Press releases 2020

18 Measures against corona transmission through aerosols: It is better not to supply fresh air from above!

18/2020
December 10, 2020

In a current statement, the Fine Dust Working Committee (AAF) analyzes the aerosol transmission path of the corona pandemic in more detail. The experts go into countermeasures and explain how masks, proper ventilation, suitable air purification and overhead suction can reduce the aerosol load and thus the transmission. The paper is available for download free of charge.

Aerosols and their spread play a key role in the transmission of Covid-19. In the ?Fine Dust? working group (AAF) of ProcessNet, GDCh and VDI-KRdL, engineers, chemists and aerosol physicists deal intensively with the formation and behavior of aerosols and suitable measures for air purification. Together with experts from Germany and Switzerland, the committee members discussed the role of aerosol particles in the spread of the SARS-CoV2 virus and are now presenting a statement on this.

Based on their expertise, the authors describe different types of aerosols with regard to their formation, range and residence time in the air and analyze what protection various measures offer against the different aerosols. The measures recommended by the RKI and Leopoldina should therefore be strictly applied, as masks (especially the use of N95 and FFP2 masks), ventilation as an immediate measure and suitable air purifiers can help to interrupt the aerosol spreading path.

In addition, the panel comes to the conclusion that, in addition to measures already taken, particular attention should be paid to the type of ventilation. Smaller aerosol particles in particular rise with the warm air we breathe and then spread below the ceiling.

The experts of the working committee therefore recommend that with ventilation systems it is important to ensure that the fresh air is not supplied from above, but that it is actually extracted upwards; In airplanes or in local public transport, reversing the air supply could help. They also advise installing ventilation and overhead suction systems at short notice in many areas, especially in classrooms or in restaurants. Observing the CO2 concentration is a suitable indicator of how well the ventilation is working. In addition to the recommendations already made by the Robert Koch Institute and the Leopoldina, the working committee sees the opportunity to contain the Covid-19 pandemic with additional protective measures, initially at short notice until a vaccine has really reached broad sections of the population. In addition, infections that are spread via the airway can also be suppressed in the future.

For the complete statement of the AAF (This also includes a comprehensive collection of FAQs on protection against Covid-19 aerosol transmission, created with the cooperation of the Chairman of the AAF).

The German Chemical Society (GDCh) is one of the largest chemical science societies in the world with around 30,000 members. The Fine Dust Working Committee (AAF) is an expert group for chemical, chemical-technical and health aspects of fine dust in the environment. The working committee bundles the expertise and interests of several scientific societies (ProcessNet, German Chemical Society and Air Pollution Control Commission in VDI and DIN (KRdL)) in Germany. A particular concern of the committee is the processing of topics that are of general social and / or industrial importance.

Press release as a PDF document

17 Richard Willstätter Prize for Chemical Biology awarded for the first time

17/2020
18th November 2020

Prof. Dr. Herbert Waldmann, Director of the Chemical Biology Department at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Physiology in Dortmund, receives the Richard Willstätter Prize for Chemical Biology, which will be awarded for the first time in 2021. The award honors research achievements that have made a decisive contribution to a deeper understanding of chemical-biological relationships. Prof. Waldmann recognized the interdisciplinary nature of chemistry and Biology as a fertile research area and promoted many areas of chemical Biology . These include the semisynthesis of lipidized proteins, Biology oriented synthesis, solid-phase processes, drug and protein microarrays, pseudo-natural products and various concepts for the discovery of inhibitors for difficult-to-access biomolecular target structures. The award winner is also characterized by his extraordinary commitment to sustainably promoting the discipline of Chemical Biology in scientific discourse, teaching and society. The prize, jointly sponsored by four scientific societies - DECHEMA, DPhG, GBM and GDCh - is awarded by the Joint division for Chemical Biology and the prize money is 6000 EUR. The award ceremony will take place on the occasion of the Advances in Chemical Biology conference (January 26-28, 2021).

Prof. Dr. Herbert Waldmann studied chemistry and received his PhD in Organic Chemistry in 1985 under the direction of Prof. Dr. Horst Kunz. After spending two years as a postdoctoral fellow with Prof. Dr. George Whitesides worked at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA / USA, he completed his habilitation in 1991 at the University of Mainz. Shortly afterwards he received a professorship for Organic Chemistry at the University of Bonn. In 1993 he took over a chair for Organic Chemistry at the University of Karlsruhe.

Since 1999 he has headed the Department of Chemical Biology at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Physiology and also holds a professorship for Biochemistry at the Technical University of Dortmund. Since 2005 he has also headed the Chemical Genomics Center of the Max Planck Society. As the author of over 500 scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals, he has received numerous scientific awards, including the Otto Bayer Prize, the Emil Fischer Medal of the German Chemical Society (GDCh) - one of the highest awards in Germany in the field of Organic Chemistry - the Hans-Herloff-Inhoffen Medal and the Max Bergmann Medal. He set up one of the first courses in Chemical Biology in Germany at the University of Dortmund and has published textbooks. In 2014, the University of Leiden in the Netherlands awarded Herbert Waldmann an honorary doctorate for his services to Chemical Biology.

He is a member of various editorial boards of scientific journals such as B. Angewandte Chemie and ChemBioChem and is also the Editor-in-Chief of "Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry". He is a member of various advisory boards and boards of trustees, e. B. the Max-Planck-Innovation GmbH (chairman), the Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation and the Institut Européen de Chimie et Biology in Bordeaux / France.

For more than 20 years he has been a scientific advisor to leading companies in the pharmaceutical, biotechnological, agrochemical and chemical industries.

Press release as a PDF document

16 Commitment to equal opportunities

Hildegard Hamm Brücher Prize for Equal Opportunities will be awarded for the first time in 2021

16/2020
4th November 2020

The German Chemical Society (GDCh) is awarding the Hildegard Hamm Brücher Prize for equal opportunities for the first time. With the new prize, which is endowed with 7,500 euros, the GDCh is sending a visible signal and recognizing exemplary achievements in creating more equal opportunities in chemistry. The award is given to individuals, teams or organizations who are or have been committed to promoting equal opportunities with innovative projects. The aim is to make best practice examples and role models for fair action visible and to encourage imitation.

