Professor Dr. Andreas Künkel, Vice President, Head of Biodegradation & Microplastics Research at BASF SE, has been awarded the 2025 Meyer-Galow Award for Business Chemistry . He receives the prize for the further development of structural and functional biodegradable polymers. The prize, awarded by the Meyer-Galow Foundation, is administered by the German Chemical Society (GDCh) and is endowed with €10,000.
Biodegradable polymers play a crucial role in the production of sustainable products and thus in a functioning circular economy. A distinction is made between structural and functional biodegradable polymers. Structural biodegradable polymers are biodegradable plastics used, for example, to manufacture mulch films. An important application for functional polymers is in the ingredients of detergents, dishwashing liquids, and cosmetics, which ultimately end up in wastewater treatment plants at the end of their life cycle.
To develop and successfully launch biodegradable structural and functional polymers on the market, three conditions must be met. First, the products must fulfill the required technical properties and be biodegradable at the same time. Second, the biodegradability must be certified according to agreed standards. Third, and equally important, is the acceptance of biodegradable polymers as a sustainable solution among customers, policymakers, and the general public.
This requires a fundamental understanding of the chemistry and biological processes involved in biodegradability. Together with his team, other BASF colleagues, and external academic partners, Andreas Künkel has gained important new insights over the past 19 years through research and development. These included investigating how the chemical structure of polymers influences their degradation. Künkel also explored how polymers degrade in different environments. He pursues a holistic approach that combines biology and chemistry using digital tools to gain a deep understanding of biodegradability in technical systems (composting and wastewater treatment plants) and natural systems (soil, ocean). This holistic approach is continuously being developed internally at BASF and through collaborations with academic partners.
The soil-degradable mulch film (made from BASF's ecovio® M2351 material) exemplifies how this approach has been implemented in the market, leading from a fundamental scientific understanding to a certified product. BASF developed ecovio for mulch films so that they can be used in agriculture for various crops. The material meets all technical requirements and increases agricultural yields. At the same time, Andreas Künkel and his team have contributed to the development of realistic standards for biodegradable polymers in soil and have increased public acceptance of the topic. They have not only published their scientific findings in journals but have also communicated them clearly to a broad audience. Künkel and his partners are successfully applying this holistic approach of chemistry, biology, and digitalization to functional biodegradable polymers as well.
Andreas Künkel was born in Biedenkopf in 1969. He studied biology at Philipps University of Marburg and received his doctorate in 1998 from the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology in Marburg. In 1999, he joined BASF SE and conducted research in the field of fine chemicals and biocatalysis until 2003. He then worked as a project manager for animal nutrition until 2006. This was followed by positions in global product management (2006-2008) and as Head of new business development for biodegradable polymers (2009-2010). From 2010 to 2025, he headed the "Biopolymers" research unit, and since April 2025, he has led the "Biodegradability and Microplastics" research unit at BASF. Since 2008, he has been an honorary professor at Philipps University of Marburg and has given more than 100 lectures as an invited speaker. Andreas Künkel remains a board member of “bündnis mikroplastikfrei” in Austria and is active in the Royal Society of Chemistry in Great Britain.
The award ceremony will take place at BASF in Ludwigshafen on January 13, 2026. GDCh President Dr. Ruth Bieringer, herself a recipient of the Meyer-Galow Prize, will present the award to Andreas Künkel, who will then present the winning project.
Regarding the price:
The Meyer-Galow Award for Business Chemistry is awarded annually to scientists in German-speaking countries who have successfully launched a current chemical innovation into the market. The focus is on market launches that prioritize sustainability. The prize was established by Professor Dr. Erhard Meyer-Galow , the former CEO of Hüls AG and former president of the German Chemical Society (GDCh). Meyer-Galow worked primarily at the interface between chemistry and the market and lectured at the University of Münster on "Industrial Chemistry in the Chemical Industry."
The German Chemical Society (GDCh), with approximately 28,000 members, is one of the world's largest chemical societies. It comprises 27 Divisions and 60 local sections and regional forums of the JCF (Young Chemistry Forum). The GDCh promotes scientific work, the exchange of knowledge, and the dissemination of new scientific findings. It maintains numerous foundations, including the Meyer-Galow Foundation for Industrial Chemistry, which Professor Dr. Erhard Meyer-Galow established in 2012 to further advance the field of industrial chemistry. Further information is available at www.gdch.de.
About BASF
BASF stands for chemistry for a sustainable future. Our ambition: We want to be the preferred chemical company to enable our customers' green transformation. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 112,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in almost every industry and nearly every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises the Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, and Nutrition & Care segments as core businesses; the standalone businesses are grouped in the Surface Technologies and Agricultural Solutions segments. BASF generated sales of €65.3 billion worldwide in 2024. BASF shares are traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the USA. Further information is available at www.basf.com.
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The German Chemical Society (GDCh) has awarded Dr. Lauren Niu, Center for Functional Fabrics, Drexel University & Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania, USA, the Mario Markus Prize for Ludicrous Sciences. The prize, endowed with €10,000, recognizes scientific work in the natural sciences that is characterized by its playful nature. Niu receives the prize for her research on the geometry of knitted fabrics. She discovered that knitted fabrics tend to form a three-dimensional pattern according to Gaussian curvature. The award ceremony will take place on December 15th at a public event held at the premises of the Physical Society in Frankfurt am Main.
Lauren Niu developed a comprehensive theory on the geometry of knitted fabrics. The question initially seemed simple: How do complex three-dimensional fold patterns emerge from two basic stitch types—knit and purl stitches? The challenge, however, is complex, because modeling at the stitch level requires simulating kilometer-long strands of yarn whose structure varies even on the smallest scale. Lauren Niu's approach was therefore characterized by methodological diversity. She produced machine-knitted samples, constructed large-scale models from pipe cleaners, and knitted fabrics by hand. Through this systematic observation, she recognized a universal principle: Regardless of size, all patterns tended to curl up and generate Gaussian curvature.
Her key finding was that knitted fabrics can be modeled as thin elastic films that maintain their surface area while simultaneously forming local saddle structures—with orthogonal orientations between right- and left-knit areas. Using her extensive expertise in numerical methods, she tested this theory on a comprehensive pattern library. Her results were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
Lauren Niu, born in 1993, studied physics at the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, USA (2015). She received her PhD in physics in 2023 from Harvard University, Cambridge, USA, with a dissertation on "Patterns and Singularities in Elastic Shells." Since 2023, she has been a Senior Research Scientist and Postdoctoral Researcher at the Center for Functional Fabrics at Drexel University, and since 2025, she has also been a Visiting Scientist at the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Pennsylvania, both in Philadelphia, USA. Niu has received several awards, including the Herbert B. Callen Memorial Prize (2025). She has published numerous articles in international journals and conferences and is involved in various volunteer activities, such as the Women+ of Color Project.
The Mario Markus Prize for Ludic Sciences, endowed with €10,000, is funded by Professor Dr. Mario Markus of Dortmund, who is dedicated to ludic sciences and coined the term. While research projects today are increasingly conducted with a focus on practical application, a look at the past shows that since antiquity, new insights have repeatedly been gained playfully and out of sheer curiosity.
The Mario Markus Prize for Ludic Sciences will be awarded on December 15, 2025, in cooperation with the German Physical Society (Physikverein), in the lecture hall of the German Physical Society at Robert-Mayer-Straße 2 in Frankfurt am Main. The prize winner will present her research at the event. All interested parties are cordially invited. Please register at www.gdch.de/mariomarkus.
The German Chemical Society (GDCh), with approximately 28,000 members, is one of the largest chemical societies worldwide. It promotes scientific work, research and teaching, as well as the exchange and dissemination of scientific knowledge. One of its aims is to make modern chemistry understandable to the interested public, thereby revealing connections between natural sciences and technology.
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23/25
November 18, 2025
Once again, the program includes popular courses on classic topics such as quality assurance, analytics, and food chemistry . These are complemented by courses in Marketing, business administration, human resources and project management, and other subjects. Participants can choose between in-person, Online, hybrid, and on-demand formats.
On-demand courses enable self-study with flexible scheduling while receiving support from course instructors. "We first offered on-demand courses two years ago," explains Maike Bundschuh, Head of Events at the German Chemical Society (GDCh). "Participants with demanding jobs particularly appreciate this flexibility. Furthermore, we can offer high-quality courses at significantly lower prices than in-person or Online courses."
The program will also include new offerings next year, such as "Risk Assessment of Microplastics" (in-person), "Project Management for Chemists (m/f/d)" (on demand) and "Introduction to Molecular Modeling for Chemists (m/f/d)" (Online).
For the first time, the German Chemical Society (GDCh) is offering three courses on intercultural skills for young chemists. Two courses support international students and doctoral candidates in settling in at German universities. A third course prepares young scientists for research stays abroad.
In addition to the individual courses, the proven GDCh specialist programs “Certified Business Chemist (GDCh)® (m/f/d)”, “Certified Quality Expert GxP (GDCh)® (m/f/d)” and “Certified Pharmaceutical Expert GDCh (m/f/d)” will be offered again.
Most courses can also be conducted as in-house training. Even with just four participants, conducting the training internally can be cost-effective. Upon request, the GDCh.academy team will also develop customized course concepts with relevant experts.
Detailed information on all courses and specialist programs can be found at https://gdch.academy
The German Chemical Society (GDCh), with over 28,000 members, is one of the largest chemical societies worldwide. It promotes scientific work, research and teaching, as well as the exchange and dissemination of scientific knowledge. The GDCh supports education in schools and universities, as well as continuing professional development for Career.
