Ask Dr. Marc with Prof. Dr. Claudia Neu

Why “Ask Dr. Marc” Is Moving Toward Societal Resilience

Some questions do more than just seek an answer; they change the way we look at an entire subject.

In the next edition of “Ask Dr. Marc,” the creative spark comes from Prof. Dr. Claudia Neu—Professor of Rural Sociology at the Universities of Kassel and Göttingen. For many years, she has studied the interplay between spatial structures, infrastructure, public services, and social change.

And it is exactly this change that is at the heart of it.

Demographic shifts. Climate adaptation. Loneliness. Trust in democratic institutions. These are not isolated developments. They shape how people live, how regions function—and how stable a society remains under pressure.

During her visit to aerogel-it, Prof. Neu took a close look at a high-performance material that appears technical at first glance—and posed a question that goes far beyond the lab:

“How can aerogel contribute to more sustainable construction and renovation in climate adaptation measures—and thereby enable a more resilient society?”

This question shifts the focus.

It is no longer just about thermal conductivity or material specifications. It is about societal impact. It is about the role of innovation in a time of profound upheaval.

Building renovation is far more than a technical task; it is a social lever.

When energy-efficient renovation becomes more effective, when buildings consume less energy, and when sustainable modernization is achievable even in structurally weaker regions, climate policy becomes tangible. Housing remains affordable. Municipalities remain capable of taking action. Infrastructure remains viable.

In this context, aerogel is not just an insulation material. It is part of a larger answer to the question of how societies adapt—and whether they can maintain their stability in the process.