Professor Dr Andreas Künkel, BASF SE, Vice President, Head of Biodegradation & Microplastics Research is awarded the Meyer-Galow Prize for Industrial Chemistry 2025. He receives the prize for the further development of structural and functional biodegradable polymers. The prize of the foundation of the same name is organised by the German Chemical Society (GDCh) and is endowed with 10,000 euros.
Biodegradable polymers play an important role in the manufacture of sustainable products and thus for a functioning circular economy. A distinction is made between structural and functional biodegradable polymers. Structural biodegradable polymers are biodegradable plastics that are used to produce mulch films, for example. An important field of application for functional polymers are ingredients of detergents, dishwashing detergents and cosmetics that end up in wastewater treatment plants at the end of their life cycle.
In order to develop biodegradable structural and functional polymers and successfully launch them on the market, three conditions must be met. Firstly, the products must fulfil the required technical properties and be biodegradable at the same time. Secondly, biodegradability must be certified in accordance with agreed standards. Thirdly, it is just as important that biodegradable polymers are accepted as a sustainable solution by customers, politicians and the general public.
This requires a fundamental understanding of the chemistry and biological processes involved in biodegradability. Together with his team, other BASF colleagues and external academic partners, Andreas Künkel has gained important new insights through research and development work over the past 19 years. This included how the chemical structure of polymers influences their degradation. Künkel has also researched how polymers are degraded in different environments. He pursues a holistic approach that combines biology and chemistry using digital tools in order to gain a deep understanding of biodegradability in technical systems (compost and wastewater treatment plants) and natural systems (soil, sea). This holistic approach is continuously developed internally at BASF and through collaborations with academic partners.
The soil degradable mulch film (made from BASF's ecovio® M2351 material) is an example of how this approach has been translated into the marketplace, from a fundamental scientific understanding to a certified product. BASF has developed ecovio for mulch films so that they can be used in agriculture for different crops. The material fulfils all technical requirements and increases agricultural yields. At the same time, Andreas Künkel and his team have contributed to the development of realistic standards for biodegradable polymers in the soil and increased social acceptance of the topic. They have not only published their scientific findings in specialist journals, but have also communicated them to a wide audience in an understandable way. Künkel and his partners are also successfully applying this holistic approach of chemistry, biology and digitalisation to functional biodegradable polymers.
Andreas Künkel was born in Biedenkopf in 1969. He studied biology at the Philipps University of Marburg and obtained his doctorate in 1998 at the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg. He joined BASF SE in 1999 and worked as a researcher in the field of fine chemicals and biocatalysis until 2003. He was then project manager for animal nutrition until 2006. This was followed by positions in global product management (2006-2008) and as Head of New Business Development for biodegradable polymers (2009-2010). From 2010 to 2025 he was Head of Research "Biopolymers" and since April 2025 Head of the Research Unit "Biodegradability and Microplastics" at BASF. He has been an honorary professor at the Philipps University of Marburg since 2008 and has given more than 100 lectures as an invited speaker. Andreas Künkel is also a board member of "bündnis mikroplastikfrei" in Austria and active in the Royal Society of Chemistry in the UK.
The award ceremony will take place on 13 January 2026 at BASF in Ludwigshafen. GDCh President Dr Ruth Bieringer, herself a winner of the Meyer-Galow Prize, will present the award to Andreas Künkel, who will introduce the award-winning project.
About the prize:
The Meyer-Galow Prize for Industrial Chemistry is awarded annually to scientists in German-speaking countries who have successfully introduced a current innovation in chemistry to the market. The focus is on market launches that prioritise the aspect of sustainability. The prize was donated by Professor Dr Erhard Meyer-Galow, former CEO of Hüls AG and former President of the GDCh. Meyer-Galow worked primarily at the interface between chemistry and the market and lectured on "Business Chemistry in the Chemical Industry" at the University of Münster.
With around 28,000 members, the German Chemical Society (GDCh) is one of the largest chemical societies in the world. It has 27 specialised groups as well as 60 local associations and regional forums of the JCF (JungesChemieForum). The GDCh promotes scientific work as well as the exchange and dissemination of new scientific findings. It maintains numerous foundations, such as the Meyer-Galow Foundation for Industrial Chemistry, which Professor Dr Erhard Meyer-Galow established in 2012 to further promote industrial chemistry. Further information can be found at www.gdch.de.
About BASF
BASF stands for chemistry for a sustainable future. Our ambition: We want to be the chemical company of choice to enable the green transformation of our customers. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 112,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers from almost all industries and in almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises the Core Businesses Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions and Nutrition & Care; the Standalone Businesses are bundled in the Surface Technologies and Agricultural Solutions segments. BASF achieved global sales of €65.3 billion in 2024. BASF shares are traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the USA. Further information is available at www.basf.com.
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The German Chemical Society (GDCh) has awarded Dr Lauren Niu, Center for Functional Fabrics, Drexel University & Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania, USA, the Mario Markus Prize for Ludic Sciences. The prize, which is endowed with 10,000 euros, recognises scientific work in the field of natural sciences that is characterised by its playful nature. Niu receives the prize for her research into the geometry of knitted fabrics. She discovered that knitted fabrics strive for a three-dimensional pattern according to Gaussian curvature. The prize will be awarded on 15 December at a public event at the Physikalischer Verein in Frankfurt am Main.
Lauren Niu developed an overarching theory on the geometry of knitted fabrics. The question seemed simple at first: how can complex three-dimensional folding patterns be created from two basic types of stitches - knit and purl stitches? However, the challenge is complex, because modelling at the stitch level requires a simulation of kilometre-wide yarn strands whose structure varies even at the smallest scale. Lauren Niu's approach was therefore characterised by methodological diversity. She produced machine-knitted patterns, constructed large-scale models from pipe cleaners and knitted fabrics by hand. Through this systematic observation, she recognised a universal principle: regardless of size, all patterns attempted to roll up and create Gaussian curvature.
Her key finding was that knitted fabrics can be modelled as thin elastic films that retain their surface area and simultaneously form local saddle structures - with orthogonal alignments between right- and left-knitted areas. Using her extensive expertise in numerical methods, she tested this theory using a comprehensive pattern library. Her results were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
Lauren Niu, born in 1993, studied physics at the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, USA (2015). She obtained her PhD in physics in 2023 at Harvard University, Cambridge, USA, with a dissertation on "Patterns and Singularities in Elastic Shells". She has been a senior research scientist and postdoctoral researcher at the Center for Functional Fabrics at Drexel University since 2023 and a visiting scientist at the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Pennsylvania, both in Philadelphia, USA, since 2025. Niu has already received several awards, including the Herbert B. Callen Memorial Prize (2025). She has published several articles in international journals and conferences and is involved in various honorary positions, e.g. the Women+ of Color Project.
The €10,000 Mario Markus Prize for Ludic Science is funded by Professor Dr Mario Markus, Dortmund, who has dedicated himself to Ludic Science and coined the term. While research projects today are increasingly carried out with a view to concrete applicability, a look into the past shows that new knowledge has been gained playfully and out of sheer curiosity since ancient times.
The Mario Marcus Prize for Ludic Sciences will be awarded on 15 December 2025 in cooperation with the Physikalischer Verein in the lecture hall of the Physikalischer Verein at Robert-Mayer-Straße 2 in Frankfurt/Main. The prizewinner will present her research at the event. All interested parties are cordially invited. Registration is requested at www.gdch.de/mariomarkus.
With around 28,000 members, the German Chemical Society (GDCh) is one of the largest chemical societies in the world. It promotes scientific work, research and teaching as well as the exchange and dissemination of scientific knowledge. One of its aims is to make modern chemistry understandable to interested members of the public and thus open up connections in science and technology to them.
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18 November 2025
The much sought-after courses on classic topics such as quality assurance, analytics and food chemistry are once again part of the programme. These courses are supplemented by courses on marketing, business administration, HR and project management and other topics. Participants can choose between face-to-face, online, hybrid and on-demand formats.
On-demand courses enable self-paced learning with free time management and simultaneous support from course instructors. "We offered on-demand courses for the first time two years ago," explains Maike Bundschuh, Head of Events at the GDCh. "Participants who are very busy at work particularly appreciate this flexibility. We can also offer high-quality courses at a significantly lower price than face-to-face or online courses."The programme will also include new courses in the coming year, such as "Risk Assessment of Microplastics" (face-to-face), "Project Management for Chemists (m/f/d)" (on demand) and "Introduction to Molecular Modelling for Chemists (m/f/d)" (online).For the first time, the GDCh is offering three courses on intercultural skills for young chemists. Two courses support foreign students and doctoral candidates in finding their feet at German universities. A third course prepares young scientists for stays abroad.
In addition to the individual courses, the proven GDCh specialist programmes "Certified Industrial Chemist (GDCh)® (m/f/d)", "Certified Quality Expert GxP (GDCh)® (m/f/d)" and "Certified Pharmaceutical Expert GDCh (m/f/d)" will be offered again.Most courses can also be organised as in-house training courses. It can be cost-effective to organise in-house courses for as few as four participants. The GDCh.academy team can also develop customised course concepts with appropriate experts on request.
Detailed information on all courses and specialist programmes can be found at https://gdch.academyWith over 28,000 members, the German Chemical Society (GDCh) is one of the largest chemical societies in the world. It promotes scientific work, research and teaching as well as the exchange and dissemination of scientific knowledge. The GDCh supports education in schools and universities as well as continuous professional and career development.
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Dr Ruth Bieringer, Vice President Technology & Innovation - Material Technology at Freudenberg Sealing Technologies, will become President of the German Chemical Society (GDCh) on 1 January 2026. During her two-year term of office, she will focus on intensifying the dialogue with political decision-makers and advocating for fact-based scientific information.
