Christel and Herbert W. Roesky Foundation

To promote science and research in the field of main group molecular chemistry, Professor Dr. hc mult. Herbert W. Roesky for himself and on behalf of his late wife Christel Roesky in 2021 die

Christel and Herbert W. Roesky Foundation.

The task of the foundation is the biennial award of the

Christel and Herbert W. Roesky Prize.

Here you can find the current call for proposals for the Christel and Herbert W. Roesky Prize 2024.

Nomination deadline: 31 July 2024.

The donors

The founder, Herbert W. Roesky, has published numerous articles in the field of main group chemistry. He trained as a chemist from 1957 until his doctorate in 1963 at the University of Göttingen. An apprenticeship in dairy farming prior to his studies enabled him to finance the first semesters of his chemistry studies. After a postdoctoral stay at Dupont in Wilmington, Delaware, he then qualified as a professor at the University of Göttingen. Shortly after completing his qualification, he was appointed to a full professorship at the University of Frankfurt am Main. After working in Frankfurt for ten years, he returned to the University of Göttingen when he was offered a position. In his research, he was interested in the field of main group elements, among other things. The focus was initially on the element fluorine, but in recent years this has shifted towards silicon chemistry. He gave experimental lectures in Frankfurt, Göttingen and 17 different countries with great pleasure. A number of widely read books were written based on these lectures.

The founder Christel Roesky was born in Stuttgart. She grew up in Aachen and Göttingen. After graduating from high school, she studied Spanish and French in Heidelberg, interrupted by a stay in Paris. She graduated with a diploma. She initially worked as an interpreter and translator and most recently as a foreign language tour guide in Göttingen. She specialized in topics related to the history of the city and the history of science. She was also involved in the design of her husband's books and lectures.

The prize

The Christel and Herbert W. Roesky Foundation awards a prize worth 10,000 euros in the field of main group molecular chemistry every two years.

The award is given to people who have published groundbreaking scientific work in the field of molecular chemistry of main group elements. The work is said to have led to important and new scientific findings for the general public.

awardee 2023: Sebastian Hasenstab-Riedel, FU Berlin

Prof. Dr. Sebastian Hasenstab-Riedel is a renowned scientist in the field of halogen chemistry, whose applications range from advanced plastics to environmentally friendly substitutes for greenhouse gases. In his research on the chemistry of halogens, which includes elements from fluorine to iodine, he uses a variety of methods such as matrix isolation spectroscopy at extremely low temperatures (-269 °C) to study these reactive compounds. His work ranges from fundamental studies to applied science, reflected in numerous patents and industrial collaborations.

More information about Hasenstab-Riedel

Nomination Guidelines

Nominations received will be treated confidentially. Legal recourse is excluded. There is no entitlement to the award.

The deadline for nominations is in even years. The award takes place in odd-numbered years.

The following documents must be enclosed with nominations:

• Short cover letter

• curriculum vitae

• Publication list of the TOP 10 publications

Nominations must be submitted using the Online form

The foundation advisory board

Prof. Dr. Herbert W. Roesky, Göttingen (founder)
Prof. Dr. Stefanie Dehnen, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, GDCh President 2024 & 2025
Dr. Rainer Roesky, Munich
Prof. Dr. Peter Roesky, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Prof. Dr. Inke Siewert, Georg August University of Göttingen