Quo Vadis Energy Prof. Dr. Maximilian Fichtner | High Throughput methods Prof. Dr. Laurence Hardwick | Organic Battery Materials Prof. Dr. Birgit Esser | |
| 14:30-15:00 | Coffee Break + Speed Dating | High Throughput methods Prof. Dr. Laurence Hardwick | Coffee Break and walk to LM16 | |
| 15:00-15:30 | Coffee Break + Speed Dating | Coffee Break | Lab Tour at LM16 | |
| 15:30-16:00 | Hydrogen Technologies Dr. Ludwig Jörissen | Computational Methods in Battery Science Prof. Dr. Axel Groß | Lab Tour at LM16 | |
| 16:00-16:30 | Hydrogen Technologies Dr. Ludwig Jörissen | Computational Methods in Battery Science Prof. Dr. Axel Groß | Transfer to City Center | |
| 16:30-17:00 | Hydrogen Technologies Dr. Ludwig Jörissen | Geocaching Ulm | ||
| 17:00-17:30 | Electron Microscopy Dr. Simon Fleischmann | Geocaching Ulm | ||
| 17:30-18:00 | Electron Microscopy Dr. Simon Fleischmann | Free Evening | Geocaching Ulm | |
| 18:00 | Dinner City Ulm | Free Evening | Dinner City Ulm |
Contents of lectures
Part 1
Prof. Dr. Jürgen Janek
Introduction to Battery Technologies, the Post-Lithium-Ion Strategy, Key Concepts, and to Electrochemical Fundamentals
Dr. Joachim Sann
Fundamentals of surfaces and interfaces (thermodynamics, structures, kinetics of surface processes) and how they relate to batteries
Prof. Dr. Linda Nazar
Introduction to Different Battery Chemistries Apart from Lithium-Ion
Apl. Prof. Dr. Marcus Rohnke
The Interface is Everything: Surface Analytics in Modern Battery Research
Dr. Björn Luerßen
How to Design Scientific Graphics and Posters
Dr. Christian Punckt
Introduction to Good Scientific Practice
Prof. Dr. Bernd Smarsly
Overview of Carbon Materials in the Context of Sustainability, Highlighting their Role in Sodium-Ion Batteries as well as their Broader Applications in Energy Storage and Other Technologies
