Here you will find publications on topics that concern the GDCh. You can find the links to the individual publications by clicking on the arrow to the right of the heading
In autumn 2022, explosions caused leaks in the two Baltic Sea pipelines Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2. This act of sabotage suddenly drew public attention to a gas that had been somewhat forgotten in the discussion about the anthropogenic greenhouse effect and the role of carbon dioxide : Methane as a component of the atmosphere and climate-impacting trace gas. Article by Peter Wiesen and Niklas Illmann in the Nachrichten aus der Chemie. To the contribution ( free access) in the GDCh app ).
Hydrogen reacts with hydroxyl radicals, affecting the lifetime of methane in the atmosphere. This effect is currently negligible due to the small amounts of hydrogen in the atmosphere. However, if hydrogen is used as an energy carrier in the future, this could change. Article by Reinhard Zellner in the Nachrichten aus der Chemie. To the contribution (free access) in the GDCh app.
On October 19, 2022, the companies (GDCh as well as DPG, DVGeo, DMV and VBIO) that are part of the "Wissenschaft combines" alliance invited to a joint parliamentary evening in Berlin. A total of 33 members of parliament and representatives of members of parliament informed themselves about the expertise available in mathematics and natural sciences and about current solutions to the current challenges. The focus was on individual discussions at thematic tables in the areas of "Materials and Raw Materials", "Energy Storage and Distribution", "Energy Generation", "Climate Modeling", "Greenhouse Gas Reduction" and "Resilience and Sustainability".
Contribution by Henning Hopf, Alain Krief, Stephen A. Matlin and Goverdhan Mehta in The Nachrichten aus der Chemie. To the contribution in the GDCh app
Scientific societies on climate change: "Listen to the science!" (January 2020)
Four major mathematical and scientific societies in Germany, including the GDCh, are demanding vigorous measures against climate change from politics and business. They refer to the available scientific knowledge, which requires more decisive action. More information in a press release.
GDCh fact sheet: Climate change: Small molecules - big impact: (June 2020)
Since April 2020, the German Chemical Society has been publishing fact sheets with generally understandable information on relevant topics at www.gdch.de/factsheet. To the climate change factsheet: Small molecules – big impact!
Too much CO 2 from traffic: is electric mobility the solution? (May 2019)
A contribution to the discussion by Reinhard Zellner, offprint of the article from the Nachrichten aus der Chemie
Released May 2019; Download PDF (1.9 MB)
Air quality and climate - challenges for chemistry (August 2017)
A contribution in the Nachrichten aus der Chemie to the working committee chemistry, air quality and climate (CLK) by Peter Wiesen, Wuppertal and Reinhard Zellner, Essen, Chair of the CLK committee. To the post
Statement at the end of the World Climate Summit in Paris (December 2015)
The global community agreed in Paris: climate protection is a global obligation. There is no longer any doubt about the anthropogenic cause of climate change and the need for action to keep it within limits. This is more than previous decisions by the negotiating partners and therefore a success. At least politically and mentally. But what can we really expect? A statement from Prof. Dr. Reinhard Zellner, Chair of the GDCh/Dechema/DBG Joint Committee on Chemistry, Air Quality and Climate. To the press release
You can find more articles on the topic of climate change in the Nachrichten aus der Chemie
A carbon atom tells of his journeys through plastic applications, inspired by the plastics fair K 2022 in Düsseldorf in autumn. It was there in a yellow sack for a while, because circular economy was one of the main themes of the fair. On the article by Maren Bulmahn Nachrichten aus der Chemie (access for members in the GDCh app: at https://gdch.app/article/als-ich-mal-in-polyamid-existierte-4133070 )
If the chemical industry is increasingly using renewable instead of fossil raw materials as a basis, other synthetic routes will be necessary. So far, plant-based chemicals often make up only a small part of the end product. Not everything will be new – but a lot will. On the article by Christian Ehrensberger in the Nachrichten aus der Chemie (access for members in the GDCh app: at https://gdch.app/article/weniger-ethen-mehr-milchsaeure-4123450 )
In July 2022, UNESCO proclaimed the International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development. In a position paper, the five major specialist societies in the life sciences, chemistry, geosciences, mathematics and physics call for more appreciation of basic research in Germany and its importance for sustainable development, better communication and more effective funding. To the press release
The implementation of the chemical strategy with its more than 50 measures will have far-reaching consequences not only for the chemical industry and the use of chemical products. Researchers in basic research at universities and non-university research institutions also have to face new challenges, for example if chemicals or entire classes of substances are banned in the future. That's what the webinar on June 15, 2022 was about.
