The Arbeitskreis Separation Science of the GDCh Division of Analytical Chemistry awards the Gerhard Hesse Prize, endowed with 3000 euros, at ANAKON in odd-numbered years - in honour of the life's work of Professor Gerhard Hesse, the founding chairman of the working group. The prize honours scientists who have made outstanding achievements in the field of analytical separation techniques, who have rendered outstanding services to this scientific discipline and who have not passed the age of 50. All members of the Separation Science working group are eligible to nominate candidates. The extended board of the working group decides on the awarding of the prize.

The prize has not yet been announced.

The Gerhard Hesse Prize 2025 was awarded to Mr Dr Thorsten Teutenberg on 11 March 2025 on the occasion of the ANAKON in Leipzig.

"The prize is awarded to Dr Teutenberg for his work in the field of analytical separation techniques - and in particular in liquid chromatography - which is characterised by its broad scope. They include work in the field of high-temperature LC, column circuits for sample preparation, two-dimensional separations as well as work that sheds light on fundamental aspects of liquid chromatography, work on miniaturisation or on coupling techniques, to name just a few examples. Forward-looking laboratory concepts such as the "Future Lab.NRW", which takes into account the current topics of automation and digitalisation, originate conceptually from Dr. Teutenberg's pen. The Teutenberg laboratory is a source of highly innovative and applied liquid chromatography research at the cutting edge of technology. With all his scientific work, it is a constant concern of his not only to publish the results in peer-reviewed journals, but also to make them accessible to users in practice. The Analytics Days at IUTA, which he played a key role in organising and which are being held for the ninth time this year, are a good example of this."

The Gerhard Hesse Prize 2021 was awarded to PD Dr Katja Dettmer-Wilde on 22 June 2022 on the occasion of the analytica conference in Munich.

"The prize is awarded to PD Dr Katja Dettmer-Wilde in recognition of her scientific achievements in the development and application of chromatographic methods in the field of metabolomics. The coupling of chromatographic techniques with mass spectrometry is the focus of her methodological developments, which cover a broad spectrum. In particular, GC-MS, GCxGC-MS and LC-MS/MS should be mentioned here. Her extensive contributions to the analysis of amino acids in various biological samples have attracted a great deal of attention. The scientific work of PD Dr Katja Dettmer is characterised by a great methodological breadth and innovation, which includes sample preparation as well as the subsequent coupling of chromatography and detection. In addition, as a scientist and academic teacher, it is very important to her to pass on her passion for chromatography - and in particular for gas chromatography - to others with great enthusiasm and expertise, both verbally and in writing."

Presentation of the Gerhard Hesse Prize to Dr Stefan Lamotte (right) by Dr Martin Vogel (left) during ANAKON 2019 in Münster (Photo: WWU Münster)