GDCh President Professor Dr. Peter R. Schreiner in an interview in the current issue of the GDCh member Nachrichten aus der Chemie: ?[Equal opportunities] is not a task that suddenly comes out of nowhere, but an ongoing task that the GDCh has been pursuing with variable intensity for many years . The intensity has now increased again for good reason and it has to be that way. We want to take this thrust with us and not get in line, but step ahead. It is not just about the gender distribution [but] about creating an awareness of equal opportunities and against discrimination at all levels. "

The chairwoman of the GDCh commission for equal opportunities in chemistry, Dr. Hildegard Nimmesgern, in an interview: ?We first looked at the pioneers in chemistry. Although they were professionally successful, little or nothing is known about their socio-political commitment. And we wanted a chemist, so we came across Hildegard Hamm-Brücher. It shows an exciting biography. "

Hildegard Hamm-Brücher (1921-2016) was a chemist and received her doctorate in 1945 from Nobel laureate Professor Heinrich Wieland in Munich. After the war ended, she became a science editor at the Neue Zeitung. There she met with Theodor Heuss, her political mentor, and many other democratically minded people. Hildegard Hamm-Brücher was considered the ?grande dame? of German post-war politics. It not only stood for freedom and democracy, but also for consistently value-based action. She fought tirelessly against grievances. Among other things, she campaigned for a better education system and encouraged women to become more involved. In 1994 she was the first woman to be nominated for the federal presidential election. In addition to her public offices, she showed great social commitment and received numerous honors.

Award-worthy projects should refer to the dimensions defined in the GDCh model for equal opportunities in chemistry. There it says, among other things: ?Chemists represent a variety of people from different cultures, with different backgrounds and different characteristics of diversity and experience. The GDCh strives to act fair, respectful and inclusive towards its diverse community and is determined to counteract all forms of discrimination. [...] It sees itself as responsible for strengthening the ability to be inclusive and accessible in order to improve diversity to provide minorities with access to education and a Career in chemistry.

The prize will be awarded for the first time as part of the Science Forum Chemistry 2021. Nominations are possible until the end of February.

Further information on the award and the nomination can be found at www.gdch.de/hhb-preis
The full interview from the current issue of the Nachrichten aus der Chemie is freely available here.

The German Chemical Society (GDCh) is one of the largest chemical science societies in the world with around 31,000 members. 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 cooperation and continuous education and training in schools, universities and in the professional environment. In 2016, the GDCh board set up the Commission on Equal Opportunities in Chemistry. This took into account the growing importance and the need for more commitment to equal opportunities. One of the first activities of the commission was the development of the GDCh model for equal opportunities in chemistry. The full wording is available at www.gdch.de/chancengleichheit, and all other activities of the GDCh on equal opportunities and diversity are summarized at www.gdch.de/diversity.

Press release as a PDF document

Hildegard Hamm-Brücher
(Bundesarchiv, B 145 Bild-F049586-0029 / Gräfingholt, Detlef / CC-BY-SA 3.0, Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F049586-0029, Frankfurt, FDP-Bundesparteitag, Hamm-Brücher, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE)
Peter R. Schreiner
Hildegard Nimmesgern
 

15 New GDCh training program published

In addition to face-to-face courses, numerous digital training courses will also be offered in 2021

15/20
3rd November 2020

In order to develop professionally, professionally and personally, the newly published advanced training program 2021 of the German Chemical Society (GDCh) offers many opportunities. The offer for the coming year comprises 93 courses from twelve disciplines. In addition to training courses on classic chemical topics such as synthesis methods and food chemistry issues, courses on quality assurance, modern methods and processes are also held. Courses specifically for young scientists and career advancement are also on the program in 2021. A whole range of new courses are being offered for the first time.

Fifteen of the courses in the coming year will be digital training courses (either online courses or e-learning courses). In addition, some courses will be offered as hybrid courses for the first time. This means that those who cannot actively participate in the classroom course have the opportunity to be digitally connected to the advanced training course and to take part just like the other participants. If the currently planned classroom courses in 2021 cannot be carried out as such, the GDCh has the possibilities and the know-how to convert many of the events into digital formats at short notice.

Among other things, the course ?Occurrence and detection of endotoxins and pyrogens under consideration of regulatory conditions? from the field of quality assurance has been added to the program. The course leader Dr. Michael Rieth, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, provides the participants with knowledge about the chemical nature of pyrogens. In addition to various analytical techniques for the detection of pyrogens, this also involves information about the removal or inactivation of pyrogens and the calculation of limit values. The course is of interest to everyone who deals with the basics of endotoxin determination or who carries out this type of determination in the laboratory, i.e. especially those working in the regulatory environment of the pharmaceutical industry.

Another new addition to the program is the GDCh online coaching with career advisor and coach Doris Brenner, initiator and founding board member of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Karriereberatung eV It offers 60-minute individual coaching in which the participants can freely determine the main topics from their professional context. This can include, for example, a professional assessment, targeted application strategies or the analysis of job advertisements and application documents. Serious self-marketing and preparation for job interviews, career strategies, building and maintaining professional networks or coping with professional crises and difficulties at work can also play a role. The online individual coaching offers the opportunity to discuss professional issues in a confidential atmosphere and to receive helpful impulses and feedback.

Another new course comes from the field of young chemists. Course leader Professor Dr. Bernard Ludwig, University of Kassel, Witzenhausen, discusses the design of a national research data infrastructure (NFDI) in "Research Data Management (NFDI)". With this, an overarching research data management is to be established and further developed, which makes the science system more efficient and promotes the transfer of knowledge. In addition to the basics of research data management, the participants also learn "data sharing", the elements of a data management plan and data archiving. In addition, data analysis and data visualization (using Python and R) and the basics of databases and file systems are dealt with.

The proven GDCh specialist programs in the areas of "Quality Assurance" and "Chemistry and Economy" will also be offered in 2021.

Detailed information and the program for download can be found at www.gdch.de/fortbildung.

The German Chemical Society (GDCh), with around 31,000 members, is one of the largest chemical science societies in the world. It promotes scientific work, research and teaching as well as the exchange and dissemination of scientific knowledge. The GDCh supports training in schools and universities as well as continuous training for work and Career.

Press release as a PDF document

Fortbildungsprogramm 2021

14 Hofmann scholarships in 2021: 300 euros per month for chemistry students

14/20
October 29, 2020

The August Wilhelm von Hofmann Foundation set up at the German Chemical Society (GDCh) is awarding scholarships again for the summer semester of 2021. Bachelor, diploma or exam students in chemistry and related areas can receive a scholarship of 300 euros per month with a duration of 18 or twelve months from April 2021. Applications must be submitted via the online portal by February 1, 2021.

Bachelor, diploma or exam students in chemistry and related fields with very good academic achievements who are in an economically unfavorable situation can apply for one of the twenty or so grants of the August Wilhelm von Hofmann Foundation. Commitment outside of studies is also a criterion for the award. Another requirement is that the students are in the fourth or fifth semester of their studies at the beginning of the summer semester 2021. Funding ends at the end of the sixth semester at the latest.

The scholarship cannot be extended. Every year in the winter semester there is a new application cycle. The scholarship is not counted towards BAföG benefits, but double funding in addition to other performance-based material funding from the gifted funding agencies is excluded.

The August Wilhelm von Hofmann Foundation is named after the first president of the GDCh predecessor organization, the German Chemical Society, founded in 1867. The founder is a long-standing GDCh member who died in 2010 and who bequeathed the majority of his assets to the GDCh to support talented chemistry students.