Ruth Bieringer was elected as future President at the meeting of the GDCh Board of Directors on 1 October 2025 with one abstention. She succeeds Professor Dr Stefanie Dehnen from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), who held the office for two years as scheduled. Dr Carla Seidel, BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, and Dr Susanne Rehn-Taube, Deutsches Museum München, were elected Deputy Presidents, also from January 2026. The Executive Committee also includes Dr Franz von Nussbaum, Nuvisan ICB GmbH, Berlin, as Treasurer and Stefanie Dehnen as Immediate Past President for the first year.The President-elect would like to intensify the dialogue with politicians and other stakeholders. "Humanity is facing profound social and scientific challenges, and we as scientists must play a central role in solving them," says Ruth Bieringer. "It is particularly important to me that political decisions are made on the basis of reliable scientific findings and that we as the GDCh are available as a reliable and competent partner. We chemists in particular are called upon to make our contribution to mastering the global challenges of our time."
Ruth Bieringer, born in 1971, studied chemistry at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz before completing her doctorate in polymer chemistry at the University of Bayreuth in 1999. She then began her career at Freudenberg, which led her through several positions in central research to her current position. Since 2020, she has been Vice President Technology & Innovation - Material Technology at Freudenberg Sealing Technologies in Weinheim. She is also a lecturer at the RheinMain University of Applied Sciences in the field of materials science (polymers). In addition to her involvement in the GDCh, Ruth Bieringer is also involved in the German Rubber Society (DKG), the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) and the German Institute of Rubber Technology (DIK).She has been a member of the GDCh Executive Board since 2024 and also heads the PFAS think tank. She is also Chair of the Advisory Board of the Dr Hermann Schnell Foundation, which aims to promote young scientists in the field of macromolecular chemistry. In 2024, she was awarded the Meyer-Galow Prize for Business Chemistry.
With over 28,000 members, the German Chemical Society (GDCh) is one of the largest chemical societies in the world. It promotes scientific work, research and teaching as well as the exchange and dissemination of scientific knowledge. The GDCh supports the creation of networks, transdisciplinary and international co-operation and continuous education and training in schools, universities and professional environments. The GDCh has 27 specialist groups and 60 local associations.
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The August Wilhelm von Hofmann Foundation established by the German Chemical Society (GDCh) is once again awarding scholarships for the 2026 summer semester. Bachelor's, diploma or final-year students of chemistry and related fields can receive funding of 300 euros per month for up to 18 months from April 2026. Applications can be submitted via the online portal until 1 February 2026.
Students in chemistry and related fields with very good academic achievements who have limited financial resources can apply for one of around twenty scholarships from the August Wilhelm von Hofmann Foundation. Commitment outside of studies is also favourably considered. Students who will be in their fourth or fifth semester at the start of the 2026 summer semester are eligible for funding. The funding does not count towards BAföG benefits.The August Wilhelm von Hofmann Scholarships are intended to support motivated and talented students - especially those with limited financial resources. The foundation was established by a long-standing GDCh member who died in 2010 and bequeathed the majority of his estate to the GDCh to support talented chemistry students. It is named after the first president of the GDCh's predecessor organisation, the German Chemical Society, which was founded in 1867. Since its introduction, over 300 students have already benefited from the funding and have become part of the August Wilhelm von Hofmann network.Further information and application at www.gdch.de/hofmannstiftungThe German Chemical Society (GDCh) is one of the largest chemical societies in the world with over 28,000 members. The GDCh manages numerous dependent foundations on a fiduciary basis. The purpose of these foundations is to award prizes, sponsorship awards and scholarships. Foundation advisory boards decide on the awarding of prizes, awards and scholarships.
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09 September 2025
The German Chemical Society (GDCh) has honoured the "DiversitySensitive Support (DiSenSu)" project with the Hildegard Hamm-Brücher Prize for Equal Opportunities in Chemistry. The joint project of the Technical University of Darmstadt and the Ludwigsburg University of Education led by Professor Dr Markus Prechtl, TU Darmstadt, and Professor Dr Silvija Markic, formerly PH Ludwigsburg, now Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, will be honoured on 1 December as part of the anniversary celebration "25 years of commitment to equal opportunities in the GDCh" at the Deutsches Museum in Munich.
The DiSenSu team receives the Hildegard Hamm-Brücher Prize for its pioneering career guidance in chemistry for girls with a migration background. The project is an exemplary campaign against educational disadvantages and in favour of equal opportunities. The selection committee rated the initiative as "extremely well-founded, innovative and sustainable" and was particularly impressed by the team's scientific approach.
The joint project DiSenSu of TU Darmstadt and PH Ludwigsburg developed a gender- and diversity-sensitive tool for career guidance in chemistry. The core of the project consisted of several hundred time-consuming and labour-intensive individual coaching sessions, which included small tests and exercises. The coaching sessions were supplemented by other methods such as comics with female role models, a card game for career guidance as well as scientific publications and presentations at conferences.
After the end of the project, all developed materials and the evaluated tool will continue to be available and documentation will enable others to implement the DiSenSu format independently. The project focussed on the promotion of chemical professions and typical vocational skills, regardless of the school type of the participants.
The award ceremony will take place as part of the anniversary celebration "25 years of commitment to equal opportunities in the GDCh" at the Deutsches Museum in Munich. The GDCh Equal Opportunities in Chemistry working group was founded 25 years ago with the aim of promoting diversity and breaking down barriers in order to create a more inclusive and fairer community. Since 2018, the Equal Opportunities in Chemistry Commission has continued this mission strategically and works closely with the GDCh Board and the JCF (Young Chemistry Forum) Equal Opportunities team.Since 2021, the Hildegard Hamm-Brücher Prize for Equal Opportunities in Chemistry, which is named after the important politician and champion of equal rights and education, Hildegard Hamm-Brücher, has been awarded with prize money of 7500 euros. It serves as inspiration and recognition for those who work tirelessly for a more diverse and inclusive chemistry and honours outstanding achievements and commitment in the field of equal opportunities.
Further information on the event can be found at www.gdch.de/jubilaeumchancengleichheit
With over 28,000 members, the German Chemical Society (GDCh) is one of the largest chemical societies in the world. It promotes scientific work, research and teaching as well as the exchange and dissemination of scientific knowledge. The GDCh supports education in schools and universities as well as continuous professional and career development.
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At the GDCh Science Forum Chemistry (SFC) 2025, the Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker (GDCh) will award Professor Dr Stefan Mecking, University of Konstanz, the Karl Ziegler Prize, endowed with 50 000 euros and a gold medal - one of the most highly endowed German awards in the field of chemistry. In addition, junior professor Dr Lisa Vondung, University of Hamburg, will receive the Karl Ziegler Prize, endowed with 30 000 euros.
Stefan Mecking from the University of Konstanz receives the Karl Ziegler Prize for his research in the field of polymerisation in disperse systems (plastic production in aqueous droplets), polymer colloids and nanostructures. The chemist developed catalysts that make it possible to insert functional groups specifically into polymer structures and carry out polymerisation in polar media. This leads to degradable and recyclable materials as well as novel morphologies. His interdisciplinary research addresses fundamental problems in materials chemistry and is highly relevant to society. It produces new polymer materials and promotes innovation in the life sciences and alternative energy technologies.
Stefan Mecking studied chemistry at RWTH Aachen University until 1992 and obtained his doctorate in technical chemistry there in 1994. After a postdoctoral period as a Feodor Lynen Fellow at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA (1994-1996), he was a laboratory and project manager at Hoechst Corporate Research, Frankfurt (1996-1998). This was followed by his habilitation in macromolecular chemistry at the Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg (2002), where he worked as a private lecturer until 2004. He has been Professor of Chemical Materials Science at the University of Constance since 2004. Mecking has received numerous awards, including an ERC Advanced Grant (2019) and a Koselleck Project (2024).
Junior Professor Dr Lisa Vondung receives the Karl Ziegler Award for her research on organometallic lanthanide and uranium compounds. The prize, endowed with a total of 30,000 euros, enables leaders of a junior research group to finance a postdoctoral position with 2500 euros per month. Vondung has already gained important insights into the binding properties between ligands and f-elements. She intends to use the prize money to investigate bimetallic uranium complexes, which have hardly been researched to date. She wants to systematically investigate how the distance between the two metal atoms influences their reactivity. Vondung is particularly interested in synergistic effects - when two metal atoms react differently together than individually. This basic research is intended to create the basis for later catalytic applications.
Lisa Vondung studied chemistry at Philipps-Universität Marburg, where she completed her doctorate in 2017. After postdoctoral stays in Marburg and a Leopoldina fellowship at the University of Manchester, UK, she was a Liebig Junior Research Group Leader at Georg-August-Universität Göttingen from 2021 to 2023. Since May 2023, she has been Junior Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry at Universität Hamburg. Vondung has already received several awards, including the doctoral prize from the University of Marburg (2018), a scholarship for the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting 2022 and the MICRA Lecture Prize 2024.The prizes will be awarded at a festive award dinner on 29 September during the GDCh Science Forum Chemistry (SFC) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). There will also be an opportunity to meet the award winner Professor Dr Stefan Mecking during a "Meet & Greet" at the SFC.
The Science Forum Chemistry (SFC)
Under the motto "Overcoming boundaries together and shaping the future of chemistry", the German Chemical Society (GDCh) invites you to this newly designed event at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) from 29 September to 1 October 2025. The SFC offers chemists a unique platform for interdisciplinary exchange, international networking and forward-looking impulses.
"Thinking across borders" is the motto of the Science Forum Chemistry 2025 - and that's exactly what it's all about: overcoming disciplinary, institutional and national boundaries and tackling the major challenges of chemistry together. A top-class programme of plenary lectures, sessions and exciting discussion rounds creates the ideal framework for lively debates and fruitful collaborations.Further information on the conference can be found at www.gdch.scienceWith over 28,000 members, the German Chemical Society (GDCh) is one of the largest chemical societies in the world. It promotes scientific work, research and teaching as well as the exchange and dissemination of scientific knowledge. The GDCh supports education in schools and universities as well as continuous professional and career development.
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Peter Hommelhoff receives the Otto Hahn Prize 2025 for his pioneering contributions to the ultra-fast control of electrons and the associated establishment of new areas of research. The award ceremony for the 50,000 euro prize and presentation of the certificate and medal will take place on 23 October 2025 in Frankfurt's Paulskirche.