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Dr. Ruth Bieringer, Vice President Technology & Innovation – Material Technology at Freudenberg Sealing Technologies, will become President of the German Chemical Society (GDCh) on January 1, 2026. During her two-year term, she intends to focus on intensifying dialogue with political decision-makers and advocating for fact-based scientific information.
Ruth Bieringer was elected as the future president of the German Chemical Society (GDCh) at its meeting on October 1, 2025, with one abstention. She succeeds Professor Dr. Stefanie Dehnen of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), who held the office for a two-year term. Dr. Carla Seidel of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, and Dr. Susanne Rehn-Taube of the Deutsches Museum, Munich, were elected as vice presidents, also effective from January 2026. The Executive Committee also includes Dr. Franz von Nussbaum of Nuvisan ICB GmbH, Berlin, as treasurer, and Stefanie Dehnen as Immediate Past President for the first year.
The president-elect wants to intensify dialogue with policymakers and other stakeholders. "Humanity faces profound societal and scientific challenges, and we as scientists must play a central role in solving them," says Ruth Bieringer. "It is particularly important to me that political decisions are based on sound scientific evidence, and that we at the GDCh are available as a reliable and competent partner. We chemists, in particular, are called upon to contribute to mastering the global challenges of our time."
Ruth Bieringer, born in 1971, studied chemistry at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz before receiving her doctorate in polymer chemistry from the University of Bayreuth in 1999. She then began her Career at Freudenberg, which led her through several positions in central research to her current role. Since 2020, she has been Vice President Technology & Innovation – Material Technology at Freudenberg Sealing Technologies in Weinheim. She also lectures at RheinMain University of Applied Sciences in the field of materials science (polymers). In addition to her involvement with the German Chemical Society (GDCh), Ruth Bieringer is active in the German Rubber Society (DKG), the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), and the German Institute for Rubber Technology (DIK).
She has been a member of the Board of the German Chemical Society (GDCh) since 2024 and also heads the PFAS think tank. In addition, she Chair the advisory board of the Dr. Hermann Schnell Foundation, which aims to support young scientists in the field of macromolecular chemistry. In 2024, she was awarded the Meyer-Galow Award for Business Chemistry .
The German Chemical Society (GDCh), with over 28,000 members, is one of the largest chemical societies worldwide. It promotes scientific work, research and teaching, as well as the exchange and dissemination of scientific knowledge. The GDCh supports the creation of networks, transdisciplinary and international collaboration, and continuous education and training in schools, universities, and professional settings. The GDCh has 27 Divisions and 60 local sections.
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The August Wilhelm von Hofmann Foundation, established at the German Chemical Society (GDCh), will again award scholarships for the summer semester of 2026. Bachelor's, diploma, or final-year students of chemistry and related fields can receive funding of €300 per month for up to 18 months, starting in April 2026. Applications can be submitted via the Online portal until February 1, 2026.
Students of chemistry and related fields with excellent academic performance who have limited financial resources can apply for one of approximately twenty scholarships from the August Wilhelm von Hofmann Foundation. Extracurricular activities are also taken into consideration. Students who are in their fourth or fifth semester at the beginning of the summer semester of 2026 are eligible for funding. The scholarship will not be counted towards BAföG (German Federal Training Assistance Act) benefits.
The August Wilhelm von Hofmann Scholarships are designed to support motivated and talented students – especially those with limited financial resources. The foundation was established by a long-standing member of the German Chemical Society (GDCh) who passed away in 2010 and bequeathed the majority of his estate to the GDCh to support gifted chemistry students. It is named after the first president of the German Chemical Society, the predecessor organization of the GDCh, founded in 1867. Since its inception, over 300 students have benefited from the scholarships and have become part of the August Wilhelm von Hofmann Network.
Further information and application at www.gdch.de/hofmannstiftung
The German Chemical Society (GDCh), with over 28,000 members, is one of the largest chemical societies worldwide. The GDCh manages numerous dependent foundations in trust. The purpose of these foundations is to award prizes, grants, and scholarships. Foundation advisory boards decide on the awarding of prizes, awards, and scholarships.
20/25
September 9, 2025
The German Chemical Society (GDCh) is awarding the Hildegard Hamm Brücher Award for equal opportunities in chemistry to the project "Diversity-Sensitive Support (DiSenSu)." The joint project of the Technical University of Darmstadt and the Ludwigsburg University of Education, led by Professor Dr. Markus Prechtl of TU Darmstadt and Professor Dr. Silvija Markic, formerly of Ludwigsburg University of Education and now at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, will be honored on December 1st at the Deutsches Museum in Munich as part of the anniversary celebration "25 Years of Commitment to Equal Opportunities in the GDCh."
The DiSenSu team has been awarded the Hildegard Hamm-Brücher Prize for its pioneering career guidance program in chemistry for girls with a migration background. The project is a model of commitment to combating educational disadvantages and promoting equal opportunities. The selection committee praised the initiative as "extremely well-founded, innovative, and sustainable" and was particularly impressed by the team's scientific approach.
The DiSenSu collaborative project between TU Darmstadt and PH Ludwigsburg developed a gender- and diversity-sensitive tool for career guidance in chemistry. The core of the project consisted of several hundred time- and personnel-intensive individual coaching sessions, which included short tests and exercises. These coaching sessions were supplemented by other methods such as comics featuring female role models, a career orientation card game, scientific publications, and conference presentations.
Following the project's completion, all developed materials and the evaluated tool remain available, and documentation enables others to independently implement the DiSenSu format. The project focused on promoting careers in chemistry and job-specific skills, regardless of the participants' type of school.
The award ceremony will take place as part of the anniversary celebration "25 Years of Commitment to Equal Opportunities in the GDCh" at the Deutsches Museum in Munich. Twenty-five years ago, the GDCh working group on Equal Opportunities in Chemistry was founded with the aim of promoting diversity and breaking down barriers to create a more inclusive and equitable community. Since 2018, the Commission for Equal Opportunities in Chemistry has been strategically continuing this mission and working closely with the GDCh Board and the JCF (Young Chemistry Forum) Equal Opportunities Team.
Since 2021, the Hildegard Hamm Brücher Award for equal opportunities in chemistry, endowed with 7,500 euros, has been awarded. Named after the important politician and champion of equality and education, Hildegard Hamm-Brücher, it serves as inspiration and recognition for those who tirelessly advocate for a more diverse and inclusive chemistry industry and honors outstanding achievements and commitment in the field of equal opportunities.
Further information about the event can be found at www.gdch.de/jubilaeumchancengleichheit
The German Chemical Society (GDCh), with over 28,000 members, is one of the largest chemical societies worldwide. It promotes scientific work, research and teaching, as well as the exchange and dissemination of scientific knowledge. The GDCh supports education in schools and universities, as well as continuing professional development for Career.
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At the GDCh Science Forum Chemistry (SFC) 2025, the German Chemical Society (GDCh) will award Professor Dr. Stefan Mecking, University of Konstanz, the Karl Ziegler Award, endowed with €50,000 and a gold medal – one of the most prestigious German awards in the field of chemistry. In addition, Junior Professor Dr. Lisa Vondung, University of Hamburg, will receive the Karl Ziegler Young Scientist Award, endowed with €30,000.
Stefan Mecking from the University of Konstanz has been awarded the Karl Ziegler Award for his research in the field of polymerization in dispersed systems (plastics production in aqueous droplets), polymer colloids, and nanostructures. The chemist developed catalysts that enable the targeted insertion of functional groups into polymer structures and the performance of polymerizations in polar media. This leads to biodegradable and recyclable materials as well as novel morphologies. His interdisciplinary research addresses fundamental problems in materials chemistry and has high societal relevance. It generates new polymer materials and promotes innovation in the life sciences and alternative energy technologies.
Stefan Mecking studied chemistry at RWTH Aachen University University until 1992 and received his doctorate in technical chemistry there in 1994. After a postdoctoral fellowship as a Feodor Lynen Fellow at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA (1994-1996), he was a laboratory and project manager at Hoechst Corporate Research, Frankfurt (1996-1998). He then completed his habilitation in macromolecular chemistry at the University of Freiburg (2002), where he worked as a private lecturer until 2004. Since 2004, he has been Professor of Chemical Materials Science at the University of Konstanz. Mecking has received numerous awards, including an ERC Advanced Grant (2019) and a Koselleck Project (2024).
Junior Professor Dr. Lisa Vondung has been awarded the Karl Ziegler Young Scientist Award for her research on organometallic lanthanide and uranium compounds. The prize, endowed with a total of €30,000, enables the head of a junior research group to fund a postdoctoral position with a monthly stipend of €2,500. Vondung has already gained important insights into the bonding properties between ligands and f-elements. With the prize money, she intends to investigate the hitherto under-researched bimetallic uranium complexes. She plans to systematically explore how the distance between the two metal atoms influences their reactivity. Vondung is particularly interested in synergistic effects – when two metal atoms react differently together than individually. This fundamental research is intended to lay the foundation for future catalytic applications.
Lisa Vondung studied chemistry at Philipps University of Marburg, where she also earned her doctorate in 2017. After postdoctoral research in Marburg and with a Leopoldina scholarship at the University of Manchester, UK, she led a Liebig Junior Research Group at the University of Göttingen from 2021 to 2023. Since May 2023, she has been a Junior Professor of Inorganic Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Hamburg. Vondung has received several awards, including the University of Marburg PhD Award (2018), a scholarship to the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting in 2022, and the MICRA Lecture Prize in 2024.