The articles on sustainability in the September issue of the Nachrichten aus der Chemie are published as a virtual issue "Sustainability" in the Wiley Online Library.
Article by Detlef Männig in the Nachrichten aus der Chemie
To the contribution (access for members under MyGDCh): https://doi.org/10.1002/nadc.20204104036
At this joint Online event of the GDCh and the American Chemical Society (ACS) on October 28, 2020, the role of chemical societies in achieving the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals was discussed.
The event is available as a video.
The White Paper Science to enable sustainable plastics summarizes the results of the eighth Chemical Sciences and Society Symposium (CS3). Download the complete white paper as a pdf in English or the press release in German
Article by Christian Ehrensberger in the Nachrichten aus der Chemie
Contribution (access for members under MyGDCh): https://doi.org/10.1002/nadc.20204095287
Article by Brigitte Osterath in the Nachrichten aus der Chemie
To the contribution (access for members under MyGDCh): https://doi.org/10.1002/nadc.20204095088
Article by Thomas Kopel Hannes Utikal in the Nachrichten aus der Chemie
Contribution (access for members under MyGDCh): https://doi.org/10.1002/nadc.20194084282
Article by Hans‐Jürgen Weyer and Christoph Bott in the Nachrichten aus der Chemie
To the contribution (access for members under MyGDCh): https://doi.org/10.1002/nadc.20184075056
Contributions by Goverdhan Mehta, Stephen A. Matlin, Alain Krief, and Henning Hopf to Nachrichten aus der Chemie
Contribution (access for members under MyGDCh): https://doi.org/10.1002/nadc.20164048006
Since April 2020, the German Chemical Society has been publishing fact sheets with generally understandable information on relevant topics at www.gdch.de/factsheet. To the fact sheet insect proteins: a sustainable diet
You can find more articles on the subject of sustainable chemistry in the Nachrichten aus der Chemie and in the GDCh Division of Sustainable Chemistry.
ChemRxiv has grown into the premier preprint server for the chemical sciences, with a global audience and a wide array of scholarly content. On the service's fifth anniversary, we would like to reflect on the past five years and take a look at what is next for ChemRxiv. Contribution by Dr. Benjamin Mudrak, Sara Bosshart, Prof. dr Wolfram Koch, Allison Leung, Dr. Donna Minton, Dr. Mitsuo Sawamoto and Sarah Tegen in Applied Chemistry/Int. Edition (free access)
All contributions to the spotlight on publishing are summarized as a virtual issue.
The American Chemical Society, the German Chemical Society and the Royal Society of Chemistry announce their partnership with the Chinese Chemical Society and the Chemical Society of Japan as co-owners. More information. More about ChemRxiv, the open access preprint archive for chemistry
On July 1, 2019, the contract between the DEAL project, which represents almost 700 academic institutions in Germany as a consortium, and the publisher John Wiley & Sons, Inc. comes into force. The agreement was signed in January 2019. Among other things, the contract regulates that researchers at Projekt DEAL institutions can publish articles as "Open Access" in Wiley journals. Further information
In September 2018, eleven research funding organizations from Europe (cOAlition S) published the so-called Plan S, which defines ten principles for the framework conditions for the transition to Open Access for the research results funded by these funding organizations by the year 2020. For comments in German and English.
The American Chemical Society (ACS), the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) and the German Chemical Society (GDCh) are collaborating to advance the financial and strategic development of ChemRxiv, the preprint server for the global chemistry community.
