Marouane Barbri and Max Zimmermann (Institute of Technical Thermodynamics, University of Rostock) together with Felix Dahms and Michèle Schaub (FVTR GmbH) received the award for the best poster for their research work at the international CIMAC Congress 2025 in Zurich.
The award-winning poster presented key results of the paper “Analysis of Zero-Emission Scenarios of a Cruise Ship using a Modelica-based Digital Twin”. It investigated how cruise ships can achieve zero-emission journeys, particularly in the sensitive Norwegian fjord areas, with the help of a Modelica-based digital twin. The energy requirements were analyzed using real measurement data and optimization measures such as heat storage, heat pumps and operating concepts such as slow steaming were evaluated.
The award recognizes the high relevance of the work for future emission-free ship operations as well as the innovative modelling and simulation methodology.
The CIMAC Congress is one of the world's leading specialist events in the field of large engines and energy systems in shipping. Further information can be found at: www.cimac.com

The Gesellschaft der Förderer der Universität Rostock e.V. has awarded the Prof. Karsten Müller, head of the Institute of Technical Thermodynamics, the award for best teaching. He received the award for his courses Technical Thermodynamics 1 and 2, Energy Technology, Regenerative Energy Technology, Multi-Material Thermodynamics, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technology as well as Heat and Mass Transfer. In these courses, Prof. Müller succeeds in conveying complex and difficult content to students with didactic excellence.

The Wissenschaftliche Arbeitskreis Technische Thermodynamik awards Rasmus Pötke the WATT Study Prize 2022 for his excellent Master's thesis entitled "Development of a latent thermal energy storage model in Modelica for the low temperature range", which he wrote at the Institute of Technical Thermodynamics. The award was presented by Prof. Dr. Burak Atakan at the Thermodynamics Colloquium in Chemnitz.

The most innovative business ideas of 2022 in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern were honored as part of the state-wide "inspired" ideas competition. Researchers from the Institute of Technical Thermodynamics took first place. With their business idea Theta Concepts, Dr. Dorian Holtz, Conrad Gierow and Raphael Wittenburg are solving central challenges of the energy transition in the heating sector. The award was presented by Dr. Andreas Crimmann, head of the state's labour market policy department at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Health of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

Students of the institute, Alex Liebau, Jonas Nehlsen and Finn Börje Wesemeyer, have won first place in the "MINTdigital - The best way to study by far" competition with their video project "Thermodynamik – endlich verständlich!" (German for "Thermodynamics - finally understandable!"). In the project, the students create and publish educational videos on the subject of technical thermodynamics, providing valuable support for teaching in this subject area. The jury was impressed by the innovative and creative format as well as the peer-learning approach of the student project.