The awards will be presented at a celebratory awards dinner on September 29 during the GDCh Science Forum Chemistry (SFC) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). In addition, there will be an opportunity to meet the awardee , Professor Dr. Stefan Mecking, during a "Meet & Greet" at the SFC.
The Science Forum Chemistry (SFC)
Under the guiding principle of "Overcoming boundaries together and shaping the future of chemistry," the German Chemical Society (GDCh) invites participants to this newly designed event at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) from September 29 to October 1, 2025. The SFC offers chemists a unique platform for interdisciplinary exchange, international networking, and groundbreaking ideas.
“Thinking across borders” is the motto of the Science Forum Chemistry 2025 – and that’s precisely what it’s about: overcoming disciplinary, institutional, and national boundaries and tackling the major challenges in chemistry together. A top-class program of plenary lectures, sessions, and exciting panel discussions creates the ideal setting for lively debates and fruitful collaborations.
Further information about the Conference can be found at www.gdch.science
The German Chemical Society (GDCh), with over 28,000 members, is one of the largest chemical societies worldwide. It promotes scientific work, research and teaching, as well as the exchange and dissemination of scientific knowledge. The GDCh supports education in schools and universities, as well as continuing professional development for Career.
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Peter Hommelhoff will receive the 2025 Otto Hahn Award for his pioneering contributions to the ultrafast control of electrons and the associated establishment of new research fields. The award ceremony, which includes a certificate and medal and is endowed with €50,000, will take place on October 23, 2025, in St. Paul's Church in Frankfurt.
“I wholeheartedly congratulate Professor Dr. Peter Hommelhoff on this prestigious award in memory of Frankfurt’s honorary citizen and Nobel laureate Otto Hahn,” said Dr. Ina Hartwig, Frankfurt’s Head of Cultural and Scientific Affairs. “Professor Dr. Hommelhoff worthily continues the line of renowned awardee winners who have made outstanding contributions in their fields of research.”
Peter Hommelhoff, professor at Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) Munich and temporarily at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, researches extremely fast and small-scale processes in physics, particularly the interaction of light and electrons. His integration of ultrafast optics into electron beam research was groundbreaking, culminating in the invention of a femtosecond electron source. To achieve this, he focused a femtosecond laser, which emits light pulses at intervals of quadrillionths of a second, onto a sharp metal tip. This generates ultrashort electron pulses of exceptional quality.
“After completing his doctorate, Peter Hommelhoff explored a wide range of fields in ultrafast physics with the aim of opening up new research directions and leaving his own mark. He has succeeded brilliantly,” emphasizes Klaus Richter, President of the DPG. Stefanie Dehnen, President of the GDCh, adds: “Peter Hommelhoff’s control over electrons in the femtosecond range expands our understanding of matter. Such fundamental research is indispensable for both disciplines – physics and chemistry.”
Based on the method he developed, Hommelhoff opened up two new fields of research: Firstly, strong-field physics on metal surfaces. This opens up new possibilities for investigating the properties of these surfaces with unprecedented precision. Secondly, quantum electron optics, which, for example, makes it possible to record not only images but also films with electron microscopes.
Furthermore, Peter Hommelhoff is working intensively on new applications of ultrashort controlled electron pulses: “By integrating the femtosecond electron source onto a photonic chip, conventional particle accelerators could be miniaturized to a component just a few millimeters in size. This would open up entirely new applications, particularly in medicine , by allowing such a particle accelerator to be integrated into the tip of an endoscope, thus enabling minimally invasive radiation therapy directly at the tumor site,” explains Hommelhoff. However, further intensive research is necessary for this.
Peter Hommelhoff completed his physics studies at ETH Zurich in 1999, having begun them at the Technical University of Berlin. He then earned his doctorate at LMU Munich; his dissertation, supervised by Theodor Hänsch, dealt with the generation of a Bose-Einstein condensate in a magnetic chip trap ("Bose-Einstein Condensates in Microchip Traps"). In 2003, Hommelhoff moved to Stanford University as a postdoctoral researcher. He returned to Germany in 2007 and led a research group at the Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics. After holding a professorship at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, he now holds a professorship at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich.
The Otto Hahn Award is awarded jointly by the City of Frankfurt am Main, the German Physical Society (DPG), and the German Chemical Society (GDCh). It promotes science, particularly in the fields of chemistry, physics , and applied engineering, by recognizing outstanding scientific achievements. The prize is endowed with €50,000 and is awarded every two years at a ceremony in Frankfurt's Paulskirche.
The German Physical Society (DPG), whose tradition dates back to 1845, is the oldest national and, with around 55,000 members, also the world's largest physical society. As a non-profit organization, it pursues no commercial interests. The DPG promotes the exchange of knowledge within the scientific community through Conferences, events, and publications, and aims to open a window to physics for all those who are curious. Particular emphasis is placed on supporting young scientists and promoting equal opportunities. The DPG is headquartered in Bad Honnef on the Rhine. It maintains a representative office in Berlin to network with stakeholders from politics and society. Website: www.dpg-physik.de
The German Chemical Society (GDCh), with over 28,000 members, is one of the largest chemical societies worldwide. It promotes scientific work, research and teaching, as well as the exchange and dissemination of scientific knowledge. The GDCh supports education in schools and universities and continuing professional development for Career advancement. www.gdch.de
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The 53rd German Food Chemistry Days will take place at the University of Halle-Wittenberg from September 22nd to 24th. The annual conference of the German Society of Food Chemistry (LChG), the largest Division of the German Chemical Society (GDCh), will focus on solutions to current challenges in food quality and consumer protection. During the event, two scientists will also be awarded the Joseph König Commemorative Medal for their outstanding contributions to food chemistry .
Why do many meat substitutes taste bitter and smell grassy? Julia Heidenkampf from the Technical University of Munich knows the answer and a solution. The food chemist and her team deciphered the molecular formula of meat flavor. Using the sensomics concept – a method for analyzing flavor and odor compounds – she identified seven key flavor compounds and 28 key odor compounds in a beef patty. This molecular map reveals which basic building blocks (precursors) are missing in plant-based products. In her lecture , Heidenkampf explains how molecular mimicry could revolutionize the taste of plant-based alternatives.
Germans consume eight liters of ice cream per year. The problem: While the sugar it contains is unhealthy, it's also responsible for the creamy consistency. Lisa J. Wagner from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) investigated how sugar in ice cream can be replaced with dietary fiber from byproducts of food production – without compromising its creaminess. Wagner and her team of researchers from KIT and TU Berlin utilize byproducts from the food industry: carrot pomace (press residue from juice production), lupin fiber, and blackcurrant seeds. From these, they extract soluble dietary fiber – indigestible plant fibers that are chemically similar to sugar. Ice cream to which this fiber is added tastes as creamy as ever, even though it contains less sugar. In lecture , Wagner demonstrates how seemingly inferior byproducts can contribute to reduced-sugar ice cream in this way.
Kim Lara Gützkow and her team from the Max Rubner Institute in Kiel have, for the first time, detected a new contaminant in grated hard cheese: methoxy-STC, a potentially genotoxic substance. In examining commercially available cheese samples, they found various mycotoxins—toxins produced by molds—particularly in grated Grana-type hard cheese. The scientists identified the mold Aspergillus versicolor as the culprit. Plant-based drinks also pose risks: 71 percent of the oat drinks tested contained T2/HT2 toxins, while almond drinks were frequently contaminated with aflatoxin B1 and sterigmatocystin. These findings demonstrate that manufacturers need to improve their processes in both cheese ripening and the production of plant-based drinks. Gützkow explains which factors promote toxin formation and how consumers can protect themselves in her lecture .
In his lecture , Dr. Jürgen Kuballa from GALAB Laboratories Hamburg demonstrates how self-learning computer programs are revolutionizing food analysis. AI opens up new possibilities for chemometrics (mathematical methods for evaluating chemical data). Where complex laboratory analyses were previously required, a fluorescence spectrometric measurement combined with intelligent algorithms is often sufficient today. This allows, for example, the precise differentiation of various quality grades of olive oil. However, this new technology raises questions: How can food chemistry utilize these tools? Many AI models function like a "black box"—the result is visible, but the process remains unclear. This complicates the validation of such methods. The " chemometrics & quality assurance " working group of the Division of Analytical Chemistry within the German Chemical Society (GDCh) is therefore developing guidelines for their safe application. In his lecture, Kuballa not only illuminates the potential of AI in quality control but also its limitations and risks.
During the event, the GDCh will award two scientists with the Joseph König Commemorative Medal:
Dr. Konrad Grob receives the award for his lifetime achievement in food analysis. He significantly advanced capillary gas chromatography (a high-resolution separation method for chemical compounds). His research uncovered contamination in food by mineral oils, plasticizers, and printing inks. He exposed adulterated olive oil and researched acrylamide formation in potato products. As a long-time EFSA expert, he has shaped European consumer protection.
Professor Dr. Reinhard Matissek receives the award for four decades of pioneering work in food safety. The food chemist was director of the Institute of Food Chemistry of the Federal Association of the German Confectionery Industry (LCI) in Cologne from 1989 to 2019. Among other things, he developed strategies for minimizing harmful substances such as acrylamide and mineral oils in food. For 27 years, he has supported young scientists, advises the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, and has influenced generations of students with his textbooks.
Further information on the 53rd German Food Chemistry Days can be found at www.gdch.de/lchtage2025.
With over 28,000 members, the German Chemical Society (GDCh) is one of the largest chemical societies worldwide. It has numerous GDCh structures, including the Society of Food Chemistry, whose mission is to promote the exchange of ideas in the field of food chemistry and related disciplines and to provide professional guidance. With over 2,500 members, the Society of Food Chemistry is the largest Division within the GDCh.