"I warmly congratulate Prof. Dr Peter Hommelhoff on receiving this important award in memory of Frankfurt's honorary citizen and Nobel Prize winner Otto Hahn," said Dr Ina Hartwig, Head of Frankfurt's Department of Culture and Science. "Prof Dr Hommelhoff is a worthy continuation of the series of renowned prizewinners who have made outstanding achievements in their fields of research."
Peter Hommelhoff, Professor at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) Munich and temporarily at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, researches extremely fast and small-scale processes in physics, particularly in the interaction of light and electrons. His integration of ultrafast optics into research on electron beams, which led to the invention of a femtosecond electron source, was groundbreaking. He focussed a femtosecond laser, which emits light pulses every quadrillionth of a second, onto a sharp metal tip. This generates ultrashort electron pulses of outstanding quality.
"After completing his doctorate, Peter Hommelhoff opened up a wide variety of fields in ultrafast physics with the aim of opening up new research directions and leaving his own mark. He has succeeded in doing this outstandingly well," emphasises Klaus Richter, President of the DPG. Stefanie Dehnen, President of the GDCh, adds: "Peter Hommelhoff's control of electrons in the femtosecond range expands our understanding of matter. Such fundamental research is indispensable for both disciplines - physics and chemistry."
Based on the method he developed, Hommelhoff opened up two new fields of research: Firstly, strong-field physics on metal surfaces. It opens up new possibilities for researching the properties of these surfaces with unprecedented precision. Secondly, quantum electron optics, which makes it possible, for example, to record not only images but also films with electron microscopes.
In addition, Peter Hommelhoff is working intensively on new applications for ultra-short controlled electron pulses: "By integrating the femtosecond electron source on a photonic chip, conventional particle accelerators could be reduced to a component just a few millimetres in size. This would make completely new applications possible, particularly in medicine, where such a particle accelerator could be installed at the tip of an endoscope, allowing irradiation to be carried out directly at the site of the tumour with minimally invasive surgery," explains Hommelhoff. However, further intensive research is required for this.
Peter Hommelhoff completed his degree in physics at ETH Zurich in 1999 after starting at the Technical University of Berlin. He then completed his doctorate at LMU Munich; his dissertation under Theodor Hänsch focussed on the generation of a Bose-Einstein condensate in a magnetic chip trap ("Bose-Einstein condensates in microchip traps"). Hommelhoff moved to Stanford University as a postdoc in 2003. He returned to Germany in 2007 and headed a research group at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics. After holding a chair at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, he now holds a chair at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München.The Otto Hahn Prize is awarded jointly by the City of Frankfurt am Main, the German Physical Society (DPG) and the German Chemical Society (GDCh). It serves to promote science, particularly in the fields of chemistry, physics and applied engineering sciences, by recognising outstanding scientific achievements. It is endowed with 50,000 euros and is awarded every two years and presented at a ceremony in Frankfurt's St Paul's Church.
The Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft e. V. (DPG), whose tradition dates back to 1845, is the oldest national physics society in the world and, with around 55,000 members, also the one with the largest membership. As a non-profit organisation, it does not pursue any commercial interests. The DPG promotes the transfer of knowledge within the scientific community through conferences, events and publications and aims to open a window to physics for anyone who is curious. Special emphasis is placed on the promotion of young scientists and equal opportunities. The DPG is based in Bad Honnef on the Rhine. In Berlin, the DPG maintains its capital city representative office for networking with players from politics and society. Website: www.dpg-physik.de
With over 28,000 members, the German Chemical Society (GDCh) is one of the largest chemical societies in the world. It promotes scientific work, research and teaching as well as the exchange and dissemination of scientific knowledge. The GDCh supports education in schools and universities as well as continuous professional and career development. www.gdch.de
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The 53rd German Food Chemistry Days will take place at the University of Halle-Wittenberg from 22 to 24 September. The annual conference of the Lebensmittelchemische Gesellschaft (LChG), the largest specialist group of the Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker (GDCh), will focus on solutions to current challenges in the field of food quality and consumer protection. As part of the event, two scientists will also be honoured with the Joseph König Memorial Coin for their special commitment to food chemistry.
Why do many meat substitutes taste bitter and smell of grass? Julia Heidenkampf from the Technical University of Munich knows the answer and a solution. The food chemist and her team have decoded the molecular formula of meat flavour. Using the sensomics concept - a method for analysing flavours and odours - she identified seven key flavours and 28 key odours in a beef patty. This molecular map shows which basic building blocks (precursors) are missing in plant products. In her presentation, Heidenkampf explains how molecular imitation could be used to revolutionise the taste of plant-based alternatives.Every German eats eight litres of ice cream a year. The problem: although the sugar it contains is unhealthy, it also provides the creamy consistency. Lisa J. Wagner from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology investigated how sugar in ice cream can be replaced by fibre from side streams of food production - without compromising the creaminess. Wagner and her team of researchers from KIT and TU Berlin use side streams from the food industry: carrot pomace (press residue from juice production), lupine fibres and blackcurrant seeds. From these, they extract soluble dietary fibres - indigestible plant fibres that are chemically similar to sugar. Ice cream to which this fibre is added tastes as creamy as usual, even though it contains less sugar. In the lecture, Wagner shows how supposedly inferior side streams can contribute to sugar-reduced ice cream in this way.Kim Lara Gützkow from the Max Rubner Institute in Kiel and her team have detected a new contaminant in grated hard cheese for the first time: methoxy-STC, a potentially mutagenic substance. When analysing commercial cheese samples, they found various mycotoxins - toxins produced by mould fungi - particularly in grated hard cheese of the Grana type. The scientists identified the mould fungus Aspergillus versicolor as the culprit. Plant-based drinks also harbour risks: 71 percent of the oat drinks examined contained T2/HT2 toxins, while almond drinks were frequently contaminated with aflatoxin B1 and sterigmatocystin. The findings show that manufacturers need to improve their processes both in cheese ripening and in the production of plant-based drinks. In her presentation, Gützkow explains which factors favour toxin formation and how consumers can protect themselves.Dr Jürgen Kuballa from GALAB Laboratories Hamburg will show in his presentation how self-learning computer programs are revolutionising food analysis. Chemometrics (mathematical methods for analysing chemical data) is being given new possibilities by AI. Where complex laboratory analyses used to be necessary, today a fluorescence spectrometric measurement combined with intelligent algorithms is often sufficient. For example, different quality levels of olive oil can be precisely differentiated. But the new technology raises questions: How can food chemistry utilise these tools? Many AI models work like a "black box" - you can see the result, but you don't understand how you got there. This makes it difficult to validate such methods. The "Chemometrics & Quality Assurance" working group of the GDCh's Analytical Chemistry Division is therefore developing guidelines for safe use. In his presentation, Kuballa will highlight not only the possibilities of AI in quality control, but also its limitations and risks.During the event, the GDCh will honour two scientists with the Joseph König commemorative coin:Dr Konrad Grob receives the award for his lifetime achievement in food analysis. He was instrumental in developing capillary gas chromatography (a high-resolution separation method for chemical compounds). His research uncovered contamination from mineral oils, plasticisers and printing inks in food. He exposed olive oil adulteration and researched the formation of acrylamide in potato products. As a long-standing EFSA expert, he has left his mark on European consumer protection.
Professor Dr Reinhard Matissek receives the award for four decades of pioneering work in food safety. The food chemist was Director of the Food Chemistry Institute of the German Confectionery Industry Association (LCI) in Cologne from 1989 to 2019. Among other things, he developed minimisation strategies for harmful substances such as acrylamide and mineral oils in food. He has been promoting young scientists for 27 years, advises the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment and has influenced generations of students with his textbooks.Further information on the 53rd German Food Chemistry Days can be found at www.gdch.de/lchtage2025.With over 28,000 members, the GDCh is one of the largest chemical science societies in the world. It has numerous specialised structures, including the Food Chemistry Society, whose task is to promote the exchange of ideas in the field of food chemistry and its neighbouring disciplines and to provide technical suggestions. With over 2500 members, the Food Chemistry Society is the largest specialist group in the GDCh.
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The German Chemical Society (GDCh) awards Professor Dr Dr h.c. Ilka Parchmann, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel and Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education (IPN), the Heinz Schmidkunz Prize, endowed with 7500 euros. With this award, the society honours Parchmann's commitment and achievements in chemistry didactics. The award ceremony will take place on 17 September as part of the 41st advanced training and lecture conference of the GDCh Chemistry Education Section in Erlangen.
The Heinz Schmidkunz Prize, endowed with 7500 euros, is awarded to individuals who have rendered outstanding services to chemistry didactics research, the training of chemistry teachers and the teaching of chemistry in schools. This year's winner, Ilka Parchmann, receives the award for her great services to chemistry didactics. She has had a significant impact on research, teacher training and school teaching in the subject of chemistry - in Schleswig-Holstein, throughout Germany and internationally.
The concept of "Chemistry in Context", which Parchmann helped to develop, is particularly noteworthy. It combines questions relevant to everyday life with systematic skills development. This approach has a pioneering influence on chemistry teaching. In addition, the prizewinner intensively promotes cooperation between the university and school practice. At the Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education (IPN) at Kiel University, she supports the development of modern curricula, and Parchmann also initiates innovative training formats for teachers. The "Nano Summer School", for example, provides insights into current research topics. Subject-specific science, didactics and teaching practice are creatively combined. Their research into learning processes, learning prerequisites and possible obstacles creates the basis for effective chemistry lessons. The aim is for pupils to understand and appreciate chemistry and to experience the fascination of the subject. Through these diverse activities, Parchmann has a lasting positive influence on the didactic landscape of chemistry.
