Oct
9, 2026
Lecture series “Secure Critical Infrastructures” in the winter semester 2026/2027
Expert talks on the security challenges facing critical infrastructure
In the winter semester 2026/2027, the lecture series “Secure Critical Infrastructures” takes place at TU Darmstadt for the 13th time. The collaboration between the Departments of Social Sciences and History and of Computer Science is led by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Matthias Hollick (SEEMOO), Prof. Dr. Jens Ivo Engels (Modern and Contemporary History) and Prof. Dr. Dr. Christian Reuter (PEASEC). emergenCITY is a partner of the series.
Speakers from research, industry, public authorities and critical infrastructure operators give insights into different sectors and their challenges. The series also builds a general understanding of criticality and resilience.
Schedule
| Date | Title | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| 14.10.2026 | Introduction to the lecture series and to Secure Critical Infrastructures | Prof. Dr. Dr. Christian Reuter |
| 21.10.2026 | Basic Concepts: Resilience | Prof. Dr.-Ing. Matthias Hollick |
| 28.10.2026 | no lecture | – |
| 04.11.2026 | Basic Concepts: Criticality, Vulnerability, Preparedness, System of Systems | Prof. Dr. Jens Ivo Engels, Dr. Nadja Thiessen |
| 11.11.2026 | Between Interlocking and Statistics: AI Product Development in Rail Infrastructure | Sebastian Schaffrath (Data Strategy, Deutsche Bahn) |
| 18.11.2026 | no lecture | – |
| 25.11.2026 | Risks to Public Safety in Germany – Origins and Outlook from a Political Perspective | Gerold Reichenbach (former member of the Bundestag) |
| 02.12.2026 | (Cyber) Histories & Challenges in Critical Infrastructures | Manuel Atug (HiSolutions AG) |
| 09.12.2026 | Critical Thinking as Critical Infrastructure? A Critical Disaster Studies Perspective on Wildfires in the Gironde, France | Dr. Isabelle Desportes (Centre Marc Bloch, Berlin) |
| 16.12.2026 | no lecture | – |
| 13.01.2027 | "Don't Be A Zombie. Be Prepared." Pandemic Policy in the "Age of Preparedness" | PD Dr. Wiebke Lisner (Hannover Medical School), PD Dr. Jonathan Voges (Leibniz University Hannover) |
| 20.01.2027 | The State as Critical Infrastructure – Information Security in Public Administration between Regulation and Implementation Reality | Max Langer (PD – Berater der öffentlichen Hand GmbH) |
| 27.01.2027 | Emergency Management 5.0 is Analog | Andreas Karsten (Consultant) |
| 03.02.2027 | Resilience of Power and Communication Networks – Challenges, Interactions, Concepts | Sigurd Schuster (Sigurd Schuster Management Consulting) |
| 10.02.2027 | Final session / exam preparation | Prof. Dr. Dr. Christian Reuter |
Organization
- When: Wednesdays, 4:15–5:55 pm
- Where: Room S103/123 (Altes Hauptgebäude, Hochschulstraße 1, 64289 Darmstadt) and online via Zoom
- Credits: 2 SWS, 3 CP (TUCAN, Moodle)
In-person attendance is recommended. The series is open to Bachelor’s and Master’s students of the Departments of Computer Science and of Social Sciences and History, to everyone at TU Darmstadt, and to the interested public.
Registration
- Students: enroll in TUCAN; all information is on Moodle.
- Guests: to get a free ticket, just send an email to:kritis-anmeldung@peasec.de (no message text needed).