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The German Chemical Society (GDCh) is awarding Professor Dr. Dr. h.c. Ilka Parchmann of Kiel University and the Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education (IPN) the Heinz Schmidkunz Prize, endowed with 7,500 euros. The Society is thus honoring Parchmann's commitment and contributions to chemistry education. The award ceremony will take place on September 17th during the 41st Continuing Education and Lecture Conference of the GDCh chemical education GDCh Division in Erlangen.
The Heinz Schmidkunz Prize, endowed with 7,500 euros, is awarded to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to chemistry education research, the training of chemistry teachers, and chemical education in schools. This year's recipient, Ilka Parchmann, receives the award for her significant achievements in chemistry education. She has been instrumental in shaping research, teacher training, and school instruction in chemistry – in Schleswig-Holstein, throughout Germany, and internationally.
Of particular note is the concept of "Chemistry in Context," which Parchmann co-developed. It connects everyday questions with systematic skills development. This approach is having a groundbreaking impact on chemical education . Furthermore, the award winner actively promotes collaboration between universities and schools. At the Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education (IPN) at Kiel University, she supports the development of modern curricula and also initiates innovative professional development programs for teachers. The "Nano Summer School," for example, provides insights into current research topics. Subject-specific knowledge, didactics, and classroom practice are creatively linked. Her research on learning processes, learning prerequisites, and potential obstacles forms the basis for effective chemical education. The goal: for students to understand and appreciate chemistry and experience the fascination of the subject. Through these diverse activities, Parchmann is having a lasting positive impact on the landscape of chemistry education.
Ilka Parchmann passed her first state examination for teaching at grammar schools in chemistry and biology at the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg in 1993. In 1997, she received her doctorate in chemistry education, also from Oldenburg. She passed her second state examination at the Wilhelmshaven teacher training college in 1999, before working as a research associate at the Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education (IPN) in Kiel from 1999 to 2002. In 2002, she completed her habilitation at Kiel University (CAU) and accepted a professorship in chemistry education at both the IPN and CAU. From 2004 to 2009, she was a professor of chemistry education at the University of Oldenburg. In 2009, she returned to the IPN and CAU Kiel as a professor and director of the Department of Chemistry Education. Parchmann has received numerous awards, including an honorary doctorate from Umeå University, Sweden, in 2018. She has also headed the Kiel Research Workshop since 2012.
Further information about the Conference: www.gdch.de/fgcu2025
The German Chemical Society (GDCh), with over 28,000 members, is one of the largest chemical societies worldwide. It promotes scientific work, research and teaching, as well as the exchange and dissemination of scientific knowledge. The GDCh supports education in schools and universities, as well as continuing professional development for Career.
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On December 3rd, at the Sala Zuccari of the Italian Senate in Roma, Nobel Laureate Professor Jean-Marie Lehn will be honored with the Primo Levi Award 2025. The award, jointly presented by the Italian Chemical Society (Società Chimica Italiana, SCI), the German Chemical Society (German Chemical Society, GDCh), and the Centro Internazionale di Studi Primo Levi, recognizes the profound contributions of Prof. Lehn as an advocate of the transnational nature of science. His dedication has been instrumental in advancing pan-European scientific cooperation within the chemistry community. Prof. Lehn played an outstanding role in overcoming historical and political divisions, thereby fostering a cohesive and unified spirit across the continent.
This year, the Italian Chemical Society (Società Chimica Italiana, SCI), the German Chemical Society (German Chemical Society, GDCh), and the Centro Internazionale di Studi Primo Levi are honoring Prof. Jean-Marie Lehn with the Primo Levi Award in recognition of his remarkable impact as an ambassador of science dedicated to uniting people through scientific excellence, international cooperation, and the ethical advancement of knowledge. His legacy encompasses groundbreaking scientific discoveries and a profound commitment to fostering unity, understanding, and cooperation across borders.
Prof. Jean-Marie Lehn consistently demonstrated the power of science as a pivotal force in promoting European scientific cohesion and transnational cooperation in the post–Cold War era. He played a crucial role in overcoming historical divisions contributing significantly to harmonize chemical research and education across the continent. Without his initiative, the joint European publishing endeavor known as Chemistry Europe — launched with the first common publication, Chemistry: A European Journal — might never have come into existence.
In addition, through his leadership role at the International Organization for Chemical Sciences in Development (IOCD), Professor Lehn has significantly advanced the chemical sciences for sustainable development, particularly in developing countries. His core belief, namely that "Science is a vector of peace, development, and progress. It is universal. It should be shared universally" perfectly aligns with the ethical legacy of Primo Levi and underscores Professor Lehn's commitment to human values and scientific integrity that make him so deserving of this prestigious award.
Primo Levi's enduring philosophy, which emphasizes the crucial link between scientific facts and human values, finds a powerful parallel in Professor Lehn's dedicated pursuit of ethical responsibility in science. Professor Lehn's excellence in fostering international cooperation, interdisciplinary dialogue, and ethical research demonstrates a profound commitment to human rights and scientific integrity, undoubtedly meriting him this prestigious recognition.
Born in 1939 in Rosheim, Alsace region, Professor Jean-Marie Lehn is a pioneer of supramolecular chemistry. Together with Donald J. Cram and Charles Pedersen, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1987 for the “development and use of molecules with a structure-specific effect of high selectivity”. Professor Lehn's ground-breaking research has redefined the understanding of molecular recognition and self-organization, leading to the development of supramolecular chemistry as a field of immense scientific and technological significance. His discoveries have paved the way for new approaches in drug design, materials science, and nanotechnology, demonstrating the power of chemistry to address global challenges in health, sustainability, and advanced materials. Besides the Nobel Prize and among many other honors, Prof. Jean-Marie Lehn has received the Karl Ziegler Prize from the GDCh in 1989 and the Giulio Natta Gold Medal from the SCI in 2003.
The Primo Levi Award, established in 2017 by the GDCh, SCI, and Centro Internazionale di Studi Primo Levi, commemorates Italian chemist and writer Primo Levi. The award celebrates outstanding chemists and related scientists who are recognized for their research excellence, as well as their significant contributions to humanity, upholding human rights, and raising awareness about science's vital role in achieving just, inclusive, and sustainable global progression.
Primo Levi (1919-1987), the son of a Jewish family, successfully studied chemistry despite the Italian racial laws prohibiting Jews from attending state universities at the time. In 1943, he joined the Schießa, the Italian resistance movement. He was captured that same year and deported to Auschwitz in 1944, where he was forced to work in the Buna chemical plant. Seriously ill, he survived and returned to Torino after his liberation in 1945 where he worked for almost thirty years in the chemical industry. The war years left an indelible mark on him, shaping his life's trajectory. In 1947, he published his seminal work, "Se questo è un uomo" ("If This Is A Man"), processing his harrowing experiences in Auschwitz. Until his death, he devoted himself to bearing witness to the Holocaust and preserving its memory, while also championing human rights and the vital connection between chemistry and society.
The German Chemical Society (German Chemical Society, GDCh) has approximately 28,000 members and is one of the largest chemical scientific societies worldwide. It promotes scientific research and teaching as well as the exchange and dissemination of new scientific knowledge. The German Chemical Society supports the creation of networks, the trans-disciplinary and international collaboration and continuous education and training in schools, universities and professional environments.
Chemistry studies in Germany enjoy an excellent international reputation. In 2024, around 30 percent of doctoral students came from abroad. The number of international students beginning their studies and especially during their master's programs has also been steadily increasing for years. This is shown by the latest statistics on chemistry degree programs from the German Chemical Society (GDCh).
In 2024, a total of 8,004 people began a chemistry degree program (2023: 8,248). The number of students who completed a chemistry degree with a Master's degree or the First State Examination was 3,546 (2023: 3,483). The number of doctoral degrees awarded rose to 2,120 last year (2023: 2,040). Graduates with a completed doctorate found employment similarly well to the previous year.
The proportion of international doctoral candidates in chemistry has more than doubled since the turn of the millennium. While only 13% of doctoral candidates came from abroad at that time, this figure had risen to 30% by 2024. Internationalization is evident at all levels of study: 14.9% of first-year chemistry students, 20% of master's graduates, and 25.4% of successful doctoral candidates come from abroad. While international students previously came to Germany primarily to pursue their doctorates, they are now increasingly choosing to obtain their bachelor's or master's degree in Germany first.
The following results were obtained in the individual study programs:
• In the field of chemistry/business chemistry, universities reported 5,166 new students (2023: 5,024). 1,910 students (2023: 1,891) successfully completed their bachelor's degrees, and 2,052 received their master's degrees (2023: 2,111). The median duration of studies was 7.0 semesters for a bachelor's degree (2023: 7.0) and 5.5 semesters for a master's degree (2023: 5.3). In 2024, 1,828 people received their doctorates in chemistry/business chemistry (2023: 1,771). The median duration of doctoral studies was 8.8 semesters (2023: 8.4).
• In Biochemistry and Life Sciences, 1,599 people began their studies (2023: 1,680). The number of Bachelor's degrees awarded was 871 (2023: 905), while the number of Master's degrees rose to 856 (2023: 807). The number of doctoral degrees also increased to 253 (2023: 210). The median duration of studies was 6.9 semesters for Bachelor's degrees (2023: 6.9), 5.4 semesters for Master's degrees (2023: 5.4), and 9.3 semesters for doctoral degrees (2023: 9.3).