Ilka Parchmann passed the 1st state examination for secondary school teachers in chemistry and biology at the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg in 1993. In 1997, she gained her doctorate in chemistry didactics, also in Oldenburg. This was followed in 1999 by the 2nd state examination at the Wilhelmshaven Studienseminar before she worked as a research assistant at the Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education (IPN) in Kiel from 1999 to 2002. In 2002, she qualified as a professor at the Christian-Albrechts-Universität (CAU) in Kiel and took up a professorship for the didactics of chemistry at the IPN and CAU Kiel. From 2004 to 2009, she was Professor of Chemistry Education at the University of Oldenburg. In 2009 she returned to the IPN and CAU Kiel as Professor and Director of the Department of Chemistry Education. Parchmann has received numerous awards, including an honorary doctorate from Umeå University, Sweden, in 2018. She has also headed the Kiel Research Workshop since 2012.Further information on the conference: www.gdch.de/fgcu2025With over 28,000 members, the German Chemical Society (GDCh) is one of the largest chemical societies in the world. It promotes scientific work, research and teaching as well as the exchange and dissemination of scientific knowledge. The GDCh supports education in schools and universities as well as continuous professional and career development.
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On December 3rd, at the Sala Zuccari of the Italian Senate in Roma, Nobel Laureate Professor Jean-Marie Lehn will be honoured with the Primo Levi Award 2025. The award, jointly presented by the Italian Chemical Society (Società Chimica Italiana, SCI), the German Chemical Society (Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker, GDCh), and the Centro Internazionale di Studi Primo Levi, recognises the profound contributions of Prof. Lehn as an advocate of the transnational nature of science. His dedication has been instrumental in advancing pan-European scientific cooperation within the chemistry community. Prof. Lehn played an outstanding role in overcoming historical and political divisions, thereby fostering a cohesive and unified spirit across the continent.
This year, the Italian Chemical Society (Società Chimica Italiana, SCI), the German Chemical Society (Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker, GDCh), and the Centro Internazionale di Studi Primo Levi are honouring Prof. Jean-Marie Lehn with the Primo Levi Award in recognition of his remarkable impact as an ambassador of science dedicated to uniting people through scientific excellence, international cooperation, and the ethical advancement of knowledge. His legacy encompasses groundbreaking scientific discoveries and a profound commitment to fostering unity, understanding, and cooperation across borders.
Prof. Jean-Marie Lehn consistently demonstrated the power of science as a pivotal force in promoting European scientific cohesion and transnational cooperation in the post-Cold War era. He played a crucial role in overcoming historical divisions contributing significantly to harmonise chemical research and education across the continent. Without his initiative, the joint European publishing endeavour known as Chemistry Europe - launched with the first common publication, Chemistry: A European Journal - might never have come into existence.
In addition, through his leadership role at the International Organization for Chemical Sciences in Development (IOCD), Professor Lehn has significantly advanced the chemical sciences for sustainable development, particularly in developing countries. His core belief, namely that "Science is a vector of peace, development, and progress. It is universal. It should be shared universally" perfectly aligns with the ethical legacy of Primo Levi and underscores Professor Lehn's commitment to human values and scientific integrity that make him so deserving of this prestigious award.
Primo Levi's enduring philosophy, which emphasises the crucial link between scientific facts and human values, finds a powerful parallel in Professor Lehn's dedicated pursuit of ethical responsibility in science. Professor Lehn's excellence in fostering international cooperation, interdisciplinary dialogue, and ethical research demonstrates a profound commitment to human rights and scientific integrity, undoubtedly meriting him this prestigious recognition.
Born in 1939 in Rosheim, Alsace region, Professor Jean-Marie Lehn is a pioneer of supramolecular chemistry. Together with Donald J. Cram and Charles Pedersen, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1987 for the "development and use of molecules with a structure-specific effect of high selectivity". Professor Lehn's ground-breaking research has redefined the understanding of molecular recognition and self-organisation, leading to the development of supramolecular chemistry as a field of immense scientific and technological significance. His discoveries have paved the way for new approaches in drug design, materials science, and nanotechnology, demonstrating the power of chemistry to address global challenges in health, sustainability, and advanced materials. Besides the Nobel Prize and among many other honours, Prof. Jean-Marie Lehn has received the Karl Ziegler Prize from the GDCh in 1989 and the Giulio Natta Gold Medal from the SCI in 2003.
The Primo Levi Award, established in 2017 by the GDCh, SCI, and Centro Internazionale di Studi Primo Levi, commemorates Italian chemist and writer Primo Levi. The award celebrates outstanding chemists and related scientists who are recognised for their research excellence, as well as their significant contributions to humanity, upholding human rights, and raising awareness about science's vital role in achieving just, inclusive, and sustainable global progression.
Primo Levi (1919-1987), the son of a Jewish family, successfully studied chemistry despite the Italian racial laws prohibited Jews from attending state universities at the time. In 1943, he joined the Resistenza, the Italian resistance movement. He was captured that same year and deported to Auschwitz in 1944, where he was forced to work in the Buna chemical plant. Seriously ill, he survived and returned to Torino after his liberation in 1945 where he worked for almost thirty years in the chemical industry. The war years left an indelible mark on him, shaping his life's trajectory. In 1947, he published his seminal work, "Se questo è un uomo" ("If This Is A Man"), processing his harrowing experiences in Auschwitz. Until his death, he devoted himself to bearing witness to the Holocaust and preserving its memory, while also championing human rights and the vital connection between chemistry and society.
The German Chemical Society (Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker, GDCh) has approximately 28,000 members and is one of the largest chemical scientific societies worldwide. It promotes scientific research and teaching as well as the exchange and dissemination of new scientific knowledge. The German Chemical Society supports the creation of networks, the trans-disciplinary and international collaboration and continuous education and training in schools, universities and professional environment.
The chemistry degree programme in Germany enjoys an excellent international reputation. In 2024, around 30 per cent of doctoral students came from abroad. The number of foreign students at the start of the degree programme and especially during the Master's degree programme has also been rising steadily for years. This is shown by the latest statistics on chemistry degree programmes from the German Chemical Society (GDCh).
In 2024, a total of 8004 people started a chemistry degree programme (2023: 8248). The number of students who completed a chemistry degree programme with a Master's degree or the First State Examination was 3546 (2023: 3483). The number of doctorates rose to 2120 last year (2023: 2040). Job-seeking graduates with a doctorate were just as successful in entering professional life as in the previous year.The proportion of international doctoral students in chemistry has more than doubled since the turn of the millennium. While only 13 % of doctoral students came from abroad back then, this figure was 30 % in 2024. Internationalisation is evident at all levels of study: 14.9 % of first-year students in chemistry, 20 % of Master's graduates and 25.4 % of successful doctoral graduates come from abroad. While international students used to come to Germany primarily for their doctorate, they are now increasingly opting to obtain their Bachelor's or Master's degree in Germany.The following results emerged for the individual degree programmes:- In the field of chemistry/business chemistry, the universities reported 5166 first-year students (2023: 5024). 1910 students (2023: 1891) successfully completed their Bachelor's degree, 2052 received their Master's degree (2023: 2111). The median duration of study was 7.0 semesters until the Bachelor's degree (2023: 7.0) and 5.5 semesters until the Master's degree (2023: 5.3). In 2024, 1828 people obtained a doctorate in Chemistry/Economic Chemistry (2023: 1771). The median duration of the doctorate was 8.8 semesters (2023: 8.4).- 1599 people began their studies in Biochemistry and Life Sciences (2023: 1680). The number of Bachelor's degrees totalled 871 (2023: 905), while the number of Master's degrees rose to 856 (2023: 807). The number of doctorates also rose to 253 (2023: 210). The median duration of study was 6.9 semesters for Bachelor's degrees (2023: 6.9), 5.4 semesters for Master's degrees (2023: 5.4) and 9.3 semesters for doctorates (2023: 9.3).- In food chemistry, the number of first-year students fell from 307 in the previous year to 274. 115 students passed the main examination A (1st state examination) or the diploma examination (2023: 150) and 135 people passed the main examination B (2nd state examination) (2023: 125). In addition, the universities reported 137 Bachelor's and 150 Master's degrees (2023: 132 and 133 respectively). The number of doctorates was 39 (2023: 59). The median duration of study up to the main examination A was 11.0 semesters (2023: 10.9). Bachelor's degrees took a median of 6.8 semesters (2023: 6.7) and Master's degrees 4.6 semesters (2023: 4.5). Due to the lack of data, it was not possible to calculate a median duration of study for doctorates.
- 965 people began studying chemistry at universities of applied sciences (HAW) (2023: 1237). The number of Bachelor's degrees fell to 543 (2023: 583) and the number of Master's degrees to 373 (2023: 415). The median duration of study was 8.3 semesters for Bachelor's degrees (2023: 8.0) and 4.7 semesters for Master's degrees (2023: 4.2).Around 97 % of all Bachelor's graduates from universities and 67 % from universities of applied sciences went on to study for a Master's degree. Around 80 % of Master's graduates at universities began a doctorate.
From 45 % of graduates with a doctorate in chemistry, the first step into professional life is known. According to university data, 42.4 % took up a position in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry (2023: 42.4 %), 17.6 % (2023: 17.4 %) took up a temporary position in Germany (incl. postdoc). 14.8 % worked in the rest of the economy after graduation (2023: 14.8 %) and 9.5 % took up a position abroad after graduation (2023: 9.8 %). Around 4.4 % stayed at a university or research institute (2023: 5 %). Around 3.7 % of graduates held a position in the public sector (2023: 4 %). At the time of the survey, 6.6 % were considered jobseekers (2023: 6.2 %).The brochure "Statistics on Chemistry Degree Programmes 2024" is available as a flip catalogue at www.gdch.de/statistik.With around 28,000 members, the German Chemical Society (GDCh) is one of the largest chemical societies in the world. Among other things, it deals with current developments at universities and on the labour market. The GDCh has been collecting extensive statistical data on chemistry degree programmes every year since 1952. The 2024 statistics are based on data from chemistry and business chemistry, biochemistry and life sciences, food chemistry and chemistry degree programmes at universities of applied sciences (HAW), formerly universities of applied sciences. The survey asked about the number of first-year students and students, the number of final examinations passed and the respective final grades and duration of study. In addition, some universities provided information on the career entry of their graduates after completing their degree or doctorate. The cut-off date for the survey is 31 December.