Further information at www.gdch.de/hofmannstiftung

The German Chemical Society (GDCh) is one of the largest chemical science societies in the world with around 31,000 members. The GDCh manages numerous dependent foundations on a fiduciary basis. The purpose of these foundations is to award prizes, sponsorship awards and grants. Foundation advisory boards decide on the award of prizes, awards and grants.

Poster for the Hofmann scholarship

Press release as a PDF document

13 analytica conference 2020 virtual for the first time: New approaches in the fight against antibiotic resistance

13/20
October 8, 2020

Current questions and solution approaches in analytics are the focus of the analytica conference, which will take place from October 19 to 23, 2020 as part of analytica virtual, purely digital. In 31 sessions, which will be broadcast repeatedly to enable participation in all time zones, leading experts will report on their research area in an application-related manner - including new approaches to the analysis of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The scientific program of the analytica conference is organized by the Analytik Forum, consisting of the German Chemical Society (GDCh), the Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (GBM) and the German Society for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (DGKL). Anyone interested can participate in the virtual conference free of charge after registering in advance.

Antibiotics help against infections caused by bacteria. But the number of germs that are resistant to certain classes of antibiotics is increasing - which often makes therapy more difficult. If bacteria develop resistance to different antibiotics, one speaks of multi-resistant germs. Humans and animals bring germs and antibiotic-resistant bacteria into the environment, where they multiply.

The analysis of these bacteria is one of the great current challenges for modern Medicine - and a top topic at the virtual analytica conference as part of the analytica 2020. New analytical methods examine individual cells of bacteria.

Specialist sizes give an overview of the opportunities and limits of established methods for the analysis of resistant pathogens. In addition, they will present the latest technologies for the quantification and characterization of pathogens and antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Another highly topical topic is the ?Laboratory of the Future?: The focus of the digital transformation of the chemical and pharmaceutical industry is on the laboratories as drivers of innovation. Design-of-Experiment (DoE) approaches and model-based simulations shorten development cycles and the time to market for new products. Real-time data from process development, manufacturing, application development and supply chain enable more sustainable Management of product volume, resources and quality. In everyday life, however, the existing infrastructures and outdated production facilities in industry often make digital change more difficult. New approaches are required so that the digital transformation can be optimally implemented in the ?laboratory of the future?. As part of the ?ABC: Digital Analytical Sciences? session, experts will present approaches and examples of how laboratories can meet these new challenges.

Other sessions deal with new findings on analysis methods in forensics as well as current developments in mass spectrometry and electroanalysis.

The analytica conference is supported by the journals Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry (ABC), of which the GDCh is a co-owner, and Microchimica Acta from Springer-Verlag and Analytical Science Advances from Wiley-VCH.

The analytica conference accompanies the 27th analytica, the world's leading trade fair for laboratory technology, analytics and Biotechnology, which this year will take place as analytica virtual from October 19 to 23, 2020. For those interested, a visit to the analytica and the analytica conference is free of charge after prior registration.

The analytica virtual program can be found at https://app.analytica-virtual.com/de/conference.

Contact for the press:

analytica conference
Dr. Karin J. Schmitz
German Chemical Society
public relation
Tel .: +49 69 7917-493
Email: pr@gdch.de

analytica
Frank Fleschner
Exhibition Munich
Category Head Marketing & Communication
Tel .: +49 89 949-20421
Email: frank.fleschner@messe-muenchen.de

Press release as a PDF document

12 Online Event: 100 Years of Macromolecular Chemistry

12/20
August 25, 2020

100 years ago, the German chemistry professor Hermann Staudinger first described the then completely unknown class of macromolecules. The Macromolecular Chemistry division of the German Chemical Society is dedicating its conference on September 28 and 29, most of which will take place online, to this anniversary.

The lectures on September 28th at the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg will be broadcast live on the internet. It is about the life of the founder of macromolecular chemistry, Hermann Staudinger, about some of his visionary ideas and their significance for Macromolecular Chemistry to this day.

Starting at 2 p.m., the freelance journalist Guido Deussing will first give insights into the life of Staudinger and Professor Dr. Manfred Wilhelm, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), shows how modern polymer analysis was inspired by the chemist and continues to be today. Professor Dr. Rolf Mülhaupt, Institute for Macromolecular Chemistry and the Freiburg Materials Research Center at the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, reports on Staudinger's visions of bio-inspired materials research, some of which are only now being consistently addressed. And Professor Dr. Jürgen Rühe, Institute for Microsystem Technology, LivMATS Cluster of Excellence, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, shows how life-like material systems are possible today based on research by Staudinger and what special properties they have.

In further lectures, different working groups present current research results from macromolecular chemistry. This involves new possibilities for 3D printing, mechanically resistant bio-nanocomposites made from naturally obtained biopolymers and ?hairy surfaces? that make water-repellent materials in no time at all.

A digital poster conference will take place on September 29th on Twitter. The Macromolecular Chemistry division and the Wiley-VCH publishing house are awarding a total of three poster prizes - two tickets for the face-to-face event of the specialist group meeting in 2021 and a Wiley poster prize.

More information on the GDCh conference website

Press release as a PDF document

11 Statistics of the chemistry courses 2019 published

For the first time since 2010, fewer than 10,000 people began studying chemistry

11/20
2nd July 2020

In 2019, the total number of first-year students in chemistry courses recorded the second-highest percentage decline since 1994 - 9,422 people began studying chemistry, 10% fewer than in the previous year (10,499). This is reported by the German Chemical Society (GDCh) in its annual statistics for chemistry courses. A total of 3905 students completed a chemistry degree (2018: 4065). The number of doctorates has also decreased slightly to 2181 (2018: 2240), but remains at a high level. Around 88% of university master?s graduates started a doctorate. As in the previous year, this value is lower than the long-term average (90%) and seems to have leveled off at a lower level.

The following results were obtained in the individual courses:

     

  • In the field of chemistry / business chemistry, the universities registered 5,746 first-year students (2018: 6,433). 2605 students (2018: 2501) successfully completed their bachelor's degree, 2348 received their master?s degree (2018: 2331). The median duration of study was 6.7 semesters for a bachelor's degree (2018: 6.4) and 4.8 semesters for a master?s degree (2018: 4.5). This means that the duration of studies up to the master?s degree is the second highest since 2003. In 2019, 1921 people completed their doctorate in chemistry / business chemistry (2018: 1925). The median duration of the doctorate was 8.3 semesters (2018: 8.3).
  • 1702 people began their studies in Biochemistry and life sciences (2018: 1729). The number of Bachelor degrees fell to 942 compared to the high in the previous year (2018: 981). In contrast, the number of Masters graduates reached a new high of 834 (2018: 809). 195 doctorates were reported for 2019 (2018: 229). The duration of study increased slightly; the median was 6.5 semesters for bachelor's degrees (2018: 6.4) and 4.7 for master?s degrees (2018: 4.5). For doctorates, however, the duration of the study decreased and averaged 8.5 semesters (2018: 8.7).
  • The number of new students in Food Chemistry fell, from 480 in the previous year to 405. A total of 164 students passed the 1st state examination or the diploma examination (2018: 225) and 165 people passed the 2nd state examination (2018: 177). In addition, the universities reported 169 Bachelor's and 115 Master's degrees (2018: 120 and 122, respectively). This means that the sum of the bachelor's / master's degrees exceeds the number of other degrees in Food Chemistry (diploma / state examination) for the first time in a row. However, the number of doctorates fell to 65 (2018: 86).
  • At a university of applied sciences (HAW)   Last year, 1,569 people started a chemistry course (2018: 1839). The HAW reported 743 Bachelor and 421 Master degrees (2018: 888 and 510 respectively). This reduced the number of graduates in chemistry courses at HAW.

