What are active materials? This book aims to introduce and redefine conceptions of matter by
considering materials as entities that 'sense' and respond to their environment. By examining
the modeling of the experiments on and the construction of these materials and by developing
a theory of their structure their collective activity and their functionality this volume
identifies and develops a novel scientific approach to active materials. Moreover essays on
the history and philosophy of metallurgy chemistry biology and materials science provide
these various approaches to active materials with a historical and cultural context. The
interviews with experts from the natural sciences included in this volume develop new
understandings of 'active matter' and active materials in relation to a range of research
objects and from the perspective of different scientific disciplines including biology
physics chemistry and materials science. These insights are complemented by contributions on
the activity of matter and materials from the humanities and the design field. Discusses the
mechanisms of active materials and their various conceptualizations in materials science.
Redefines conceptions of active materials through interviews with experts from the natural
sciences. Contextualizes historizes and reflects on different notions of matter materials and
activity through contributions from the humanities. A highly interdisciplinary approach to a
cutting-edge research topic with contributions from both the sciences and the humanities.