• In food chemistry , the number of first-year students decreased from 307 in the previous year to 274. A total of 115 students passed the main examination A (first state examination) or the diploma examination (2023: 150), and 135 passed the main examination B (second state examination) (2023: 125). Universities also reported 137 Bachelor's and 150 Master's degrees awarded (2023: 132 and 133, respectively). The number of doctoral degrees awarded was 39 (2023: 59). The average duration of studies up to the main examination A was 11.0 semesters (2023: 10.9). Bachelor's degrees took a median of 6.8 semesters (2023: 6.7), and Master's degrees 4.6 semesters (2023: 4.5). Due to insufficient data, an average duration of studies for doctoral degrees could not be calculated.
• At universities of applied sciences (HAW), 965 people began studying chemistry (2023: 1237). The number of bachelor's degrees decreased to 543 (2023: 583), and the number of master's degrees to 373 (2023: 415). The median duration of studies was 8.3 semesters for bachelor's degrees (2023: 8.0) and 4.7 semesters for master's degrees (2023: 4.2).
Approximately 97% of all bachelor's graduates at universities and 67% at universities of applied sciences went on to pursue a master's degree. Around 80% of master's graduates at universities began a doctoral program.
Forty-five percent of chemistry PhD graduates have already decided on their first step into professional life. According to university data, 42.4% took up a position in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry (2023: 42.4%), 17.6% (2023: 17.4%) accepted a temporary position in Germany (including postdocs). 14.8% worked in other sectors after graduation (2023: 14.8%), and 9.5% took a position abroad (2023: 9.8%). Approximately 4.4% remained at a university or research institute (2023: 5%). Around 3.7% of graduates held a position in the public sector (2023: 4%). At the time of the survey, 6.6% were registered as job seekers (2023: 6.2%).
The brochure “Statistics of Chemistry Study Programs 2024” is available as a flipbook at www.gdch.de/statistik.
The German Chemical Society (GDCh), with approximately 28,000 members, is one of the largest chemical societies worldwide. Its work includes addressing current developments in higher education and the job market. Since 1952, the GDCh has collected extensive annual statistical data on chemistry degree programs. The 2024 statistics are based on data from degree programs in chemistry and business chemistry, biochemistry and life sciences, food chemistry , as well as chemistry programs at universities of applied sciences (formerly Fachhochschulen). The survey collected data on the number of first-year and current students, the number of graduates passing their final examinations, and the respective final grades and duration of studies. In addition, some universities provided information on the employment status of their graduates after completing their studies or doctorates. The data is collected as of December 31.
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Compared to the previous year, the total income of non-unionized employees in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry remained almost constant in 2024, with an increase of 0.2 percent. This is shown in the latest edition of the annual income survey, which the VAA conducts jointly with the German Chemical Society (GDCh).
The median total income in 2024 was approximately €137,000. This includes not only fixed salary and bonuses, but also other salary components such as benefits in kind from company cars, proceeds from stock options, and special payments.
As in the previous year, the components of total income developed in opposite directions: While fixed salaries increased by 3.6 percent, bonus payments saw a significant decline of almost 24 percent. In the previous year, bonus payments had already fallen by 17 percent. Other salary components decreased by almost 13 percent in 2024.
“The ongoing economic downturn in German industry is clearly reflected in the income development of skilled workers and managers in the chemical and pharmaceutical sectors,” said Dr. Birgit Schwab, Chair of the VAA and board member responsible for the VAA's Income Commission. She pointed out that, according to the German Chemical Industry Association (VCI), chemical production in 2024 was significantly below the levels of previous years. “We must therefore expect bonus payments to remain at this reduced level in 2025 as well,” Schwab added.
The development of bonus payments in 2024 varied greatly depending on company size: While bonuses in small companies (up to 1,000 employees) only decreased slightly and in medium-sized companies (1,001 – 10,000 employees) even increased by more than five percent, specialists and managers in large companies (more than 10,000 employees) had to accept significant cuts: Here, the bonus decline averaged over 55 percent.
Dr. Hans-Dieter Gerriets, Chair of the VAA Commission on Income, clarifies the impact on the salary structure in the industry: “Due to the differences in income development, total incomes in smaller and larger companies have converged significantly. While the difference between small and large companies was around 30 percent in 2022, it was only 12 percent in 2024.”
With such cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses, the VAA/GDCh income survey provides a unique overview of salary trends in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. More than 4,000 people participated in the current survey. The study's scientifically sound and statistically robust foundation is ensured by its joint execution with the German Chemical Society (GDCh) and the scientific support provided by RWTH Aachen University University. The GDCh's special analysis for GDCh members outside the chemical industry, as well as the complete data from participants in the collective bargaining agreement (MTV) within the chemical industry, will be published in July/August.
The German Chemical Society (GDCh), with over 28,000 members, is one of the largest chemical societies worldwide. It promotes scientific work, research and teaching, as well as the exchange and dissemination of scientific knowledge. The GDCh supports education in schools and universities, as well as continuing professional development for Career.
The Association of Salaried Academics and Managers in the Chemical Industry (VAA) represents the skilled professionals and managers of the chemical and pharmaceutical industry. As a professional association and union for academics, the VAA advocates for the interests of approximately 30,000 members from all professional groups. The VAA negotiates collective bargaining agreements and maintains a close dialogue with its social partners as well as other associations and organizations within the sector.
Contact person for inquiries:
Klaus Bernhard Hofmann
Executive Director of Communications & Press Spokesperson
Tel: +49 221 160010
Email: klaus.hofmann@vaa.de
www.vaa.de
At the GDCh Science Forum Chemistry (SFC) 2025, the German Chemical Society (GDCh) will award the Horst Pracejus Prize, endowed with 7500 euros, to Professor Dr. Varinder Aggarwal, University of Bristol, UK.
The German Chemical Society (GDCh) honors Professor Dr. Varinder Aggarwal as one of the world's leading chemists in the field of stereoselective synthesis. His fundamental work on the preparation of chiral boronates established a new approach to the construction of defined stereogenic carbon centers, which he elegantly employs in synthesis. The selection committee also highlighted the significant international visibility of Aggarwal's work, reflected in a high number of citations, invitations to speak, and numerous awards.
Varinder Kumar Aggarwal, born in 1961, studied chemistry at the University of Cambridge, UK, where he also received his PhD in chemistry in 1986. After postdoctoral research at Columbia University, New York, USA, Aggarwal was a lecturer at the University of Bath, UK (1988–1991) and the University of Sheffield, UK (1991–1997), where he was appointed professor in 1997. Since 2000, he has been a professor at the University of Bristol, UK, and since 2019, he has also held the Alfred Capper Pass Professorship. Aggarwal has received numerous awards, including the Davy Medal of the Royal Society (2019), the Cope Scholar Award of the American Chemical Society (2019), and the Humboldt Research Award (2017). He has been a Fellow of the Royal Society since 2012 and a member of the Academia Europaea since 2020. Aggarwal is involved in international expert committees and editorial boards of several journals.
The Horst Pracejus Prize, endowed with 7500 euros, has been awarded by the German Chemical Society (GDCh) since 1997 to scientists for outstanding work in the field of enantioselectivity or chirality. The prize is named after Professor Horst Pracejus, who was known for his research in the field of chiral catalysis and Head of the Catalysis Research Institute in Rostock.
The prize will be awarded at a celebratory award dinner on September 29 during the GDCh Science Forum Chemistry (SFC) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). In addition, there will be an opportunity to meet the awardee during a "Meet & Greet" at the SFC.
The Science Forum Chemistry (SFC)
Under the guiding principle of "Overcoming boundaries together and shaping the future of chemistry," the German Chemical Society (GDCh) invites participants to this newly designed event at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) from September 29 to October 1, 2025. The SFC offers chemists a unique platform for interdisciplinary exchange, international networking, and groundbreaking ideas.
“Thinking across borders” is the motto of the Science Forum Chemistry 2025 – and that’s precisely what it’s about: overcoming disciplinary, institutional, and national boundaries and tackling the major challenges in chemistry together. A top-class program of plenary lectures, sessions, and exciting panel discussions creates the ideal setting for lively debates and fruitful collaborations.
Further information about the Conference can be found at www.gdch.science
The German Chemical Society (GDCh), with over 28,000 members, is one of the largest chemical societies worldwide. It promotes scientific work, research and teaching, as well as the exchange and dissemination of scientific knowledge. The GDCh supports education in schools and universities, as well as continuing professional development for Career.
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At the GDCh Science Forum Chemistry (SFC) 2025, the German Chemical Society (GDCh) will award the Christel and Herbert W. Roesky Prize to Professor Dr. Shigeyoshi Inoue of the Technical University of Munich. The prize, endowed with €10,000 by the Christel and Herbert W. Roesky Foundation established at the GDCh, is awarded by Professor Inoue for his outstanding achievements in the field of transition and main group chemistry, particularly for his innovative work in the molecular chemistry of silicon and aluminum.
Shigeyoshi Inoue researches main group elements from groups 13 to 15 of the periodic table with the aim of discovering novel compounds with exceptional structures and properties. These compounds are intended to enable innovative applications in synthesis and catalysis. Inoue is particularly interested in low-coordinate, highly reactive complexes—compounds in which the elements have few bonding partners but are very reactive. He focuses on economically and ecologically advantageous elements such as silicon and aluminum. Through his pioneering research, Inoue has earned an outstanding international reputation, as evidenced by numerous important publications.