Almost all bachelor graduates at universities followed up with a master?s degree, 72% of the bachelor?s graduates at HAW. Around 88% of the master?s graduates at universities and 9% of the master?s graduates from HAW started a doctorate.

51% of graduates with a doctorate in chemistry are aware of their first step into professional life. According to data from the universities, around 36% of graduates started a position in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry (2018: 36%), 18% took a temporary position in Germany (including postdoc) (2018: 19%). 14% worked in the rest of the economy after graduation (2018: 13%) and 11% took a job abroad after graduation (2018: 12%). Around 6% of the graduates held a position in the public service (2018: 6%). As in the previous year, 11% were considered to be looking for a job.

The GDCh has been collecting extensive statistical data on chemistry courses every year since 1952. The statistics from 2019 are based on data from the courses in chemistry and business chemistry, Biochemistry and life science, Food Chemistry and the chemistry courses at the Universities of Applied Sciences (HAW), formerly universities of applied sciences. The questions asked were the number of beginners and students, the number of final exams passed as well as the respective final grades and duration of study. In addition, many universities provided information on the career entry of their graduates after completing their degree or doctorate. The deadline for the survey is December 31.

The brochure ?Statistics of the Chemistry Courses 2019? is available on the GDCh website as a flip-through catalog. A short version summarizes the results in a condensed form.

The German Chemical Society (GDCh), with around 31,000 members, is one of the largest chemical science societies in the world. Among other things, she deals with current developments at universities and on the labor market. The GDCh determines annually (reference date: December 31st) information on the number of students in the various study sections, the exams taken and the length of study. The information is provided to the GDCh by the chemistry departments of the universities.

Press release as a PDF document

Infographic for download:

10 Chemistry as the key to sustainable plastics

White paper on the circular economy of plastics

10/20
3rd June 2020

Plastics have helped build the modern world. They are essential to creating a more sustainable society and ensuring that future technologies develop quickly and cheaply. But the use of plastics also brings with it major ecological challenges. How can chemistry help develop efficient methods of recycling plastics and create long-term substitutes from sustainable raw materials? Scientists discussed this at the 8th Chemical Sciences and Society Symposium (CS3) last year. They have now published their results in a white paper.

We can now find plastics in all areas of our life: from food packaging to mobile phones to electric vehicles. They bring many advantages, but also pose great ecological challenges, especially when it comes to the correct and careful disposal or reuse of plastics. These challenges need to be solved.

Last November, scientists from China, Japan, Great Britain and Germany as well as representatives of the respective chemical societies and research funding organizations discussed the contribution of chemistry at the 8th Chemical Sciences and Society Symposium (CS3) "Science to Enable Sustainable Plastics" in London can make the synthesis, use and disposal of plastics more sustainable than today. They have summarized their resulting results and recommendations for other scientists, research sponsors, political decision-makers and society under four main points in a white paper.

  • Understand the impact of plastics throughout their lifecycle

The life cycle of plastics and their effects on the environment must be analyzed in detail in order to understand, for example, the formation of micro- and nanoplastics. This requires new analytical methods which, among other things, simulate the distribution of microplastics in the environment and thus contribute to an understanding of the fate and persistence of plastic waste. ?It is not the discarded plastics that pollute nature with micro- and nano-plastics, but it is the improper handling by us humans,? emphasizes Professor Dr. Andreas Greiner, University of Bayreuth, who headed the German CS3 delegation in London. ?In order to reduce the impact on our environment, the way we use plastics must improve. Everyone can take responsibility and make their contribution. "

  • Develop new sustainable plastics

If new plastics are developed, they should be designed for the circular economy. In order to implement this, novel processes are required that can manufacture, process and also recycle these plastics. ?Chemistry is the key to finding substitutes that are made from sustainable raw materials, but also to converting plastics into high-quality raw materials after use. Understanding the chemistry of plastics and utilizing the synthesis possibilities of chemistry are essential in order to create a functional recycling economy for plastics, ?says Professor Dr. Brigitte Voit, Leibniz Institute for Polymer Research, Dresden and member of the German CS3 delegation in London.

  • Closed loop plastic recycling

Chemical technologies are required to better label, identify and separate plastic waste. Efficient recycling processes should recover valuable molecules and pure plastics should be completely recycled. In a circular economy, CO2 emissions can also be reused as raw materials.

  • Understand and control plastic degradation

There is a need to reduce the long-term environmental impact of plastics. This means that for some applications biodegradable plastics have to be developed. It is essential to understand how plastics are completely broken down into uncritical small molecules in a wide range of environments and what influence, for example, moisture, pH and organisms have on them. Further research is needed to develop new materials that are recyclable and environmentally degradable. In addition, biodegradable plastics must be competitive in terms of performance and costs.

For the implementation, the scientists see the integration of technical disciplines as essential. ?In order for us to be able to realize a sustainable future with plastics, parallel progress is required in many areas. Waste management, regulation, the economy and our behavior are also required to create the infrastructure and ecosystems for a sustainable plastics system, ?summarizes Andreas Greiner.

The white paper can be found at https://www.gdch.de/veranstaltungen/sonderveranstaltungen/cs3.html

The German Chemical Society (GDCh), with around 31,000 members, is one of the largest chemical science societies in the world. Together with global chemical partner companies, the GDCh organizes scientific events, for example the Chemical Sciences and Society Symposium (CS3), which took place for the eighth time in London last November. The symposium is organized and financed by the Chinese Chemical Society (CCS), the Chemical Society of Japan (CSJ), the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) and the GDCh as well as research sponsors from all participating countries (including the German Research Foundation (DFG)) ).

Press release as a PDF document

09 Understanding and fighting the Corona crisis with the help of mathematics and natural sciences

09/20
May 7, 2020

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 represent the subjects biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics and earth sciences.

