The GDCh sees itself as a society of all those people and for all those people who identify with activities and interests in the field of chemistry. The name of the society should reflect this, without only naming certain groups of people (explicitly) and thus excluding others (implicitly). A neutral name for our professional society is possible and should therefore be used. Other professional societies (e.g. GÖCh, DECHEMA) have long since taken this step - it is time for the GDCh to follow suit.

Prof. Dr. Stefanie Dehnen, KIT – Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, President and Board Member of the GDCh

A new name that adequately reflects the entire breadth of our membership is important and right. The name "Deutsche Gesellschaft für Chemie" corresponds to the long-established English term "German Chemical Society" and fully meets this requirement. The abbreviation GDCh, which serves as our trademark, remains unchanged. This name change has my full support.

Prof. Dr. Karsten Danielmeier, Covestro Deutschland AG, Member of the Board of Directors of the GDCh, President of the GDCh 2022&2023

The GDCh is not only supported by German chemists, but by people of all genders from all chemical professions as well as chemistry enthusiasts in general - and not just in Germany, but internationally. Our name should reflect this colorful diversity and do justice to everyone in the GDCh. I therefore support the name change, because it is time to set this example for our cosmopolitanism, unity, and modernity!

Prof. Dr. Sabine Becker, Rhineland-Palatinate Technical University of Kaiserslautern-Landau, Board Member of the GDCh

For me the GDCh is a vibrant organization that serves scientists inspired by chemistry all over the world. I am convinced this purpose is much better reflected with the new name.

Dr. Franz von Nussbaum, NUVISAN - Head Life-Science Chemistry, Innovation Campus Berlin, Board Member of the GDCh

Our professional society is not only made up of German chemists, but of around 30,000 colleagues from different countries of origin and disciplines. This diversity in membership should definitely be reflected in the name of the professional society. I therefore support changing the name to "German Society for Chemistry".

Prof. Simon Hammann, University of Hohenheim

In my opinion, the change in our name is an important signal that we as the GDCh include all people involved in chemistry. With this step, our name finally reflects all of our members: all genders, all nationalities and all professional groups active in chemistry. I'm looking forward to it!

Dr. Gesa Behnken, Evonik Operations GmbH, Board Member of the GDCh

The German Chemical Society (GDCh) is giving itself a new name because it wants to set a visible sign of the solidarity of its members for all chemists, but also for professional groups related to chemical science, both nationally and internationally. The new name "German Chemical Society" fully meets this requirement. The short version GDCh will remain, so that the adjustment period will not be a problem even for long-standing members.

Prof. Klaus-Peter Jäckel, board member of the GDCh

The renaming of the GDCh to the German Chemical Society is an important step towards greater inclusion, integration and gender neutrality. The new name would reflect the diversity and openness of the chemical community and its related disciplines without promoting unconscious discrimination. A neutral name creates a modern and respectful environment in which no one feels excluded - this is exactly what modern and future-oriented science should be about.

Angelina Spitzig, Young food chemistry Group of the GDCh

As a trained biochemist, the name "German Chemical Society" always felt a little too narrow for the GDCh as an institution. The name "German Society for Chemistry" would convey the inclusivity and interdisciplinarity of the society much better, as is also common practice in the chemical sciences. The GDCh does not only consist of German chemists!

Carl Schneider, JCF Federal Executive Board

At the Deutsches Museum, we are committed to explaining chemistry in a way that is understandable and exciting for all visitors. This invitation is addressed to everyone, regardless of gender or origin. It is very important to us that no one feels excluded when it comes to access to science and technology. In this sense, I fully support the proposal to call the GDCh the German Chemical Society in the future.

Dr. Susanne Rehn-Taube, Deutsches Museum Munich, Board Member of the GDCh

A new name for our society that reflects our self-image and underlines the demands we place on ourselves is long overdue. The “German Chemical Society” has long worked excellently in the international arena, so I consider the “German Chemical Society” to be consistent and logical.

Prof. Dr. Peter R. Schreiner, Justus Liebig University Gießen, Board Member of the GDCh, President of the GDCh 2020&2021

I support the name change of the German Chemical Society to the German Chemical Society because this new name reflects a contemporary and inclusive perspective. It emphasizes the international orientation and relevance of chemistry in a global community. Such a renaming can strengthen our society, increase visibility and attract new members who are enthusiastic about chemistry. It is important that we as a professional community are open to change and position ourselves more clearly in order to actively shape the future of chemistry.

Dr. Carla Seidel, BASF SE, Member of the Board of Directors of the GDCh

The GDCh should now reflect what it stands for in its (German) name: "German Chemical Society". I am pleased that the GDCh is taking this step and fully support the name change. It is time for the GDCh to show what it stands for in its name too: an open society in which interest in chemistry is the focus.

Dr. Katrin Hoenicke, Eurofins GSC Germany GmbH, Board Member of the GDCh

I support the change because the “German Chemical Society” does not represent everyone in the GDCh. I am therefore clearly in favor of a neutral name and find the “German Chemical Society” to be extremely appropriate.

Dr. Markus Haider, Wacker Chemie AG

Saying the name of our society should be a pleasure. That is why I support the name change to "German Chemical Society" - a name that includes everyone who is committed to chemistry in the GDCh.

Dr. Hilde Nimmesgern, Chair of the Equal Opportunities Commission, Honorary Member of the GDCh

I am happy to support and relieve the name change of the GDCh to the German Chemical Society, because scientists should strive to be precise in what they describe. For many years now, my working group in Germany and everyone around me has consisted of a happy mix of genders and nationalities. The German Society is doing well in the race for the best minds in the world, whether in chemistry or other fields, but has considerable potential to become even better. The name change expresses this warm openness perfectly.

Prof. Christian Griesinger, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry

I support the change of name of the German Chemical Society to German Chemical Society: This new name reflects the international orientation and relevance of chemistry in a global community. It encompasses the entire breadth of our membership and corresponds to the established English term " German Chemical Society ". The GDCh thus also shows in its name what it stands for: an open society in which the interest in chemistry is the focus.

Dr. Ruth Bieringer, Freudenberg FST GmbH Weinheim, Board Member of the GDCh

The name German Chemical Society creates a modern, clear identity that optimally represents our tasks and goals. With the new name, we are sending a clear signal for progress and unity.

Dr. Ulrich AK Betz, Merck, KGaA, Board Member of the GDCh

I support this change wholeheartedly, because we have long been a community in which people from a wide range of countries of origin and diverse professional backgrounds come together to advance chemistry together. The name "German Society for Chemistry" would express this diversity and openness much more accurately than the current name "German Chemical Society."

Dr. Matthias Urmann, President of the GDCh 2018&2019

When my wife and I joined the GDCh, "chemist" was a gender-neutral job title for us. If I am currently running for the Bundestag, then that is my profession on the ballot paper. We do not feel excluded by the name today, but there are people who feel that way and whom we do not want to exclude. That is why I support the search for a more inclusive name. The alternative name "German Chemical Society" was discredited in the 1930s, for example by a chairman, Alfred Stock. That is why I support the change of the name to "German Society for Chemistry".

Dr. Rolf Albach, Covestro Deutschland AG, Leverkusen, Board Member of the GDCh