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Compared to the previous year, the total income of non-tariff employees in the chemical-pharmaceutical industry remained almost constant in 2024 with an increase of 0.2 per cent. This is shown in the latest edition of the annual income survey conducted by the VAA together with the German Chemical Society (GDCh)
The median total income in 2024 was around €137,000. In addition to fixed salary and bonus, this also includes other salary components such as non-cash benefits from company cars, proceeds from share options and special payments.
As in the previous year, the components of total income developed in opposite directions: While fixed salaries increased by 3.6 per cent, there was a significant decline of almost 24 per cent in bonus payments. In the previous year, bonus payments had already fallen by 17 per cent.The other salary components fell by almost 13 per cent in 2024.
"The ongoing phase of economic weakness in the industry in Germany is clearly reflected in the income development of specialists and managers in the chemical and pharmaceutical sectors," says Dr Birgit Schwab, 1st Chairwoman of the VAA and supervising board member of the VAA Income Commission. She points out that, according to the German Chemical Industry Association (VCI), chemical production in 2024 was significantly below the level of previous years. "We must therefore be prepared for bonus payments to remain at this reduced level in 2025," says Schwab.
The development of bonus payments in 2024 varied greatly depending on the size of the company: While bonuses in small companies (up to 1,000 employees) fell only slightly and even increased by more than five per cent in medium-sized companies (1,001 - 10,000 employees), specialists and managers in large companies (more than 10,000 employees) had to accept significant cuts: Here, the average bonus decrease was over 55 per cent.Dr Hans-Dieter Gerriets, Chairman of the VAA Income Commission, explains the effects on the salary structure in the industry: "The differences in income development have brought total income in smaller and larger companies much closer together. While the difference between small and large companies was still around 30 per cent in 2022, it was only 12 per cent in 2024."With such cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses, the VAA/GDCh salary survey provides a unique overview of salary trends in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry. More than 4,000 people took part in the current survey. The survey has a scientifically competent and statistically robust foundation thanks to the joint implementation with the German Chemical Society (GDCh) and the scientific support provided by RWTH Aachen University. The special analysis of the GDCh for GDCh members outside the chemical industry as well as the entire data of the participants of the MTV sector within the chemical industry will be published in July/August.With over 28,000 members, the German Chemical Society (GDCh) is one of the largest chemical societies in the world. It promotes scientific work, research and teaching as well as the exchange and dissemination of scientific knowledge. The GDCh supports education in schools and universities as well as continuous professional and career development.
The Verband angestellter Akademiker und leitender Angestellter der chemischen Industrie e. V. (VAA) is an organisation of specialists and managers in the chemical-pharmaceutical industry. As a professional association and trade union for academics, the VAA represents the interests of around 30,000 members from all professional groups. The VAA concludes collective agreements and maintains an intensive dialogue with its social partners and other associations and organisations in the industry.Contact for enquiries:At the GDCh Science Forum Chemistry (SFC) 2025, the Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker (GDCh) will award Professor Dr Varinder Aggarwal, University of Bristol, UK, the Horst-Pracejus-Prize, endowed with 7500 euros.
The GDCh honours Professor Dr Varinder Aggarwal as one of the world's leading chemists in the field of stereoselective synthesis. His fundamental work on the preparation of chiral boronates established a new approach to the construction of defined stereogenic carbon centres, which he elegantly applies in synthesis. The selection committee also emphasised the high international visibility of Aggarwal's work, which is reflected in a high number of citations, lecture invitations and numerous honours.
Varinder Kumar Aggarwal, born in 1961, studied chemistry at the University of Cambridge, UK. He then completed his doctorate in chemistry there in 1986. After postdoctoral stays at Columbia University, New York, USA, Aggarwal was a lecturer at the University of Bath, UK, (1988-1991) and the University of Sheffield, UK, (1991-1997), where he was appointed professor in 1997. Since 2000, he has been a professor at the University of Bristol, UK, where he has also been Alfred Capper Pass Professor since 2019. Aggarwal has received numerous awards, including the Davy Medal of the Royal Society (2019), the Cope Scholar Award of the American Chemical Society (2019) and the Humboldt Research Award (2017). He has been a member of the Royal Society since 2012 and of the Academia Europaea since 2020. Aggarwal is involved in international expert committees and editorial boards of several scientific journals.
Since 1997, the GDCh has honoured scientists for outstanding work in the field of enantioselectivity or chirality with the Horst Pracejus Prize, which is endowed with 7500 euros. Professor Horst Pracejus, who gave the prize its name, was known for his research in the field of chiral catalysis and was head of the Catalysis Research Institute in Rostock.The prize will be awarded at a festive award dinner on 29 September during the GDCh Science Forum Chemistry (SFC) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). There will also be an opportunity to meet the award winner during a "Meet & Greet" at the SFC.
The Science Forum Chemistry (SFC)
Under the motto "Overcoming boundaries together and shaping the future of chemistry", the German Chemical Society (GDCh) invites you to this newly designed event at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) from 29 September to 1 October 2025. The SFC offers chemists a unique platform for interdisciplinary exchange, international networking and forward-looking impulses.
"Thinking across borders" is the motto of the Science Forum Chemistry 2025 - and that's exactly what it's all about: overcoming disciplinary, institutional and national boundaries and tackling the major challenges of chemistry together. A top-class programme of plenary lectures, sessions and exciting discussion rounds creates the ideal framework for lively debates and fruitful collaborations.Further information on the conference can be found at www.gdch.scienceWith over 28,000 members, the German Chemical Society (GDCh) is one of the largest chemical societies in the world. It promotes scientific work, research and teaching as well as the exchange and dissemination of scientific knowledge. The GDCh supports education in schools and universities as well as continuous professional and career development.
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At the GDCh Science Forum Chemistry (SFC) 2025, the Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker (GDCh) will award the Christel and Herbert W. Roesky Prize to Professor Dr Shigeyoshi Inoue, Technical University of Munich. The award from the Christel and Herbert W. Roesky Foundation established by the GDCh is endowed with 10,000 euros. Inoue receives the prize for his outstanding achievements in the field of transition and main group chemistry, in particular for his innovative work in the field of molecular chemistry of the elements silicon and aluminium.
Shigeyoshi Inoue researches main group elements of the 13th to 15th group of the periodic table with the aim of finding novel compounds with extraordinary structures and properties. These should enable innovative applications in synthesis and catalysis. Inoue is particularly interested in low-coordinated, highly reactive complexes - compounds in which the elements have only a few binding partners but are very reactive. He attaches great importance to economically and ecologically advantageous elements such as silicon and aluminium. Inoue's pioneering research has earned him an excellent international reputation, which is reflected in numerous important publications.
Shigeyoshi Inoue, born in Nagoya, Japan, studied at the University of Tsukuba, Japan, until 2005, before completing his doctorate there in 2008. After postdoctoral stays at the TU Berlin as a Humboldt (2008) and JSPS fellow (2009-2010), he headed a research group there from 2010-2015 as Sofja Kovalevskaja Professor. From 2015-2020, he held a W2 professorship for silicon chemistry at TU Munich, where he has been a W3 professor of silicon chemistry since 2020. Inoue has received numerous awards, including the Sofja Kovalevskaja Prize (2010), ERC Starting (2014) and Consolidator Grant (2020) as well as the WACKER Silicone Award (2023). He has already published over 182 papers in scientific journals.The award will be presented at a festive award dinner on 29 September during the GDCh Science Forum Chemistry (SFC) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). There will also be an opportunity to meet the award winner during a "Meet & Greet" at the SFC.The Science Forum Chemistry
Under the motto "Overcoming boundaries together and shaping the future of chemistry", the German Chemical Society (GDCh) invites you to this newly designed event at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) from 29 September to 1 October 2025. The SFC offers chemists a unique platform for interdisciplinary exchange, international networking and forward-looking impulses.
"Thinking across borders" is the motto of the Science Forum Chemistry 2025 - and that's exactly what it's all about: overcoming disciplinary, institutional and national boundaries and tackling the major challenges of chemistry together. A top-class programme of plenary lectures, sessions and exciting discussion rounds creates the ideal framework for lively debates and fruitful collaborations.Further information on the conference can be found at www.gdch.scienceWith over 28,000 members, the German Chemical Society (GDCh) is one of the largest chemical societies in the world. It promotes scientific work, research and teaching as well as the exchange and dissemination of scientific knowledge. The GDCh supports education in schools and universities as well as continuous professional and career development.
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Two sustainability researchers have been honoured by the German Chemical Society (GDCh) for their work. Professor Dr Siegfried R. Waldvogel, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion, Mülheim an der Ruhr, receives the Wöhler Prize for Sustainable Chemistry for his outstanding and pioneering achievements in the field of electrosynthesis. Dr Daniel Eggerichs is awarded the Prize for Bioconversion of Renewable Resources for his dissertation at the Ruhr University Bochum. Both prize winners will receive their awards on 29 September at the GDCh Science Forum Chemistry (SFC).
For over 25 years, Siegfried Waldvogel has played a key role in shaping the field of electrosynthesis with his extraordinary research achievements. He uses electric current to produce organic compounds in an ecologically and economically favourable way. Waldvogel develops holistic technological approaches that range from academic research to industrial application. For example, he co-founded the start-up ESy-Labs GmbH, which uses electrosynthesis and electrocatalysis to produce high-quality chemical compounds such as active pharmaceutical ingredients and fine chemicals. Through his commitment, Waldvogel is also making a decisive contribution to the sustainable transformation of synthesis processes.
Siegfried R. Waldvogel, born in 1969, studied chemistry at the University of Constance until 1994. In 1996, he completed his doctorate at Ruhr University Bochum and the Max Planck Institute for Coal Research in Mülheim an der Ruhr. After a postdoctoral stay at the Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, USA, he habilitated in organic chemistry at the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster in 2004. He was subsequently Professor of Organic Chemistry at the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn until 2010 and Professor of Physical-Organic Chemistry at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz from 2010 to 2023. Since 2023, Waldvogel has been Director at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion in Mülheim an der Ruhr. He has received numerous awards, is active on many committees and is co-founder of the company ESy-Labs GmbH.Also at the SFC, the prize for bioconversion of renewable raw materials will be awarded, which was established at the GDCh in 2021 by GDCh member Prof Dr Manfred Schneider. The award, which is endowed with 2000 euros, is given to young doctoral students who completed their doctorate no more than two years ago. This year's winner is Dr Daniel Eggerichs. In his dissertation at Ruhr University Bochum, he focussed on the use of lignin monomers (natural aromatic compounds from plants) as a sustainable resource for the production of bioplastics. With the help of the bacterium Rhodococcus jostii RHA1, he succeeded in making the enzymes involved usable as biocatalysts for industrial applications for the first time.The Science Forum Chemistry (SFC)Under the motto "Overcoming boundaries together and shaping the future of chemistry", the German Chemical Society (GDCh) invites you to this newly designed event at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) from 29 September to 1 October 2025. The SFC offers chemists a unique platform for interdisciplinary exchange, international networking and forward-looking impulses.