The five societies point to the contributions made by the natural sciences, especially in the current crisis. Whether it's technical equipment such as intensive care beds or ventilators, predicting future case numbers for which mathematical, medical and epidemiological knowledge are equally important, researching the virus, developing new tests for COVID-19 or antibodies against the virus or the production of the necessary protection and disinfectants - scientific expertise is required everywhere. This applies in particular to medical care and the development of a vaccine or effective medication, which scientists around the world are currently working on at full speed.

The umbrella organization for geosciences (DVGeo), the German Association of Mathematicians (DMV), the German Physical Society (DPG), the German Chemical Society (GDCh) and the Association of Biology, Biosciences and Biomedicine in Germany (VBIO) represent a total of more than 130,000 scientists. "Even if politics ultimately has to make the decisions, the pandemic cannot be overcome without research and expertise from mathematicians, physicians and natural scientists," says DMV President Professor Friedrich Götze. "The findings on corona viruses that have been gathered in recent years form the basis for concrete and timely measures. The COVID-19 pandemic is thus an impressive example of the essential importance of basic research, the application relevance of which cannot be predicted either in terms of time or content," adds Professor Felicitas Pfeifer, Vice President of the VBIO.

Reporting on the current COVID-19 pandemic makes it abundantly clear that an understanding of mathematical and scientific relationships is essential in order to understand complex information about the number of cases, reproduction rates or the effectiveness of protective measures and not to fall for scaremongering or "fake news". The specialist societies therefore demand that subjects such as mathematics and natural sciences be given the greatest attention in schools. “We need more science in schools, at all ages. With mathematical and scientific lessons, we promote logical thinking and an understanding of complex relationships," emphasizes Dr. Lutz Schroeter, President of the DPG. And Professor Peter R. Schreiner, President of the GDCh, adds: "And we ensure that Germany will continue to have excellent problem solvers from the fields of medicine, mathematics and natural sciences to master future challenges."

Finally, the professional societies also emphasize the importance of science communication. "The population has a right to be informed comprehensively, and in a way that they can understand," says DVGeo President Prof. Dr. Jan Behrman. In this context, the mathematical and scientific societies recommend strengthening science communication and science journalism overall and upgrading their role in science.

The professional societies expect that the COVID-19 pandemic will also have long-term consequences. This affects health care, economic development and social interaction, as well as the way in which science and research will be organized in the future. University education, scientific exchange at Conferences and conferences, research collaborations and the publication system will change, and teachers and researchers at universities will have to adapt to this, as will organizers of Conferences and publishers.

The mathematical and scientific societies recognize the important role of the social and economic sciences in understanding the consequences of the pandemic and ethical criteria to deal with the consequences. They emphasize the great importance of mathematics, medicine and natural sciences in understanding the virus and its spread.

The undersigned professional societies offer their expertise and support to politics and society in order to develop suitable strategies for overcoming the corona crisis and to help prepare important decisions - even in the case of incomplete knowledge.

The professional societies together represent more than 130,000 members. They share the awareness that those working in science bear a particularly high degree of responsibility for shaping human life as a whole. As representatives of their disciplines, they bring the actors together in a community of responsibility and values and commit themselves to stand up for freedom, tolerance, truthfulness and dignity in science. The professional societies are convinced that scientific knowledge is a basic requirement in order to be able to meet the challenges of the future. Facts must form the basis for political and social debates. This requires a free scientific discourse conducted with rational arguments.
Website: https://www.wissenschaft-verbindet.de/index.html

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08 Ars legendi Faculty Prize Mathematics and Natural Sciences 2020 - Prize winners have been announced

08/20
March 10, 2020

Update March 16, 2020: The event is canceled due to the spread of Covid19 / Corona.

The Ars legendi faculty award for excellent University teaching teaching in mathematics and the natural sciences goes this year to Dirk Burdinski from the Technical University of Cologne (chemistry), Martin Wilmking from the University of Greifswald (Biology), Ulrich Kortenkamp from the University of Potsdam (mathematics) as well Christoph Stampfer, Sebastian Staacks and Heidrun Heinke from the Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen (Physics).

The Ars legendi Faculty Prize for Mathematics and Natural Sciences honors scientists who distinguish themselves through outstanding, innovative and exemplary achievements in teaching, advice and support. It is awarded by the Stifterverband, the German Chemical Society, the German Mathematicians Association, the German Physical Society and the Association of Biology, Biosciences and Biomedicine in Germany. The award has been given since 2014 in the categories of Biology, chemistry, mathematics and Physics and is endowed with 5000 euros each.

The award winners were selected by an eleven-person jury made up of representatives from the scientific disciplines, university didactics and students. She awarded the Ars legendi Faculty Prize 2020 to the following university professors:

In the Biology category
Professor Martin Wilmking (PhD), landscape ecologist at the University of Greifswald, is honored. He convinced the jury with the wide range of his teaching methods, which were adapted to the polyvalent audience. In order to meet the challenge of different prior knowledge and different learning speeds, Wilmking aims to activate students and has converted all lectures into interactive courses. Among other things, he relies on the use of ?peer groups?, the ?flipped classroom?, innovative forms of examination and the consistent use of immediate digital feedback.

In the chemistry category
the award goes to Professor Dr. Dirk Burdinski, Technical University of Cologne. He receives the award for the constant development of new teaching concepts. For example, he developed e-tests for students to compare their different levels of knowledge. He adapted the ?inverted classrooms? format to the chemistry internship in earlier semesters (flipped lab) in order to make it easier for freshmen to access the unfamiliar situation in the laboratory. He also established a school laboratory, which he supports with explanatory videos and also regularly produces YouTube tutorials with experiments for students and those interested in chemistry.

In the math category
receives the award Professor Ulrich Kortenkamp, University of Potsdam. He has done pioneering work in the use of dynamic geometry software and computer algebra programs in mathematics classes and is particularly committed to bridging the gap between specialist science and specialist didactics. The student body of students of mathematics and Physics at the University of Potsdam had suggested Kortenkamp for the Ars Legendi faculty award in mathematics because of his "incomparable and tireless commitment to University teaching teaching".

In the Physics category
this year Professor Christoph Stampfer, Dr. Sebastian Staacks and Professor Heidrun Heinke from RWTH Aachen University. The team is responsible for the development and continuous improvement of a Physics app called phyphox (physical phone experiments). With the app, they have sustainably improved physics teaching at universities and schools in Germany and far beyond, and have thus achieved great merits in the further development of teaching.

The award ceremony for the Ars legendi Faculty Prize for Mathematics and Natural Sciences will take place on April 22, 2020 at 5 p.m. in the Renate von Metzler Hall of the Goethe University Frankfurt, Westend campus. Professor Dr. Dr. hc Volker Mosbrugger, General Director of the Senckenberg Society for Nature Research, will give the keynote lecture on the topic ?How do we cope with the challenges of the Anthropocene? A plea for systemic research and teaching ?. Interested parties are cordially invited. Please register by April 6, 2020 by email at b.koehler@gdch.de.

For invitation and registration.