At its meeting in December 2013, the GDCh Board approved the position paper “On the future of academic publishing”. The paper was drawn up by a 13-strong commission chaired by the GDCh President, Professor Barbara Albert, on the basis of a GDCh discussion paper “On open access to scientific knowledge (Open Access)” drawn up in 2004. Download the position paper ( PDF )
NFDI4Chem is the specialist consortium for chemistry, NFDI4Cat is the specialist consortium for catalysis in the National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI) initiative. The goals of NFDI4Chem and NFDI4Cat are the digitization of all important steps in chemical research to support scientists in the collection, storage, processing, analysis, publication and reuse of research data. The GDCh is involved in both consortia. Learn more about NFDI4Chem and NFDI4Cat
You can find more articles on the subject of open access in the Nachrichten aus der Chemie
The GDCh is temporarily or permanently active in various committees that are directed against chemical weapons. For example, she is a member of the German working group “Disarmament and Non-Proliferation of Biological and Chemical Weapons”. The working group was founded in 1997 and is supported by various organizations. His goal is, among other things, to deepen knowledge of biological and chemical arms control in the exchange between science and practice.
The GDCh is also represented on the Advisory Board of the BMBF-funded "Competence Network on Chemical and Biological Weapons ( CBW Competence Network )", which started its project work in April 2022. Among other things, the network is working to strengthen norms against chemical and biological weapons (CBW).
From 2016 to 2021, the GDCh was represented on the OPCW Advisory Board on Education and Outreach. The OPCW is an independent international organization that monitors compliance with and implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention and sets the framework for the destruction of chemical weapons.
Since Russia's attack on Ukraine, there have been fears that the warring parties could use chemical weapons. As chemists, we have a special responsibility to prevent the manufacture and use of chemical weapons. The GDCh is active in various places to raise awareness. On the article by Karin J. Schmitz in the Nachrichten aus der Chemie or in the GDCh app (free access): https://gdch.app/article/gegen- Chemische-kampfstoffe-4133151
In a joint event with the Leopoldina and the German Research Foundation in 2021, the problem of dual use, i.e. the use of research results both for desired applications and for misuse, was discussed. Another event with representatives of the GDCh followed in 2022.
After the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OVCW) confirmed the repeated use of poison gas in Syria, including in February 2018, the German Chemical Society (GDCh) sharply condemned the use. "We are appalled that people are being murdered or injured with chemical warfare agents again and again," emphasized Dr. Matthias Urmann, then President of the GDCh, in a press release entitled Chemists condemn the use of poison gas in Syria.
At that time, the chemical societies of Europe, including the GDCh, reaffirmed their commitment to the Seville Declaration, which was issued in 2016. The statement, signed by 36 chemical societies in Europe, said: "We, the member societies of the European Association for Chemical and Molecular Sciences (now the European Chemical Society, EuChemS), condemn the use of chlorine in Syria and other parts of the world world and call on the international community to bring those responsible for the misuse of chlorine to justice".
Under the leadership of the OPCW, more than 30 scientists and representatives of chemical societies developed the "Hague Ethics Guidelines", which were adopted in September 2015. Three representatives of the GDCh were also involved in the elaboration. The GDCh Board expressly supported the Hague ethics guidelines.
In April 2015, a commemoration event in Ypres, Belgium, commemorated the people who died there 100 years earlier in the first major use of poison gas in World War I and in later operations. The chemical community was represented by the then Presidents of GDCh and EuChemS, Thomas Geelhaar and David Cole-Hamilton, and the then Past President of the Royal Society of Chemistry, David Phillips.
In 2015 the study Chemists in the Third Reich was published, which the science historian Helmut Maier wrote on behalf of the GDCh. The German Chemical Society is thus committed to working through the history of its predecessor companies. The book, which has more than 700 pages, offers a detailed and independent study of the functions and structures of the DChG and the VDCh from 1933 to 1945. In addition to the description of the structures created at that time, individual fates are also tracked down and illuminated as a warning reminder for the following generations.