"Thinking across borders" is the motto of the Science Forum Chemistry 2025 - and that's exactly what it's all about: overcoming disciplinary, institutional and national boundaries and tackling the major challenges of chemistry together. A top-class programme of plenary lectures, sessions and exciting discussion rounds creates the ideal framework for lively debates and fruitful collaborations.Further information on the conference can be found at www.gdch.scienceWith over 28,000 members, the German Chemical Society (GDCh) is one of the largest chemical societies in the world. It promotes scientific work, research and teaching as well as the exchange and dissemination of scientific knowledge. The GDCh supports education in schools and universities as well as continuous professional and career development.
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The German Chemical Society (GDCh) honours Professor Dr Roland A. Fischer, Technical University of Munich, with the Wilhelm Klemm Prize. The award ceremony will take place at the GDCh Science Forum Chemistry (SFC) in Karlsruhe. The prizewinner receives the award in particular for his outstanding and pioneering contributions to metal-organic networks (MOFs) as well as his multifaceted commitment to research, teaching and science policy.
The Wilhelm Klemm Prize, which is endowed with 7500 euros, honours Professor Wilhelm Klemm from Münster, who advanced inorganic chemistry with his research. The GDCh awards the prize to individuals who have done outstanding work in the field of inorganic chemistry.For 20 years, Fischer and his working group have been researching functional materials for energy, catalysis, gas storage, sensor technology and photonics. One focus is on porous coordination polymers, in particular metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). These framework structures made of metal ions and organic linkers have huge inner surfaces and can store large quantities of gases. Potential applications include gas storage, separation and purification, catalysis and sensor technology.Fischer's pioneering achievements include the development of novel MOF concepts: In "Metals@MOFs", he was one of the first to utilise the porous MOF structure to store catalytically or optically active metal nanoparticles. With "SURMOFs", he established methods for the controlled deposition of thin MOF films that are suitable for sensor technology or optoelectronics. By introducing semiconductor quantum dots, he created "QDs@MOFs" - promising for light emission or photocatalysis. These creative approaches have added additional functions to MOFs and opened up completely new application perspectives.
Roland A. Fischer studied chemistry at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) until 1986. He obtained his doctorate in chemistry there in 1989 and also habilitated at TUM in 1995. After a postdoctoral stay 1989-1990 at the University of California, Los Angeles, USA, he was Associate Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Heidelberg from 1996-1997. From 1997-2015, he was Professor of Inorganic Chemistry II at the Ruhr University Bochum. Since 2015, he has been Professor and holder of the Chair of Inorganic and Organometallic Chemistry at TUM. Fischer has received numerous awards, including the Alfried Krupp Prize for Young University Teachers (1996), the Dr. phil. h.c. of the Ruhr University Bochum (2017) and the International Prize of the Japanese Society for Coordination Chemistry (2022). He was Vice President of the German Research Foundation (DFG) from 2016-2021 and has been a member of the European Academy of Sciences since 2018. Fischer has published over 650 publications.The Wilhelm Klemm Prize will be awarded at a festive award dinner on 29 September 2025 as part of the GDCh Science Forum Chemistry (SFC) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).The Science Forum Chemistry
Under the motto "Overcoming boundaries together and shaping the future of chemistry", the German Chemical Society (GDCh) invites you to this newly designed event at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) from 29 September to 1 October 2025. The SFC offers chemists a unique platform for interdisciplinary exchange, international networking and forward-looking impulses.
"Thinking across borders" is the motto of the Science Forum Chemistry 2025 - and that's exactly what it's all about: overcoming disciplinary, institutional and national boundaries and tackling the major challenges of chemistry together. A top-class programme of plenary lectures, sessions and exciting discussion rounds creates the ideal framework for lively debates and fruitful collaborations.Further information on the conference can be found at www.gdch.scienceWith over 28,000 members, the German Chemical Society (GDCh) is one of the largest chemical societies in the world. It promotes scientific work, research and teaching as well as the exchange and dissemination of scientific knowledge. The GDCh supports education in schools and universities as well as continuous professional and career development.
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The German Chemical Society (GDCh) will award Professor Dr Armido Studer, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, with the Adolf von Baeyer Medal on 29 September. The award ceremony will take place during the GDCh Science Forum Chemistry (SFC) 2025 in Karlsruhe. With this award, the GDCh recognises Studer as one of the leading international scientists in the field of organic chemistry. For more than twenty years, he has made a remarkable impact on the field of radical chemistry.
The Adolf von Baeyer Memorial Medal, which is endowed with 7500 euros, is awarded to scientists for outstanding work in the field of organic chemistry. Adolf von Baeyer was one of the most important chemists of his time and was honoured with the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1905 for the synthesis of indigo and triphenylmethane dyes. This year's laureate, Professor Dr Armido Studer, receives the award for his outstanding scientific achievements in the field of organic radical chemistry. He is recognised as one of the world's leading experts in this field and has made a significant contribution to a "renaissance of radical chemistry".Studer's innovative methods are widely used in synthesis and have led to enormous progress. Particularly noteworthy is Studer's pioneering work on the concept of the "electron as a catalyst" (use of individual electrons to accelerate chemical reactions) and the use of the hydrogen atom generated from water as a reactive species (use of hydrogen from water for novel chemical reactions).Armido Studer, born in 1967, studied chemistry at ETH Zurich, Switzerland, until 1991, where he also obtained his doctorate in 1995. After postdoctoral stays at the University of Pittsburgh, USA, and ETH Zurich, he qualified as a professor at ETH in 2000. From 2000-2004 he was a professor at the Philipps University of Marburg, and since 2004 he has been Director of the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Professor at the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster.
Studer has received numerous awards, including ERC Advanced Grants in 2016 and 2024, the Arthur C. Cope Late Career Scholars Award of the American Chemical Society (2024) and the Paracelsus Prize of the Swiss Chemical Society (2024). He is a member of the Leopoldina, the North Rhine-Westphalian Academy of Sciences, Humanities and the Arts, the Academia Europaea and the European Academy of Sciences. With over 440 publications and an h-index of 104, he is one of the most prolific chemists in terms of research.
The Adolf von Baeyer Medal will be presented at a festive award dinner on 29 September 2025 as part of the GDCh Science Forum Chemistry (SFC) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).The Science Forum Chemistry
Under the motto "Overcoming boundaries together and shaping the future of chemistry", the German Chemical Society (GDCh) invites you to this newly designed event at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) from 29 September to 1 October 2025. The SFC offers chemists a unique platform for interdisciplinary exchange, international networking and forward-looking impulses.
With over 28,000 members, the German Chemical Society (GDCh) is one of the largest chemical societies in the world. It promotes scientific work, research and teaching as well as the exchange and dissemination of scientific knowledge. The GDCh supports education in schools and universities as well as continuous professional and career development.
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To overcome boundaries together and shape the future of chemistry - this is the guiding principle of the German Chemical Society (GDCh), which is hosting the GDCh Science Forum Chemistry (SFC) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) from 29 September to 1 October 2025. The redesigned event offers chemists a unique platform for interdisciplinary exchange, international networking and forward-looking impulses.
"Thinking across borders" is the motto of the Science Forum Chemistry 2025 - and that's exactly what it's all about: overcoming disciplinary, institutional and national boundaries and tackling the major challenges of chemistry together. A top-class programme of plenary lectures, sessions and exciting discussion rounds creates the ideal framework for lively debates and fruitful collaborations.
Highlights include plenary lectures by internationally renowned scientists such as Dr Josep Cornella from the Max Planck Institute for Coal Research in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Professor Dr Eva Hevia from the University of Bern, Switzerland, Professor Dr Anat Milo from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel, and Professor Dr Helma Wennemers from ETH Zurich, Switzerland. Numerous GDCh specialist groups will enrich the programme with (partly interdisciplinary) sessions in which they will offer exclusive insights into their current research. A joint session organised by the American Chemical Society (ACS) and the GDCh will focus on sustainability in chemistry. The GDCh's newly developed sustainability strategy will also be presented.As a special extra, the 200th anniversary of KIT offers an opportunity to look back on a long tradition of excellent science and at the same time set the course for a promising future.In keeping with the guiding principle of the event, the GDCh will consolidate and establish a number of international collaborations within the framework of the SFC. While the Memorandum of Understanding with the ACS and the Swiss Chemical Society (SCS) will be renewed, the signing of agreements with the European sister societies Österreichische Chemische Gesellschaft (GÖCH) and Societá Chimica Italiana (SCI, Italian Chemical Society) is also on the programme.
Another highlight of the event is the festive awards dinner, at which outstanding personalities in chemistry are honoured for their pioneering research achievements. Prestigious awards such as the Karl Ziegler Prize, endowed with 50,000 euros, are presented to the winners in a festive setting. The dinner provides a worthy occasion to celebrate the achievements of the scientists and at the same time offers the opportunity for personal encounters and discussions. Former GDCh President Professor Dr Barbara Albert, University of Duisburg-Essen, will receive special recognition during the opening ceremony. She will be awarded honorary membership of the GDCh for her services to chemistry in general and the GDCh in particular.