Shigeyoshi Inoue, born in Nagoya, Japan, studied at the University of Tsukuba, Japan, until 2005, before receiving his doctorate there in 2008. After postdoctoral positions at TU Berlin as a Humboldt Fellow (2008) and a JSPS Fellow (2009-2010), he led a research group there as the Sofja Kovalevskaja Professor from 2010 to 2015. From 2015 to 2020, he held a W2 professorship in silicon chemistry at TU Munich, and since 2020 he has been a W3 professor of silicon chemistry there. Inoue has received numerous awards, including the Sofja Kovalevskaja Prize (2010), an ERC Starting Grant (2014), a Consolidator Grant (2020), and the WACKER Silicone Award (2023). He has already published over 182 articles in journals.
The prize will be awarded at a celebratory award dinner on September 29 during the GDCh Science Forum Chemistry (SFC) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). In addition, there will be an opportunity to meet the awardee during a "Meet & Greet" at the SFC.
The Science Forum Chemistry
Under the guiding principle of "Overcoming boundaries together and shaping the future of chemistry," the German Chemical Society (GDCh) invites participants to this newly designed event at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) from September 29 to October 1, 2025. The SFC offers chemists a unique platform for interdisciplinary exchange, international networking, and groundbreaking ideas.
“Thinking across borders” is the motto of the Science Forum Chemistry 2025 – and that’s precisely what it’s about: overcoming disciplinary, institutional, and national boundaries and tackling the major challenges in chemistry together. A top-class program of plenary lectures, sessions, and exciting panel discussions creates the ideal setting for lively debates and fruitful collaborations.
Further information about the Conference can be found at www.gdch.science
The German Chemical Society (GDCh), with over 28,000 members, is one of the largest chemical societies worldwide. It promotes scientific work, research and teaching, as well as the exchange and dissemination of scientific knowledge. The GDCh supports education in schools and universities, as well as continuing professional development for Career.
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Two sustainability researchers are being honored by the German Chemical Society (GDCh) for their work. Professor Dr. Siegfried R. Waldvogel, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion, Mülheim an der Ruhr, will receive the Wöhler Award for sustainable chemistry for his outstanding and pioneering achievements in the field of electrosynthesis. Dr. Daniel Eggerichs will be awarded the Prize for Bioconversion of Renewable Resources for his dissertation at Ruhr University Bochum. Both awardee will receive their prizes on September 29 at the GDCh Science Forum Chemistry (SFC).
For over 25 years, Siegfried Waldvogel has significantly shaped the field of electrosynthesis with his exceptional research achievements. He utilizes electric current to produce organic compounds in an ecologically and economically advantageous manner. Waldvogel develops holistic technological approaches that range from academic research to industrial application. For example, he co-founded the start-up ESy-Labs GmbH, which employs electrosynthesis and electrocatalysis to produce high-quality chemical compounds such as pharmaceutical ingredients and fine chemicals. Through his commitment, Waldvogel also makes a crucial contribution to the sustainable transformation of synthesis processes.
Siegfried R. Waldvogel, born in 1969, studied chemistry at the University of Konstanz until 1994. In 1996, he received his doctorate from Ruhr University Bochum and the Max Planck Institute for Coal Research in Mülheim an der Ruhr. After a postdoctoral fellowship at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, USA, he completed his habilitation in organic chemistry at the University of Münster in 2004. Subsequently, he was Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Bonn until 2010 and Professor of Physical Organic Chemistry at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz from 2010 to 2023. Since 2023, Waldvogel has been Director at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion in Mülheim an der Ruhr. He has received numerous awards, is active in many committees, and is a co-founder of ESy-Labs GmbH.
Also at the SFC, the prize for bioconversion of renewable resources will be awarded. Established in 2021 by GDCh member Prof. Dr. em. Manfred Schneider at the GDCh (German Chemical Society), the €2,000 prize is awarded to young doctoral candidates whose doctoral degrees were awarded no more than two years ago. This year's awardee is Dr. Daniel Eggerichs. In his dissertation at Ruhr University Bochum, he investigated the use of lignin monomers (natural aromatic compounds from plants) as a sustainable resource for the production of bioplastics. Using the bacterium Rhodococcus jostii RHA1, he succeeded for the first time in making the enzymes involved usable as biocatalysts for industrial applications.
The Science Forum Chemistry (SFC)
Under the guiding principle of "Overcoming boundaries together and shaping the future of chemistry," the German Chemical Society (GDCh) invites participants to this newly designed event at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) from September 29 to October 1, 2025. The SFC offers chemists a unique platform for interdisciplinary exchange, international networking, and groundbreaking ideas.
“Thinking across borders” is the motto of the Science Forum Chemistry 2025 – and that’s precisely what it’s about: overcoming disciplinary, institutional, and national boundaries and tackling the major challenges in chemistry together. A top-class program of plenary lectures, sessions, and exciting panel discussions creates the ideal setting for lively debates and fruitful collaborations.
Further information about the Conference can be found at www.gdch.science
The German Chemical Society (GDCh), with over 28,000 members, is one of the largest chemical societies worldwide. It promotes scientific work, research and teaching, as well as the exchange and dissemination of scientific knowledge. The GDCh supports education in schools and universities, as well as continuing professional development for Career.
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The German Chemical Society (GDCh) has awarded Professor Dr. Roland A. Fischer of the Technical University of Munich the Wilhelm Klemm Prize. The award ceremony will take place during the GDCh Science Forum Chemistry (SFC) in Karlsruhe. The awardee is being honored in particular for his outstanding and pioneering contributions to metal-organic networks (MOFs) and his diverse involvement in research, teaching, and science policy.
The Wilhelm Klemm Prize, endowed with 7500 euros, commemorates Professor Wilhelm Klemm of Münster, whose research advanced inorganic chemistry. The German Chemical Society (GDCh) awards the prize to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the field of inorganic chemistry.
For 20 years, Fischer and his working group have been investigating functional materials for energy, catalysis, gas storage, sensors, and photonics. A key focus is on porous coordination polymers, particularly metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). These framework structures, composed of metal ions and organic linkers, possess enormous internal surface areas and can store large quantities of gases. Potential applications include gas storage, separation and purification, catalysis, and sensor technology.
Fischer's pioneering achievements include the development of novel MOF concepts: With "Metals@MOFs," he was one of the first to utilize the porous MOF structure to embed catalytically or optically active metal nanoparticles. With "SURMOFs," he established methods for the controlled deposition of thin MOF films suitable for sensors or optoelectronics. By incorporating semiconductor quantum dots, he created "QDs@MOFs"—promising for light emission or photocatalysis. These creative approaches have expanded MOFs with additional functions and opened up entirely new application perspectives.
Roland A. Fischer studied chemistry at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) until 1986. He received his doctorate in chemistry there in 1989 and his habilitation in 1995, also at TUM. After a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, Los Angeles, USA, from 1989 to 1990, he was an associate professor of inorganic chemistry at Heidelberg University from 1996 to 1997. From 1997 to 2015, he held the chair of inorganic chemistry II at Ruhr University Bochum. Since 2015, he has been a professor and chair of inorganic and organometallic chemistry at TUM. Fischer has received numerous awards, including the Alfried Krupp Young Scientist Award for Young University Professors (1996), an honorary Dr. from Ruhr University Bochum (2017), and the International Prize of the Japanese Society for Coordination Chemistry (2022). He was Vice President of the German Research Foundation (DFG) from 2016 to 2021 and has been a member of the European Academy of Sciences since 2018. Fischer has published over 650 papers.
The Wilhelm Klemm Prize will be awarded at a festive award dinner on September 29, 2025, as part of the GDCh Science Forum Chemistry (SFC) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).
The Science Forum Chemistry
Under the guiding principle of "Overcoming boundaries together and shaping the future of chemistry," the German Chemical Society (GDCh) invites participants to this newly designed event at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) from September 29 to October 1, 2025. The SFC offers chemists a unique platform for interdisciplinary exchange, international networking, and groundbreaking ideas.
“Thinking across borders” is the motto of the Science Forum Chemistry 2025 – and that’s precisely what it’s about: overcoming disciplinary, institutional, and national boundaries and tackling the major challenges in chemistry together. A top-class program of plenary lectures, sessions, and exciting panel discussions creates the ideal setting for lively debates and fruitful collaborations.
Further information about the Conference can be found at www.gdch.science
The German Chemical Society (GDCh), with over 28,000 members, is one of the largest chemical societies worldwide. It promotes scientific work, research and teaching, as well as the exchange and dissemination of scientific knowledge. The GDCh supports education in schools and universities, as well as continuing professional development for Career.
Press release as a PDF document
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The German Chemical Society (GDCh) will award Professor Dr. Armido Studer of the University of Münster the Adolf von Baeyer Medal on September 29. The award ceremony will take place during the GDCh Science Forum Chemistry (SFC) 2025 in Karlsruhe. With this award, the GDCh recognizes Studer as one of the world's leading scientists in the field of organic chemistry. For more than twenty years, he has made remarkable contributions to the field of radical chemistry.
The Adolf von Baeyer Medal, endowed with 7,500 euros, is awarded to scientists for outstanding work in the field of organic chemistry. Its namesake, Adolf von Baeyer, is considered one of the most important chemists of his time and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1905 for the synthesis of indigo and triphenylmethane dyes. This year's awardee, Professor Dr. Armido Studer, receives the award for his exceptional scientific achievements in the field of organic radical chemistry. He is regarded as one of the world's leading experts in this area and has made a significant contribution to a "renaissance of radical chemistry."
Studer's innovative methods are widely used in synthesis and have brought about enormous progress. Particularly noteworthy are Studer's groundbreaking work on the concept of the "electron as a catalyst" (using individual electrons to accelerate chemical reactions) and on the use of the hydrogen atom generated from water as a reactive species (using hydrogen from water for novel chemical transformations).