Further information on the Ars legendi faculty award for mathematics and natural sciences is available at www.stifterverband.org/ars-legendi-mn

Contacts:

German Chemical Society eV
Barbara Koehler
Tel. +49 69 7917-323
Email: b.koehler@gdch.de

Donors' Association
Peggy Great
Tel. 030 322982-530
Email: presse@stifterverband.de

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07 Simon Werrett receives Paul Bunge Prize

07/20
March 5, 2020

Update March 16, 2020: The conference is canceled due to the spread of Covid19 / Corona.

The Paul Bunge Prize, endowed with ? 7,500, goes this year to Professor Simon Werrett, University College London. The award ceremony will take place on April 1 at the 119th Annual General Meeting of the German Bunsen Society for Physical Chemistry (DBG) - the Bunsen Conference 2020, which will take place from April 1 to 3 at the Justus Liebig University in Giessen. The prize of the Hans-R.-Jenemann-Foundation is awarded jointly by the German Chemical Society (GDCh) and the DBG. The award recognizes outstanding work on the history of scientific instruments.

Simon Werrett convinced the jury with his work "Thrifty Science: Making the Most of Materials in the History of Experiment", which calls for a rethinking of the way in which experimental science deals with materials and equipment. The author looks at the history of scientific instruments and apparatus in a new way and describes the material cycles of the early modern era (?thrifty science? - ?economical, economical natural research?). Back then, science reused materials, repaired or rebuilt equipment, and even used instruments and materials for purposes other than intended. Werrett contrasts this with the cycle of instruments and materials in today's industry - equipment is delivered ready for use, instruments that are no longer required are disposed of.
The award winner motivates contemporary science to take ?thrifty science? as an example. Because in the age of big data and the discussion about sustainability, the economical and economical use of increasingly scarce resources is absolutely topical.

The winner has been teaching history of science and technology at University College, London / UK since 2012. There he has held a professorship in the Department of Science and Technology Studies since 2019. Werrett's areas of work are broad: They range from the history of science in Russia to the history of culture and technology, from scientific-technical spectacles and public performances in the early modern period, the history of the environment and recycling to the history of materials.

The Paul Bunge Prize is considered the most important honor in the field of the history of scientific instruments worldwide and is advertised internationally. So far, both German, British, Italian, US, Australian and Canadian scientists have received the award. The Foundation's Advisory Board, supported by the GDCh and DBG, decides on the award.

Hans R. Jenemann (1920 - 1996), chemist at Schott Glaswerke in Mainz, became known for his contributions to the history of scientific instruments, especially historical scales. He himself set up the foundation in 1992. The award was named after the Hamburg precision mechanic Paul Bunge (1839 - 1888), one of the leading designers of laboratory balances for chemical analysis.

Further information on the conference at www.bunsentagung.de

The German Chemical Society (GDCh), with around 31,000 members, is one of the largest chemical science societies in the world. It maintains numerous foundations, such as the Hans R. Jenemann Foundation. The Paul-Bunge-Preis of the Hans-R.-Jenemann-Stiftung is awarded annually, alternately at DBG general meetings and lecture conferences of the GDCh division on the History of Chemistry.

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Simon Werrett erhält den Paul-Bunge-Preis.

06 Well-being through food made from hemp?

Update March 9th, 2020: The conference is canceled due to the spread of the corona virus in North Rhine-Westphalia.

06/20
March 3, 2020

On March 18, North Rhine-Westphalian food chemists will meet at the University of Bonn for their annual workshop. The Regional Association North Rhine-Westphalia of the Food Chemistry Society, division of the German Chemical Society (GDCh), invites you to do this. The program includes new foods such as oils and teas made from hemp and other herbs that promise to increase well-being and even promote weight loss. Experts from official Food monitoring will discuss assessment and admissibility with representatives from the legal sector and the pharmaceutical industry.

The market for dietary supplements is growing rapidly. These often promise a certain effect, for example being health-promoting. The food supplements are classified as food.
It is often difficult for consumers to see whether the effects attributed to the food actually apply. In order to make this more transparent and understandable, food chemists can provide significant support to consumer protection.

New foods made from the hemp plant are currently in vogue. For the purpose of assessing cannabis and cannabidiol (CBD) oils, for example, a suitable repertoire of testing and evaluation methods must be developed, and not just for official surveillance. At the workshop, the experts will discuss the recommendations that lawyers give to manufacturers. The assessment of the pharmaceutical industry as well as the proximity of food chemists to pharmacists is also an issue. This is intended to show the wide range of professional opportunities food chemists have - they are not only successful in laboratories, but also in legal departments in the food and pharmaceutical industries. B. also about the evaluation of cosmetic products, as a safety assessor from the industry in Bonn will report.

Participants from the university and official research groups will also present their work on various topics, e.g. on mineral oil residues in baby food or new ways of investigating mold toxins from urine.

Further information at https://www.gdch.de/netzwerk-struktur/fachstruktur/lebensmittelchemische-gesellschaft/regionalverbaende.html

The German Chemical Society (GDCh), with around 31,000 members, is one of the largest chemical science societies in the world. It has 27 specialist groups, including the Food Chemistry Society, whose task it is to promote the exchange of ideas in the field of Food Chemistry and its related disciplines and to provide technical suggestions. For this purpose, among other things, conferences of the six regional associations are held. With around 2800 members, the Food Chemistry Society is the largest division in the GDCh. It organizes the German Food Chemists' Day every year - this year from September 14th to 16th in Wuppertal.

Press release as a PDF document

05 Chemistry lecturers meet in Dresden

Carl Duisberg Memorial Prize for Felix Schacher, Gmelin Beilstein Memorial Medal to Guillermo Restrepo

05/20
February 27, 2020

Update March 13, 2020: The conference is canceled due to the spread of the corona virus.

The 2020 Chemistry Lecturer Conference will take place on the campus of the Technical University of Dresden from March 30th to April 1st. To this end, the Working Group of German University Professors (ADUC) of the German Chemical Society (GDCh) invites university lecturers from the faculties of chemistry from Germany and neighboring countries. As part of the conference , Felix Schacher, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, receives the Carl Duisberg Memorial Prize. In addition, the GDCh awards the Gmelin-Beilstein-Gedenkmünze to Guillermo Restrepo, Max Planck Institute for Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Leipzig. The ADUC honors three young scientists.

At its ceremony on March 30th, the GDCh will award two prizes: Professor Dr. Felix Schacher, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, receives the Carl Duisberg Memorial Prize. The prize, endowed with 7,500 euros, serves to promote young academic researchers. Felix Schacher receives the award for his pioneering work in the field of polyampholytes and polyelectrolytes. These are important, for example, in the non-viral release of genetic information in cells.