Every person who wants to become a member of the GDCh must sign the GDCh code of conduct. It says, among other things: “All GDCh members are aware that, as natural scientists, they are particularly responsible for the effects of their professional activity on people and nature. (...) They observe the laws and international conventions applicable to their work and its results and effects and oppose the misuse of chemistry, e.g. B. for the production of chemical weapons and narcotics. In the development, application and dissemination of chemical knowledge, they are bound by the truth and do not use unfair methods.”
An oral vaccination against Covid-19 would be an alternative to the injection. It could increase the willingness to vaccinate in industrialized countries and make vaccination coverage in developing countries possible in the first place. On the article by Christian Ehrensberger in the Nachrichten aus der Chemie (access for members in the GDCh app: at gdch.app/article/oral-gegen-corona-4123451)
Covid-19 leads to a temporary or even long-lasting loss of smell (anosmia) in many sufferers. In doing so, the pandemic is putting a long-neglected health issue in the spotlight -- and raising hope for advances in treatment. On the article by Michael Groß in the Nachrichten aus der Chemie or in the GDCh app (free access): https://gdch.app/article/ist-odorloss-heilbar-4131292
New test methods should make Sars-CoV-2 PCR tests faster or tell patients whether they are protected against the virus.
On the article by Christian Ehrensberger in the Nachrichten aus der Chemie (access for members in the GDCh app: at https://gdch.app/article/virenrna-oder-antikoerper-4125613 )
How the path from basic research to an enzyme led to rapid diagnosis of the Sars-CoV-2 virus with real-time polymerase chain reaction.
On the article by Andreas Marx, Karin Betz and Moritz Welter in the Nachrichten aus der Chemie (access for members under MyGDCh): https://doi.org/10.1002/nadc.20214114742
Producing an mRNA vaccine against the Sars-CoV-2 virus in large quantities is not a problem. The bottleneck, on the other hand, is the packaging, including the lipids that protect it.
Article by Christian Ehrensberger in the Nachrichten aus der Chemie (access for members under MyGDCh): https://doi.org/10.1002/nadc.20214106741
The escalating Covid-19 pandemic has seen multiple vaccines against the disease being developed and approved at a record pace. Researchers used both established and new strategies.
Article by Michael Groß in the Nachrichten aus der Chemie (Free Access): https://doi.org/10.1002/nadc.20214106859
A peculiarity of the currently rampant Sars-Cov-2 coronavirus is that infected people no longer perceive some smells. This can be used to detect an infection at an early stage.
Contribution by Christoph Kleber, Achim Walter Hassel and Heike Rebholz in the Nachrichten aus der Chemie (Free Access): https://doi.org/10.1002/nadc.20204104312
The genome of the Covid-19 pathogen Sars-Coronavirus-2 (Sars-Cov-2) consists of 30,000 letters. Viral genomes of tens of thousands of infected people have already been sequenced and examined. From this, details of the global spread can be read and perhaps also information about how the pandemic will develop.
Article by Michael Groß in the Nachrichten aus der Chemie (Free Access): https://doi.org/10.1002/nadc.20204101708
In a current statement, the joint Working Committee on Fine Dusts (AAF) of DECHEMA/ProcessNet, GDCh and KRdL analyzes the aerosol transmission path of the corona viruses in more detail. The experts go into countermeasures and explain how masks, proper ventilation, suitable air purification and overhead extraction can reduce the aerosol load and thus transmission. To comment
Article by Harald Schwalbe in the Nachrichten aus der Chemie
Contribution (Free Access): https://doi.org/10.1002/nadc.20204099573
Testing as many people as possible for an infection with Sars-Cov-2 has advantages. Not only does this reveal the true spread of the population, but: those who know that they carry the virus are also more willing to stay at home. But the test reagents are not that easy to obtain in the required quantities.