Armido Studer, born in 1967, studied chemistry at ETH Zurich, Switzerland, until 1991, where he also received his doctorate in 1995. After postdoctoral positions at the University of Pittsburgh, USA, and ETH Zurich, he completed his habilitation at ETH Zurich in 2000. From 2000 to 2004, he was a professor at Philipps University of Marburg, and since 2004 he has been Director of the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Professor at the University of Münster.
Studer has received numerous awards, including ERC Advanced Grants in 2016 and 2024, the Arthur C. Cope Late Career Scholars Award from the American Chemical Society (2024), and the Paracelsus Prize from the Swiss Chemical Society (2024). He is a member of the Leopoldina, the North Rhine-Westphalian Academy of Sciences and Arts, the Academia Europaea, and the European Academy of Sciences. With over 440 publications and an h-index of 104, he is among the most research-intensive chemists.
The Adolf von Baeyer Medal will be awarded at a festive award dinner on September 29, 2025, as part of the GDCh Science Forum Chemistry (SFC) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).
The Science Forum Chemistry
Under the guiding principle of "Overcoming boundaries together and shaping the future of chemistry," the German Chemical Society (GDCh) invites participants to this newly designed event at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) from September 29 to October 1, 2025. The SFC offers chemists a unique platform for interdisciplinary exchange, international networking, and groundbreaking ideas.
“Thinking across borders” is the motto of the Science Forum Chemistry 2025 – and that’s precisely what it’s about: overcoming disciplinary, institutional, and national boundaries and tackling the major challenges in chemistry together. A top-class program of plenary lectures, sessions, and exciting panel discussions creates the ideal setting for lively debates and fruitful collaborations.
Further information about the Conference can be found at www.gdch.science
The German Chemical Society (GDCh), with over 28,000 members, is one of the largest chemical societies worldwide. It promotes scientific work, research and teaching, as well as the exchange and dissemination of scientific knowledge. The GDCh supports education in schools and universities, as well as continuing professional development for Career.
Press release as a PDF document
Downloadable images:
Overcoming boundaries together and shaping the future of chemistry – under this guiding principle, the German Chemical Society (GDCh) invites you to the GDCh Science Forum Chemistry (SFC) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) from September 29 to October 1, 2025. The redesigned event offers chemists a unique platform for interdisciplinary exchange, international networking, and groundbreaking insights.
"Thinking across borders" is the motto of the Science Forum Chemistry 2025 – and that's precisely what it's about: overcoming disciplinary, institutional, and national boundaries and tackling the major challenges in chemistry together. A top-class program of plenary lectures, sessions, and exciting panel discussions creates the ideal setting for lively debates and fruitful collaborations.
Highlights include plenary lectures by internationally renowned scientists such as Dr. Josep Cornella from the Max Planck Institute for Coal Research in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Professor Dr. Eva Hevia from the University of Bern, Switzerland, Professor Dr. Anat Milo from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel, and Professor Dr. Helma Wennemers from ETH Zurich, Switzerland. Numerous GDCh (German Chemical Society) Divisions will enrich the program with (partly interdisciplinary) sessions offering exclusive insights into their current research. A joint session of the American Chemical Society (ACS) and the GDCh will focus on sustainability in chemistry, including the presentation of the GDCh's newly developed sustainability strategy.
As a special bonus, the 200th anniversary of KIT offers an opportunity to look back on a long tradition of excellent science and at the same time to set the course for a promising future.
In keeping with the event's guiding principle, the GDCh will consolidate or establish several international collaborations within the framework of the SFC. While the Memorandum of Understanding with the ACS and the Swiss Chemical Society (SCS) will be renewed, the signing of agreements with the European sister societies, the Austrian Chemical Society (GÖCH) and the Società Chimica Italiana (SCI, Italian Chemical Society), is also on the agenda.
Another highlight of the event is the celebratory awards dinner, where outstanding figures in chemistry are honored for their groundbreaking research achievements. Prestigious awards, such as the Karl Ziegler Award, endowed with €50,000, are presented to the awardee in a formal ceremony. The dinner provides a fitting occasion to celebrate the scientists' accomplishments and offers an opportunity for personal encounters and discussions. During the opening ceremony, former GDCh President Professor Dr. Barbara Albert of the University of Duisburg-Essen receives special recognition. She is awarded honorary membership of the GDCh for her contributions to chemistry in general and the GDCh in particular.
In addition to addressing the major issues of our time, the SFC focuses on personal exchange and individual support. In interactive formats, emerging talents engage in discussions with award winners and editors of GDCh journals . An accompanying exhibition invites companies and publishers to further dialogue.
With the SFC 2025, the GDCh aims to establish a new event format that reflects the breadth and relevance of chemistry. Through the close integration of science, industry, and society, the Conference will provide important impetus for sustainable and responsible science.
Registration for the Science Forum Chemistry 2025 will be possible from the beginning of May. Further information about the program and registration can be found at www.gdch.science.
The German Chemical Society (GDCh), with over 28,000 members, is one of the largest chemical societies worldwide. It promotes scientific work, research and teaching, as well as the exchange and dissemination of scientific knowledge. The GDCh supports education in schools and universities, as well as continuing professional development for Career.
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06/25
April 23, 2025
Global sustainability goals can only be achieved with significant support from the chemical industry. Whether it's energy production, the circular economy, or the reduction of greenhouse gases – chemistry provides essential solutions. The German Chemical Society (GDCh) is implementing a comprehensive sustainability strategy and thus contributing to these solutions.
“As the largest chemical society in the EU, we are aware of the importance of sustainable science, take responsibility, and lead by example,” emphasizes GDCh President Prof. Dr. Stefanie Dehnen. “Together with our members and the expertise of our Divisions, we are advancing sustainability and contributing to a future worth living in.”
As part of the “Sustainability Strategy 2030”, the GDCh aims to:
The sustainability strategy was developed in 2024 by a specially appointed commission. The GDCh Board followed the commission's recommendations and established the necessary structures to effectively implement the sustainability strategy.
The newly created position of Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) will be held by Prof. Dr. Herwig Buchholz , a recognized expert in this field. Together with a sustainability commission comprised of expert and experienced representatives from various Divisions and institutions, he will be responsible for implementing the sustainability strategy. The commission, along with the CSO, will report directly to the GDCh Executive Committee and forms the central element of sustainability governance.
“Our sustainability strategy is based on our core competencies,” explains Buchholz. “We leverage our unique network potential and pool relevant knowledge and skills for sustainable solutions, making this available on sustainability issues. In this way, we can demonstrate the key role of chemistry for a sustainable future and make important contributions. Thus, our science makes a crucial contribution to enabling sustainable economic practices. Our sustainability strategy strengthens the future viability of the GDCh and underscores its societal importance.”
Herwig Buchholz is Managing Partner of the management consultancy ELCH and previously held various management positions at the science and technology company Merck, most recently as Global Head of Corporate Sustainability. He holds a doctorate in chemistry from the University of Hamburg and is a Fellow at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. From 2016 to 2023, he was a member of the board of the German Chemical Society (GDCh) and is actively involved in several academic and non-profit organizations, including holding a professorship at the University of Oldenburg.
More information at www.gdch.de/sustainability
The German Chemical Society (GDCh), with over 28,000 members, is one of the largest chemical societies worldwide. It promotes scientific work, research and teaching, as well as the exchange and dissemination of scientific knowledge. The GDCh supports education in schools and universities, as well as continuing professional development for Career.
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Joint press release from the German Mathematical Society (DMV), the German Physical Society (DPG), the German Chemical Society (GDCh), the Association for Biology, Biosciences and Biomedicine in Germany (VBIO) and the Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft eV
The Ars legendi Faculty Prize for excellent university teaching in mathematics and the natural sciences goes this year to Prof. Dr. Benedikt Heuckmann from the University of Münster (Biology), Dr. Sabrina Gensberger-Reigl from the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (Chemistry), Dr. Jörg Härterich from the Ruhr University Bochum (Mathematics) and Dr. Sebastian Schellhammer from the Technical University of Dresden (physics).
The Ars legendi Faculty Prize for Mathematics and Natural Sciences recognizes scientists who distinguish themselves through outstanding, innovative, and exemplary achievements in teaching, advising, and mentoring their students. The award is presented in the categories of Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and physics , and each prize is endowed with 5,000 euros.
The selection of the awardee was made by a nine-member jury comprised of representatives from the four disciplines, higher education didactics, and students. The jury was very impressed by the diversity of innovative teaching approaches. They awarded the 2025 Ars legendi Faculty Prize to the following university lecturers:
In the category of biology
Prof. Dr. Benedikt Heuckmann from the University of Münster impressed the jury with the successful integration of subject-specific knowledge and didactics, as well as the comprehensive digitization of his teaching offerings for teacher trainees, extending to the programming of computer simulations.
In the category of chemistry
Dr. Sabrina Gensberger-Reigl from FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg supports a smooth transition from university to industry with her two-semester, practice-oriented seminar in the food chemistry university courses . She thus makes a significant contribution to the students' career orientation. Important skills are fostered through project work in small groups.
In the category of mathematics
Dr. Jörg Härterich from Ruhr University Bochum teaches mathematics as a minor and major subject using the method of measured prelearning. This ensures that students are already familiar with key aspects of the lecture at the beginning. During the in-person sessions, there is then time for a "warm-up" in the form of a quiz and for various elements of active learning.