In addition to focussing on the major issues of our time, the SFC also focuses on personal exchange and individual support. In interactive formats, young talents will be able to talk to award winners and editors of GDCh journals. In an accompanying exhibition, companies and publishers invite visitors to engage in dialogue.With the SFC 2025, the GDCh wants to establish a new event format that reflects chemistry in all its breadth and relevance. By closely interlinking science, industry and society, the conference will provide important impetus for sustainable and responsible science.Registration for the Science Forum Chemistry 2025 will be possible from the beginning of May. Further information on the programme and registration can be found at www.gdch.science.
With over 28,000 members, the German Chemical Society (GDCh) is one of the largest chemical societies in the world. It promotes scientific work, research and teaching as well as the exchange and dissemination of scientific knowledge. The GDCh supports education in schools and universities as well as continuous professional and career development.
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06/25
23 April 2025
The global sustainability goals can only be achieved with significant support from the chemical industry. Whether energy production, the circular economy or the reduction of greenhouse gases - chemistry provides essential solutions. The German Chemical Society (GDCh) is implementing a comprehensive sustainability strategy and thus contributing to solutions.
"As the largest chemical society in the EU, we are aware of the importance of sustainable science, take responsibility and lead by example," emphasises GDCh President Prof. Dr Stefanie Dehnen. "Together with our members and the expertise of our specialist groups, we are advancing sustainability and contributing to a future worth living."As part of the "Sustainability Strategy 2030", the GDCh aims to:The sustainability strategy was developed in 2024 by a specially appointed commission. The GDCh Executive Board followed the commission's recommendations and established the necessary structures to effectively implement the sustainability strategy.
The newly created position of Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) will in future be held by Prof. Dr Herwig Buchholz, a recognised expert in this field. Together with a Sustainability Commission, which will be made up of expert and experienced representatives from various specialist groups and institutions, he will be responsible for implementing the sustainability strategy. Together with the CSO, the commission reports directly to the GDCh Executive Committee and forms the central element of sustainability governance."Our sustainability strategy is based on our core competences," explains Buchholz. "We utilise our unique network potential and bundle relevant knowledge and expertise for sustainable solutions and make this available on sustainability issues. In this way, we can highlight the key role of chemistry for a sustainable future and make important contributions. In this way, our science makes a decisive contribution to enabling a sustainable economy. Our sustainability strategy strengthens the future viability of the GDCh and emphasises its social importance."Herwig Buchholz is Managing Partner of the management consultancy ELCH and previously held various management positions at the science and technology group Merck, most recently as Global Head Corporate Sustainability. He holds a doctorate in chemistry from the University of Hamburg and is a Fellow at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. From 2016 to 2023, he was a board member of the GDCh and is involved in several academic and non-profit organisations on a voluntary basis, including a professorship at the University of Oldenburg.More information at www.gdch.de/nachhaltigkeit
With over 28,000 members, the German Chemical Society (GDCh) is one of the largest chemical societies in the world. It promotes scientific work, research and teaching as well as the exchange and dissemination of scientific knowledge. The GDCh supports education in schools and universities as well as continuous professional and career development.
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Joint press release by the German Mathematical Society (DMV), the German Physical Society (DPG), the Society of German Chemists (GDCh), the Association of Biology, Biosciences and Biomedicine in Germany (VBIO) and the Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft e.V.
This year's Ars legendi Faculty Award for excellent university teaching in mathematics and the natural sciences goes to Prof Dr Benedikt Heuckmann from the University of Münster (biology), Dr Sabrina Gensberger-Reigl from Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (chemistry), Dr Jörg Härterich from Ruhr-Universität Bochum (mathematics) and Dr Sebastian Schellhammer from Technische Universität Dresden (physics).
The Ars legendi Faculty Prize for Mathematics and Natural Sciences honours academics who have distinguished themselves through outstanding, innovative and exemplary achievements in teaching, advising and supporting their students. The award is presented in the categories of biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics and is endowed with 5000 euros each.
The award winners were selected by a nine-member jury made up of representatives from the four disciplines, university didactics and students. The jury was very impressed by the diversity of innovative teaching approaches. It awarded the Ars legendi Faculty Prize 2025 to the following university lecturers:In the Biology category
Prof. Dr Benedikt Heuckmann from the University of Münster impressed the jury with the successful integration of subject-specific science and didactics as well as the comprehensive digitalisation of his teaching offer for student teachers, including the programming of computer simulations.
In the Chemistry
categoryDr Sabrina Gensberger-Reigl from FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg supports a smooth transition from university to industry with her two-semester, practical seminar in the Food Chemistry degree programme. She thus makes a significant contribution to the students' career orientation. Important skills are promoted through project work in small groups.
In the category MathematicsDr Jörg Härterich from Ruhr-Universität Bochum teaches maths as a minor and major subject using the method of dosed prelearning. This means that students are already familiarised with important aspects of the lesson at the start of each lecture. In the attendance phase, there is then time for a "warm-up" in the form of a quiz and for various elements of active learning.
In the category Physics
Dr Sebastian Schellhammer from TU Dresden manages to prepare socially relevant physics topics for student teachers in an excellent way. He deliberately chooses research fields such as climate physics or nanotechnology, which can be used to demonstrate interdisciplinary approaches. The choice of topics also enables the teaching of broader contexts and enables students to effectively refute false arguments (such as climate change) using physical knowledge and experiments.
The Ars legendi Faculty Prize for Mathematics and Natural Sciences has been awarded annually since 2014 by the Stifterverband, the Association of Biology, Biosciences and Biomedicine in Germany, the Society of German Chemists, the German Mathematical Society and the German Physical Society.
https://stifterverband.org/ars-legendi-mn
To the award ceremony
Interested parties are cordially invited to the Ars legendi Faculty Prize for Mathematics and Natural Sciences 2025 award ceremony. This will take place on 24 April 2025 at 17:00 in the Langenbeck-Virchow-Haus in Berlin. Please register at berlin@vbio.de.
Press contact
Verband Biologie, Biowissenschaften und Biomedizin in Deutschland (VBIO e. V.)
Kerstin Elbing
T 030 27891918
elbing@vbio.de
Stifterverband
Peggy Groß
T 030 322982-530
peggy.gross@stifterverband.de
Professor Dr Paola Bertucci, Yale University, New Haven, USA, receives the Paul Bunge Prize 2025 for her book "In the Land of Marvels. Science, Fabricated Realities, and Industrial Espionage in the Age of the Grand Tour". In it, she sheds new light not only on the work of Abbé Nollet, but also on the importance and significance of electrical devices in the 18th century. The award ceremony will take place on 17 March as part of the Bunsen Conference 2025 at the University of Leipzig. The Hans R. Jenemann Foundation Prize is endowed with 7500 euros and is awarded jointly by the German Chemical Society (GDCh) and the German Bunsen Society for Physical Chemistry (DBG). It honours outstanding work on the history of scientific instruments.
Paola Bertucci receives the Paul Bunge Prize for her monograph "In the Land of Marvels. Science, Fabricated Realities, and Industrial Espionage in the Age of the Grand Tour" about Abbé Nollet, an important experimental scientist of the 18th century. The author sheds light on Nollet's little-known journey to Italy in 1749 and his secret mission to investigate automated silk production. The chapters on Nollet's research into "miraculous" cures using electrical instruments, which he later exposed as a hoax, are particularly relevant to the Paul Bunge Prize. Bertucci skilfully links scientific debates about the legitimacy of experimental results with public controversies about electrical healing methods in the 18th century. Her work sheds new light on the scientific and public significance of electrical devices in the 18th century.Paola Bertucci studied physics at the University of Bologna, IT, until 1994 and obtained a master's degree in the history of science at the University of Oxford, UK, in 1997. She obtained her PhD in History of Science there in 2001. From 2001-2008 she was a research assistant at the University of Bologna. In 2005 she was a visiting lecturer at the Faculty of Design and Art, Department of Industrial Design, IUAV University of Venice, Italy. From 2008-2014 Bertucci was Assistant Professor and 2015-2022 Associate Professor of History of Science and Medicine at Yale University, USA. She has held a professorship in the history of science and medicine there since 2023. Bertucci has also been Curator of the History of Science and Technology Department at Yale University's Natural History Museum since 2012. Bertucci is active in several specialist committees, including as president of the American Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies. She has published numerous publications and has already received several prestigious awards.The Paul Bunge Prize is considered the world's most important honour in the field of the history of scientific instruments and is announced publicly and internationally. The advisory board of the Hans R. Jenemann Foundation, which is supported by the GDCh and the DBG, decides on the award. Hans R. Jenemann (1920-1996), a chemist at Schott Glaswerke in Mainz, became known for his contributions to the history of scientific instruments, especially historical balances. He himself established the foundation in 1992. The prize is named after the Hamburg precision mechanic Paul Bunge (1839-1888), one of the leading designers of laboratory balances for chemical analysis.With over 28,000 members, the German Chemical Society (GDCh) is one of the largest chemical science societies in the world. It maintains numerous foundations, including the Hans R. Jenemann Foundation. The Paul Bunge Prize of the Hans R. Jenemann Foundation is awarded annually, usually alternating between the Bunsen Conference and the lecture conferences of the GDCh History of Chemistry Division.The press release as a PDF document
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Around 350 chemists will come together at the Technische Universität Braunschweig from 17 to 19 March for the Chemistry Lecturers' Conference (CDT) 2025. The German Chemical Society (GDCh) will be awarding two prestigious prizes at the event: Dr Karl Arnold Reuter, Freiburg, will be awarded the Carl Duisberg Plaque and Professor Dr Christoph Kerzig, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, will receive the Carl Duisberg Memorial Prize. In addition, one young scientist and two young scientists will receive ADUC prizes for establishing an independent field of research.
The Chemistry Lecturers' Conference is organised by the Association of German University Professors of Chemistry (ADUC) of the GDCh and brings together young academics from all areas of chemistry. Habilitation candidates, junior professors and scholarship holders use the conference to present their research and exchange ideas. For the first time, CDT 2025 will also see the presentation of results from postdocs or planned independent research projects in the form of short presentations. In addition to scientific presentations, this year's programme also includes the inaugural meeting of the new GDCh Supramolecular Chemistry Working Group. As a special highlight, the team of the GDCh journal Angewandte Chemie invites you to a presentation under the motto "Be surprised!" on 17 March at 18:40. This will be followed by a reception and get-together. The GDCh will also award the Carl Duisberg Plaque and the Carl Duisberg Memorial Prize in a festive setting at the conference, and the ADUC will honour one young scientist and two young scientists with ADUC prizes.