The GDCh honors Dr. Guillermo Restrepo, Max Planck Institute for Mathematics and Natural Sciences in Leipzig. The award is associated with a silver medal and 7,500 euros. It honors national and international personalities who have made special contributions to the History of Chemistry, chemical literature or chemical information. Guillermo Restrepo receives the medal for his innovative approaches to quantitative and computational methods with which he contributes to the understanding of the History of Chemistry . For example, his research showed the exponential growth of chemically synthesized compounds over the past two hundred years. He also presented the impact of the world wars on chemical production.

In addition, the ADUC honors three young scientists from different areas of chemistry who have each established their own research area. Dr. Urs Gellrich, Justus Liebig University Giessen, receives the ADUC Prize for the development of a novel concept of inter- and intramolecular boron-ligand cooperation for bond activation and catalysis. In addition, Dr. habil. Crispin Lichtenberg, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, was honored for his preparative work in the fields of low-valent, cationic and radical bismuth chemistry, including the isolation and characterization of new classes of substances. The third ADUC award goes to Dr. Jannika Lauth, Leibniz Universität Hannover, for the representation of novel ultra-thin 2D semiconductor materials and their characterization using ultra-short-term spectroscopic methods.

Further information on the conference at www.gdch.de/cdt2020

The German Chemical Society (GDCh) is one of the largest chemical science societies in the world with around 31,000 members. It has 27 specialist groups and awards numerous prizes for special achievements in chemical research. Up to three junior research group ADUC ( post- doctoral candidates, scholarship holders or junior professors) are honored annually by the Association of German University Professors for Chemistry ( ADUC), which is part of the GDCh.

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Professor Dr. Felix Schacher erhält den Carl-Duisberg-Gedächtnispreis.
Die GDCh verleiht die Gmelin-Beilstein-Denkmünze an Dr. Guillermo Restrepo.

04 Conference for young scientists

22nd spring symposium of the JCF (JungesChemieForum) with awarding of the Carl-Roth-Förderpreis

04/20
February 25, 2020

Update March 13, 2020: The conference is canceled due to the spread of the corona virus.

The 22nd spring symposium of the JCF (JungesChemieForum), the youth organization of the German Chemical Society (GDCh), will take place in Cologne from March 25 to 28, 2020. Over 350 young scientists come together under the motto "Make Chemistry Flow". In addition to scientific lectures, poster sessions and workshops, the conference program also offers an industrial exhibition and a diverse supporting program. One of the highlights is the awarding of the Carl Roth Prize to Maximilian Benz, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.

The JCF Spring Symposium is one of the largest conferences in Europe by and for young scientists. Annually changing JCF regional forums organize the event. This year, the JCFs Cologne-Leverkusen, Siegen and Düsseldorf jointly took over the organization and put together a challenging program. This offers lectures by internationally renowned scientists such as Peter W. Atkins (Lincoln College, University of Oxford / UK), Sir Martyn Poliakoff (University of Nottingham / UK), Hannes Utikal (Provadis School of International Management and Consulting, Frankfurt am Main ) and Klaus Müllen (Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Mainz). In addition, junior group leaders have their say at the conference lectures.

In poster sessions, students and doctoral candidates from chemistry and related natural sciences have the opportunity to exchange ideas. Individual posters are presented in short poster presentations. Poster and lecture prizes are awarded based on the participants' assessment.
An accompanying industrial exhibition, workshops on topics such as careers in start-ups and excursions as well as social activities round off the conference program. The GDCh career service will also be there with a stand and answer questions about Career entry.

As part of the conference, the Carl Roth Award will be presented to Maximilian Benz, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, on March 27th. The GDCh awards the award to young chemists who develop resource-saving synthetic routes or who use chemicals in an innovative way. The prize, which is endowed with 5000 euros, is financed by Carl Roth GmbH & Co. KG, which also contributes 3000 euros in the form of a voucher. Maximilian Benz received the award for his work on miniaturized and parallelized on-chip synthesis. For this, the award winner developed new technologies in order to obtain new bioactive compounds and to characterize them in high throughput screening. The system he developed achieves rapid turnover and uses little amount of material.

Further information on the conference at www.jcf-fruehjahrssymposium.de

The German Chemical Society (GDCh) is one of the largest chemical science societies in the world with around 31,000 members. It promotes the creation of networks, transdisciplinary and international cooperation and continuous education and training in schools, universities and in the professional environment. The GDCh has 27 specialist groups as well as 60 local associations and regional young chemists forums (JCF) at 54 university locations. The JCF forms a nationwide platform for over 10,000 young members of the GDCh.

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Maximilian Benz erhält den Carl-Roth-Förderpreis. Foto: Barta

03 Marina Rodnina receives Albrecht Kossel Prize

Biochemist is recognized for her research on the role of the ribosome in protein synthesis

Update March 6th, 2020: The conference was canceled due to the spread of the corona virus in North Rhine-Westphalia. ( www.gdch.de/biochemistry2020 )

03/20
February 13, 2020

On March 12th, the German Chemical Society (GDCh) awards the Albrecht Kossel Prize, endowed with 7500 euros, to Marina Rodnina, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry in Göttingen, for her work in the field of Biochemistry . The award ceremony takes place within the framework of the GDCh Biochemistry division conference , which will take place in Münster from March 11th to 13th.

Professor Marina Rodnina won over the selection committee with her work on new approaches to investigate the function of the ribosome and how it works in protein biosynthesis. It combines experimental approaches that are otherwise used more alternatively than in conjunction, and links kinetic analyzes with structure-based methods. In this way, the laureate succeeded in developing novel models of translation in general and in gaining new insights into the individual catalytic steps of the ribosome.

Marina Rodnina studied Biology at the National Taras Shevchenko University in Kiev, Ukraine, where she received her PhD in the field of molecular biology and genetics in 1989. As a fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, she conducted research between 1990 and 1992 at the Private University of Witten / Herdecke. There Rodnina received her habilitation in Biochemistry in 1997 and then held a professorship at the Institute for Molecular Biology. In 2000 she took over the chair of physical Biochemistry at the private University of Witten / Herdecke. Since 2008 she has been Managing Director of the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry in Göttingen and Head of the Physical Biochemistry Department.
Marina Rodnina is a member of the National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina. In 2016 she was awarded the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize of the German Research Foundation (DFG).

Further information on the conference at www.gdch.de/biochemistry2020

The German Chemical Society (GDCh), with around 31,000 members, is one of the largest chemical science societies in the world. It has 27 specialist groups and sections and awards numerous prizes for outstanding achievements in various sub-disciplines of chemistry. The Albrecht Kossel Prize, endowed with 7,500 euros, was established in 2012 and awarded for the first time in 2014. The award's namesake, Ludwig Karl Martin Leonhard Albrecht Kossel (1853 - 1927), was a German biochemist, physician and physiologist. In 1910 he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for his research on the cell nucleus and the isolation of nucleic acids and determination of their constitutions.