Contribution by Brigitte Osterath in the Nachrichten aus der Chemie (access for members under MyGDCh): https://doi.org/10.1002/nadc.20204099677
The virus that causes the Covid-19 pandemic has jumped from animals to humans, as have the pathogens that cause Sars, Mers and various versions of the flu. To avoid future pandemics, we must identify and block the routes by which they reach us.
Article by Michael Groß in the Nachrichten aus der Chemie (Free Access): https://doi.org/10.1002/nadc.20204099025
The COVID-19 pandemic cannot be overcome without mathematical and scientific expertise. This is emphasized by five major mathematical and scientific societies in Germany in a position paper. The specialist societies DVGeo, DMV, DPG, GDCh and VBIO represent the subjects biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics and earth sciences. To the position paper
Since April 2020, the German Chemical Society has been publishing fact sheets with generally understandable information on relevant topics at www.gdch.de/factsheet. The first two factsheets deal with combating viruses using antiviral agents or soap and disinfectants.
Chemical-related information on the pandemic is continuously linked on these pages
The position paper of the mathematical and scientific specialist societies united in Wissenschaft-verbindet calls on politicians and school authorities to create qualified further training offers for teachers of mathematical and scientific school subjects and to make it easier for them to participate during regular working hours.
With this list of topics, the Chemistry Study Commission of the German Chemical Society (GDCh) takes stock of the six-semester Bachelor's university courses in chemistry at universities and shows future prospects. To the recommendations
Publisher: Federal Chemical Employers Association (BAVC), German Bunsen Society for Physical Chemistry eV (DBG), Society for Chemical Engineering and biotechnology eV (DECHEMA), Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology eV (GBM), German Chemical Society eV (GDCh), Industrial Union for Mining, Chemistry and Energy (IG BCE), Association of Employed Academics and Executives in the Chemical Industry eV (VAA), and Association of the Chemical Industry eV (VCI) To the position paper
The GDCh and six other associations present their demands for teaching in high schools. To the position paper
The results of the retreat at the Evangelische Akademie Tutzing in September 2016 are summarized in a brochure.
The catalog of topics for the six-semester Bachelor's university courses in chemistry at universities contains an inventory of the core content of the modern Bachelor's degree in chemistry, spanning around four semesters, as well as optional curriculum components. To the recommendations
Every year, the GDCh collects comprehensive data on the number of chemistry students in the various stages of study, the number of exams taken, their assessments and the duration of the study. In addition, data on habilitations, habilitation candidates and junior professorships at German universities, as well as the proportion of female C3 and C4 professors are regularly recorded. Further information
Editorial by Dr. Lisa Pecher in the Nachrichten aus der Chemie
Contribution (access for members under MyGDCh): https://doi.org/10.1002/nadc.20214108514
Equal opportunities is an important topic for the GDCh. Regardless of our (historical) name German Chemical Society, chemists of all nationalities are of course welcome. We also address all genders. One of our mission statements states, among other things: "We live diversity and equal opportunities".
Our equal opportunities activities are summarized on a separate website. In addition, the GDCh Board has set up a Commission for Equal Opportunities in Chemistry.
In December 2021, the GDCh Board adopted the guidelines for gender-sensitive language in the GDCh
The four major scientific societies are deeply shocked by the military violence in Ukraine. Our concern and our solidarity are with the Ukrainian people and all other victims of this war, which we call for an immediate end. To the statement
In the course of the war of aggression against Ukraine, Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of using false flags or planning to use chemical weapons. So far, there is no evidence for the allegations. International mechanisms exist to have the allegations independently investigated. On the article by Anna Krin and Kristoffer Burck in the Nachrichten aus der Chemie and in the GDCh app (free access): https://gdch.app/article/giftstoffe-und-chemieanlagen-im-krieg-4132604
Article by Frauke Zbikowski in the Nachrichten aus der Chemie
To the article in the GDCh app (Free Access)
A regularly updated compilation of statements and offers of help for Ukrainian scientists and aid organizations is published on these pages (short link www.gdch.de/ukraine ).
You can also find articles on all relevant chemistry topics in the journals of the GDCh
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last modified: 17.03.2023 16:29 H from Translator