The Carl Duisberg Plaque, a gold medal, is awarded by the GDCh to individuals who have rendered outstanding services to the promotion of chemistry and the aims of the GDCh. Dr Karl Arnold Reuter receives the award for his services to the promotion of scientific creativity in chemistry - in particular for his commitment and dedication to the Lives in Chemistry (LiC) book series. The autobiographical series provides insights into the lives and thoughts of outstanding researchers as reflected by the times. An advisory board appointed by the board of the GDCh's History of Chemistry Division is steering the series. Reuter supports the project.
Karl Arnold Reuter, born in 1955, studied chemistry at Justus Liebig University Giessen, where he also gained his doctorate in 1985. After a postdoctoral stay at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA, he began his industrial career at BENCKISER and Sandoz Agro in Basel, Switzerland, and in St Pierre La Garenne, France. In 1993, he founded his company Reuter Chemische Apparatebau in Freiburg, Germany. He develops innovative separation processes for splitting racemates and purifying mixtures of organic substances and employs around 90 people.
The Carl Duisberg Memorial Prize, endowed with 7500 euros, has been awarded since 1936 to young university lecturers who are working at a German university or as a German at a foreign university, do not yet hold a W2/W3 or comparable position and have not yet reached the age of 40. This year, Professor Dr Christoph Kerzig, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, receives the award for his outstanding research in the field of photochemistry. His work is characterised by highly innovative approaches to the use of light energy, particularly in the field of elucidating the mechanisms of photochemical reactions, but also upconversion and photoredox catalysis. Kerzig has made significant contributions to research into light-driven reactions that have the potential to replace fossil raw materials and thus contribute to more sustainable chemistry. His work has made a significant contribution to the further development of chemistry in the direction of environmentally friendly and resource-conserving science. Kerzig impressed the selection committee not only with his research and numerous high-ranking publications, but also with his dedicated teaching and promotion of young scientists.Christoph Kerzig, born in 1987, studied chemistry at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU). He completed his doctorate there in 2017 with summa cum laude honours. After postdoctoral stays in Halle-Wittenberg, the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, and the University of Basel, Switzerland, he moved to Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz as a junior professor in 2020. He has been Professor of Inorganic Chemistry and Photochemistry there since 2024. He has already received numerous awards for his research, including one of the ADUC prizes in 2023.
During the conference, the ADUC will also honour one young scientist and two young scientists with ADUC awards. Assistant Professor Dr Nina Hartrampf, University of Zurich, Switzerland, will receive an ADUC Award for her stimulating approaches in the field of preparative peptide research, in particular the combination of modern flow-chemical synthesis methods with biosynthesis steps in the generation of lasso peptides. Dr John Molloy, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces Potsdam and Freie Universität Berlin, is also being honoured in recognition of his pioneering research into the use of organoboron compounds to generate structural complexity using photocatalytic strategies. Junior Professor Dr Johannes Wahl, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, receives an ADUC award in recognition of his creative contributions to the development of stereoselective synthesis methods, especially through the skilful implementation of small-ring compounds with new catalytic processes.Further information on the conference can be found at www.gdch.de/cdt2025
The German Chemical Society (GDCh) is one of the largest chemical societies in the world with over 28,000 members. It has 27 specialist groups and awards numerous prizes for special achievements in chemical research. The long-established GDCh Association of German University Professors of Chemistry (ADUC) annually honours up to three young scientists (during habilitation, fellowship or junior professorship) for the establishment of an independent field of research.
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Under the motto "Cycling Chemistry", the spring symposium of the JCF (JungesChemieForum) of the German Chemical Society (GDCh) will take place from 12 to 15 March in the cycling city of Münster. The conference is aimed at the young chemistry community in Germany and abroad. Around 300 scientists are expected to attend. The programme includes lectures, workshops, an industry exhibition and a poster session. Other highlights include the presentation of the Carl Roth Award and the Dres. Volker and Elke Münch Award.
For 27 years, the JCF Spring Symposium has been one of the largest conferences in Europe organised by and for young researchers. The event is organised annually by different regional forums of the JCF, the GDCh's young scientists' organisation. In 2025, the regional forums Münster, Essen-Duisburg and Dortmund have taken over the organisation and jointly created a diverse programme. In addition to internationally renowned scientists, the event will be attended by junior research group leaders and young researchers in particular.
The motto "Cycling Chemistry" not only picks up on the location of the event, but also alludes to the topics of recycling and battery cycling - the cyclical recharging of batteries. It thus emphasises the importance of chemistry for a sustainable future and the role of young scientists in the development of innovative solutions. This is also reflected in the high-calibre scientific programme. The plenary speakers include Professor Dr Klaus Kümmerer, Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Professor Dr Saiful Islam, University of Oxford, UK, Professor Dr Sebastian Hasenstab-Riedel, Freie Universität Berlin, Professor Dr Fikile R. Brushett, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, USA, Professor Dr Lena Daumann, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, and Professor Dr Viktoria Däschlein-Gessner, Ruhr University Bochum. Various workshops will also be offered and the diverse supporting programme (including a diversity lunch) will provide an opportunity for informal networking. From 12 to 14 March, the GDCh Career Service will be on site with a stand to answer questions about careers and career entry.On 15 March, the Dres. Volker and Elke Münch Prize will be awarded. The prize from the GDCh foundation of the same name is endowed with 7,000 euros and is awarded to young inventors who have made a pioneering invention in the field of chemistry or chemical process engineering. The prize money is used to support a patent application. This year, the BionicFuel team, consisting of Dr Pascal R. Böwer, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Dr Melanie Walther, University of Bremen, and Tim M. Thiedemann, also from Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, received the award. They developed a concept for a new purification technology for fermentation processes and proved its feasibility experimentally. Their innovative technology is based on biotechnological processes and uses organic waste as a starting material. The team hopes to use it to establish an environmentally friendly alternative to petroleum-based processes that takes both social and ecological aspects into account.
The Carl Roth Prize will also be awarded on 15 March. The GDCh awards the prize, which is endowed with 5,000 euros, to young chemists who develop resource-saving synthesis methods or use chemicals in innovative ways. The prize is financed by Carl Roth GmbH & Co KG, which also contributes a further 3000 euros in the form of a voucher. This year, the prize is shared by Anna F. Tiefel and Maximilian Wohlgemuth. Tiefel receives the award for her scientific work at the University of Regensburg in the field of photocatalysis - in particular on photo-induced nucleophilic substitution reactions on allylic selenides. Wohlgemuth was honoured for his work at Ruhr-Universität Bochum on mechanochemistry - an innovative approach to carrying out chemical reactions in ball mills completely without solvents and external heat supply.On 15 March, Dr Daniel Kowalczyk, University of Ulm, will also receive the FAIR4Chem Award for the dataset he published from chemical research, which fulfils the FAIR principles (findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable) and thus makes a significant contribution to increasing transparency in research. The prize is awarded by the NFDI4Chem consortium, in which the GDCh is involved, and is supported by the Chemical Industry Fund.
Further information can be found at https://symposium.jcf.io.
With around 28,000 members, the German Chemical Society is one of the largest chemical societies in the world. It promotes scientific work, research and teaching as well as the exchange and dissemination of new scientific knowledge. The GDCh supports the creation of networks, transdisciplinary and international co-operation and continuous education and training in schools, universities and professional environments. The GDCh has 27 specialist groups as well as 60 local chapters and regional forums of the JCF (Young Chemists' Forum) at almost all university locations. Nationwide, the JCF provides a platform for around 10,000 young members of the GDCh.
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The German Chemical Society (GDCh) awards Associate Professor Dr Kathrin Breuker, University of Innsbruck, the Fresenius Prize. She receives the award, which includes a gold medal and prize money of 7500 euros, for special services to analytical chemistry. Breuker's scientific work has provided fundamental insights into the properties of biomacromolecules in the gas phase. She will receive the award on 10 March at ANAKON 2025 in Leipzig. The GDCh Analytical Chemistry Division, which is organising the conference, and its working groups will also be honouring scientists on site.
Kathrin Breuker receives the Fresenius Prize in particular for her achievements in the field of biomolecular mass spectrometry, a method for determining the mass of biomolecules. She has developed innovative methods for studying complex molecular systems. These include native protein structures, the folding and unfolding of proteins in the gas phase and the dissociation (decay) of proteins and nucleic acids (RNA). Breuker uses high-resolution mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS, a technique for precise mass determination) and various fragmentation methods that break molecules down into smaller parts. Their work provides fundamental insights into the properties of biomacromolecules in the gas phase.
In addition, Breuker is involved in scientific committees, particularly in the German Society for Mass Spectrometry (DGMS), and actively establishes international networks. She chairs the jury for the "Mass Spectrometry in the Life Sciences" prize and is a member of the jury for the DGMS Mattauch-Herzog Prize.Kathrin Breuker completed her degree in physics at the University of Münster in 1994. She then moved to the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland, where she completed her doctorate in 1999. After postdoctoral stays at Cornell University, Ithaca, USA, and in Innsbruck, Austria, she started as a research group leader at the University of Innsbruck in 2002. After obtaining her Venia Docendi in Biophysical Chemistry, she worked there as an assistant professor from 2014. Breuker has been Associate Professor at the Institute of Organic Chemistry at the University of Innsbruck since 2019. Her research has already received several awards and funding.
Further award ceremonies:The GDCh Analytical Chemistry Division and two of its working groups also present several awards at ANAKON:
Further information on the conference can be found at www.gdch.de/anakon2025
With over 28,000 members, the German Chemical Society (GDCh) is one of the largest chemical societies in the world. It has 27 sections, including the Analytical Chemistry Section, which was founded in 1951 and has over 2,400 members. The division gives analytical chemistry a strong voice in science, industry, politics and the public and promotes training in analytical chemistry. Intensive, subject-related work is carried out in the nine working groups and in the Industry Forum Analytics.
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