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Albrecht-Kossel-Preisträgerin Prof. Dr. Marina Rodnina, Foto: Irene Böttcher-Gajewski/Max-Planck-Institut für Biophysikalische Chemie

02 News from analytics

analytica conference 2020 in Munich deals with current developments in analytics

Update March 06, 2020: Analytica will be postponed to October 19-22, 2020 due to the spread of the corona virus.

02/20
January 30, 2020

From March 31 to April 3, 2020, the 27th analytica, the world's leading trade fair for laboratory technology, analytics and Biotechnology, will take place at the Munich Exhibition Center. It will be accompanied by the analytica conference from March 31 to April 2, at which scientists will report on current topics in analytics. One of the main topics of the conference this year is analytical coupling techniques and data management. The analytica conference's scientific program is organized by the Analytik Forum, composed of the German Chemical Society (GDCh), the Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (GBM) and the German Society for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (DGKL).

Analytical chemistry is one of the most diverse specialist disciplines in chemistry and an interface to numerous sub-areas. Many Nobel Prizes have been awarded for analytical developments, and technology leaps are often based on findings from highly developed analytics. At the analytica conference, experts from all over the world will show what the discipline is currently concerned with.

One focus of the conference is on analytical coupling techniques and data management. How can a large amount of analytical data be processed efficiently? And what role does artificial intelligence play in medical analyzes, for example? The speakers give an overview of new methods, procedures and techniques. The lectures focus on current developments on topics such as chromatography and mass spectrometry as well as data processing. With his expertise on the current topic of particulate matter, Professor Dr. Ralf Zimmermann, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Health and Environment, sessions on the latest developments in high-resolution mass spectrometry. Further sessions with experts such as Professor Dr. Michael Rychlik, Technical University of Munich, discuss the use of modern methods in food analysis.

The analytica conference takes place in the ICM - International Congress Center Munich, on the exhibition grounds. Admission is free for visitors to analytica. The joint stand of the Analytics Forum is located in Hall B2, No. 505.

The current program for the analytica conference can be found at www.gdch.de/analyticaconf2020 or in the dates database at www.analytica.de/konferenz.

Contact for the press:

analytica conference
Dr. Karin J. Schmitz
German Chemical Society
public relation
Tel .: +49 69 7917-493
Email: pr@gdch.de

analytica
Frank Fleschner
Exhibition Munich
Tel .: +49 89 949-20421
Email: frank.fleschner@messe-muenchen.de

Press release as a PDF document

01 Scientific societies on climate change: "Listen to science!"

The scientific and mathematical societies call on politics to act

01/20
January 13, 2020

Four large mathematical and natural science societies in Germany are calling for politicians and businesses to take vigorous measures against climate change. They refer to the available scientific knowledge, which requires more decisive action.

The four specialist societies - the Umbrella Association of Geosciences (DVGeo), the German Mathematicians Association (DMV), the German Chemical Society (GDCh) and the Association of Biology, Biosciences and Biomedicine in Germany (VBIO) - are concerned about increasing global warming. They urge politics and business to pay attention to the facts provided by science and to take effective measures to protect the climate.

2019 was the second warmest year worldwide recorded since weather records began and the fifth in a series of exceptionally warm years. This is confirmed by evaluations by the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), which were published on January 8th. With global warming, extreme weather events are increasing in all regions of the world - including here in Germany. There is now a consensus among experts that the observed warming is caused by humans. "Climate models and the overwhelmingly clear database of scientific research on global changes in climatic boundary conditions clearly indicate man-made influences," says Prof. Dr. Friedrich Götze, President of the German Mathematicians Association (DMV). "The DMV strongly advocates that these facts be made the basis for further research and sustainable action strategies."

The professional societies welcome the fact that Germany, as one of the leading industrial nations, is ready to make its contribution to achieving the climate goals. Climate experts are convinced, however, that the measures planned in the climate package will not yet suffice. The professional associations consider the rapid expansion of renewable energies to be indispensable. "In the future, we must actually use all the technical possibilities that are available to meet energy requirements in as climate-neutral a manner as possible and to mitigate climate change," says Prof. Dr. Jan Behrmann, President of the Geosciences Umbrella Association. Prof. Dr. Peter R. Schreiner, President of the German Chemical Society, adds: ?We have to drive the energy transition much more energetically. Most of the technical possibilities are available. There is a lack of resolute political implementation. "

Natural scientists from all disciplines have been dealing with all aspects of climate research for many years, so that reliable facts are available. In addition to the immediate consequences for humans, the flora and fauna can no longer adapt to the rapid climatic changes according to geological standards. "Climate change is a major driver of the massive loss of biodiversity - that is, the disappearance of genes, species and habitats, which weakens the entire earth system," said Prof. Dr. Gerhard Haszprunar, President of the Association for Biology, Biosciences and Biomedicine in Germany.

The mathematical and scientific societies agree that the measures necessary to contain global warming represent a major challenge. In addition to a high level of financial commitment and further research efforts on the part of the states, broader social acceptance is also necessary, because citizens also have to make their contribution to climate protection. However, in view of the forecast consequences in all regions of the world, the professional societies see no alternative to consistent action and changes in direction when dealing with our planet.

?Listen to the scientists!? Demand the professional societies. "Science provides the facts, but the legal framework must be determined by politics."

Further documents:
Copernicus: 2019 was the second warmest year and the last five years were the warmest on record
climate.copernicus.eu/copernicus-2019-was-second-warmest-year-and-last-five-years-were-warmest-record

Climate change in Germany: new monitoring report shows far-reaching consequences
www.bmu.de/pressemitteilung/klimawandel-in-deutschland-neuer-monitoringbericht-belegt-weitreichende- Follow

IPCC special report reveals dramatic risks of climate change for the earth's land resources
www.bmu.de/pressemitteilung/ipcc-sonderbericht-belegt-dramati-risiken-des-klimawandels-fuer-die-landressourcen-der-erde

Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and Berlin Climate Research Institute MCC (Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change) submit a detailed assessment of the climate package
www.pik-potsdam.de/aktuelles/pressemitteilungen/pik-und-mcc-legen-ausfuehrliche-versicherung-des-klimapakets-vor

I nformation about the companies:
Umbrella Association of Geosciences (DVGeo): https://www.dvgeo.org
German Mathematicians Association (DMV): https://www.mathematik.de
German Chemical Society (GDCh): https://www.gdch.de
Association of Biology, Biosciences and Biomedicine in Germany (VBIO): https://www.vbio.de

The German Chemical Society (GDCh), with around 31,000 members, is one of the largest chemical science societies in the world. It promotes scientific work, research and teaching as well as the exchange and dissemination of scientific knowledge. One of her concerns is to make modern chemistry understandable to the interested public and thus to open up connections in natural sciences and technology.

Press release as a PDF document

Contact

Dr. Karin J. Schmitz
Head of GDCh-
public relations
pr@gdch.de
Tel. 069 / 7917-493

Chemical press service

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