In the physics category
Dr. Sebastian Schellhammer from TU Dresden excels at presenting socially relevant physics topics in an excellent way for teacher training students. He deliberately chooses research fields such as climate physics or nanotechnology, which allow for the demonstration of interdisciplinary approaches. Furthermore, this selection of topics enables the teaching of broader contexts and empowers students to effectively refute false arguments (for example, regarding climate change) using physics knowledge and experiments.
The Ars legendi Faculty Prize for Mathematics and Natural Sciences has been awarded annually since 2014 jointly by the Stifterverband, the Association for Biology, Biosciences and Biomedicine in Germany, the German Chemical Society, the German Mathematical Society and the German Physical Society.
https://stifterverband.org/ars-legendi-mn
At the awards ceremony
All interested parties are cordially invited to the award ceremony for the Ars legendi Faculty Prize for Mathematics and Natural Sciences 2025. This will take place on April 24, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. in the Langenbeck-Virchow-Haus in Berlin. Please register by emailing berlin@vbio.de.
Press contact
Association for Biology, Biosciences and Biomedicine in Germany (VBIO e. V.)
Kerstin Elbing
T 030 27891918
elbing@vbio.de
Stifterverband
Peggy Gross
T 030 322982-530
peggy.gross@stifterverband.de
Professor Dr. Paola Bertucci of Yale University, New Haven, USA, has been awarded the 2025 Paul Bunge Prize for her book "In the Land of Marvels: Science, Fabricated Realities, and Industrial Espionage in the Age of the Grand Tour." In it, she sheds new light not only on the work of Abbé Nollet but also on the significance and importance of electrical devices in the 18th century. The award ceremony will take place on March 17th during the 2025 Bunsen Conference at Leipzig University. The Hans R. Jenemann Foundation Prize, endowed with €7,500, is jointly awarded by the German Chemical Society (GDCh) and the German Bunsen Society for Physical Chemistry (DBG). It recognizes outstanding work on the history of scientific instruments.
Paola Bertucci has been awarded the Paul Bunge Prize for her monograph "In the Land of Marvels: Science, Fabricated Realities, and Industrial Espionage in the Age of the Grand Tour" about Abbé Nollet, a prominent experimental scientist of the 18th century. The author illuminates Nollet's little-known journey to Italy in 1749 and his secret mission to investigate automated silk production. Particularly relevant for the Paul Bunge Prize are the chapters on Nollet's research into "miraculous" cures achieved through electrical instruments, which he later exposed as fraudulent. Bertucci skillfully interweaves scientific debates about the legitimacy of experimental results with public controversies surrounding electrical healing methods in the 18th century. Her work sheds new light on the scientific and public significance of electrical devices in the 18th century.
Paola Bertucci studied physics at the University of Bologna, Italy, until 1994, and earned a master's degree in the history of science from the University of Oxford, UK, in 1997. She received her doctorate in the same field from Oxford in 2001. From 2001 to 2008, she was a research associate at the University of Bologna. In 2005, she was a visiting lecturer at the Faculty of Design and Art, Department of Industrial Design, at the IUAV University of Venice, Italy. From 2008 to 2014, Bertucci was an assistant professor and from 2015 to 2022 an associate professor of the history of science and medicine at Yale University, USA. Since 2023, she has held a full professorship in the history of science and medicine at Yale University. Bertucci has also been a curator of the Department of the History of Science and Technology at the Yale Museum of Natural History since 2012. She is active in several academic organizations, including serving as president of the American Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies. She has published numerous works and has already received several prestigious awards.
The Paul Bunge Prize is considered the world's most important honor in the field of the history of scientific instruments and is awarded publicly and internationally. The Hans R. Jenemann Foundation's advisory board, supported by the German Chemical Society (GDCh) and the German Sociological Association (DBG), decides on the recipient. Hans R. Jenemann (1920–1996), a chemist at the Schott Glassworks in Mainz, became known for his contributions to the history of scientific instruments, especially historical balances. He himself established the foundation in 1992. The prize is named after the Hamburg precision mechanic Paul Bunge (1839–1888), one of the leading designers of laboratory balances for chemical analysis.
The German Chemical Society (GDCh), with over 28,000 members, is one of the largest chemical societies worldwide. It maintains numerous foundations, including the Hans R. Jenemann Foundation. The Paul Bunge Prize of the Hans R. Jenemann Foundation is awarded annually, usually alternating between the Bunsen Conference and the lecture conferences of the GDCh Division of History of Chemistry.
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Around 350 chemists will gather at the Technical University of Braunschweig from March 17th to 19th for the 2025 Chemiedozententagung (CDT). At the event, the German Chemical Society (GDCh) will award two prestigious prizes: Dr. Karl Arnold Reuter from Freiburg will receive the Carl Duisberg Plaque, and Professor Dr. Christoph Kerzig from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz will receive the Carl-Duisberg Memorial Award. In addition, one young female scientist and two young male scientists will receive ADUC prizes for establishing an independent field of research.
The Chemiedozententagung) is organized by the Association of German University Professors of Chemistry (ADUC) of the German Chemical Society (GDCh) and brings together early-career academics from all areas of chemistry. Postdoctoral researchers, junior professors, and scholarship holders use the Conference to present their research and exchange ideas. Furthermore, for the first time at CDT 2025, results from postdoctoral studies and planned independent research projects will be presented in short lectures. In addition to scientific presentations, this year's program also includes the founding meeting of the new GDCh Working Group on Supramolecular Chemistry. As a special highlight, the team of the GDCh journal Angewandte Chemie invites attendees to a presentation entitled "Be surprised!" on March 17 at 6:40 p.m. A reception and get-together will follow. In a festive setting at the Conference , the GDCh will also award the Carl Duisberg Plaque and the Carl-Duisberg Memorial Award , and the ADUC will honor a young female scientist and two young male scientists with ADUC prizes.
The Carl Duisberg Plaque, a gold medal, is awarded by the German Chemical Society (GDCh) to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of chemistry and the goals of the GDCh. Dr. Karl Arnold Reuter receives the award for his contributions to fostering scientific creativity in chemistry – in particular for his commitment to and dedication to the book series Lives in Chemistry (LiC). This autobiographical series offers insights into the lives and thinking of prominent researchers within the context of their time. An advisory board appointed by the Board of the GDCh Division of History of Chemistry oversees the series. Reuter supports the project.
Karl Arnold Reuter, born in 1955, studied chemistry at the Justus Liebig University Gießen, where he also received his doctorate in 1985. After a postdoctoral stay at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA, he began his industrial career at BENCKISER and Sandoz Agro in Basel, Switzerland, and St. Pierre La Garenne, France. In 1993, he founded his company, Reuter Chemische Apparatebau, in Freiburg, Germany. He develops novel separation processes for racemic resolution and the purification of organic mixtures and employs approximately 90 people.
The Carl-Duisberg Memorial Award, endowed with €7,500, has been awarded since 1936 to young university lecturers who are employed at a German university or, as Germans, at a foreign university, do not yet hold a W2/W3 or equivalent position, and are under 40 years of age. This year, Professor Dr. Christoph Kerzig of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz receives the award for his outstanding research in the field of photochemistry. His work is characterized by highly innovative approaches to the use of light energy, particularly in elucidating the mechanisms of photochemical reactions, as well as upconversion and photoredox catalysis. Kerzig has made significant contributions to the research of light-driven reactions, which have the potential to replace fossil raw materials and thus contribute to a more sustainable chemistry. His work makes a major contribution to the further development of chemistry towards an environmentally friendly and resource-conserving science. Kerzig impressed the selection committee not only with his research and numerous high-ranking publications, but also with his dedicated teaching and the promotion of young scientists.
Christoph Kerzig, born in 1987, studied chemistry at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU). He completed his doctorate there summa cum laude in 2017. After postdoctoral positions in Halle-Wittenberg, the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, and the University of Basel, Switzerland, he joined Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz as a junior professor in 2020. Since 2024, he has been a professor of inorganic chemistry and photochemistry there. He has received numerous awards for his research, including one of the ADUC Prizes in 2023.
During the Conference , the ADUC will also present awards to one young female scientist and two young ADUC scientists. Assistant Professor Dr. Nina Hartrampf, University of Zurich, Switzerland, will receive an ADUC award for her stimulating approaches in the field of preparative peptide research, particularly the integration of modern flow chemistry synthesis methods with biosynthesis steps in the generation of Lasso peptides. Dr. John Molloy, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces Potsdam and Free University of Berlin, will also be honored in recognition of his groundbreaking research on the use of organoboron compounds for generating structural complexity using photocatalytic strategies. Junior Professor Dr. Johannes Wahl, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, will receive an ADUC award in recognition of his creative contributions to the development of stereoselective synthesis methods, specifically through the skillful implementation of small-ring compounds using novel catalytic techniques.
Further information about the Conference can be found at www.gdch.de/cdt2025
The German Chemical Society (GDCh), with over 28,000 members, is one of the largest chemical societies worldwide. It has 27 Divisions and awards numerous prizes for outstanding achievements in chemical research. The GDCh's long-established Association of German University Professors of Chemistry (ADUC) annually recognizes up to three early-career researchers (during their habilitation, as a research fellow, or as a junior professor) for establishing an independent field of research.
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Under the motto "Cycling Chemistry," the spring symposium of the JCF (Young Chemistry Forum) of the German Chemical Society (GDCh) will take place from March 12 to 15 in the cycling city of Münster. The Conference is aimed at the young chemistry community from Germany and abroad. Around 300 scientists are expected to attend. The program includes lectures, workshops, an industry exhibition, and a poster session. Further highlights are the presentation of the Carl Roth Advancement Award and the Dr. Volker and Elke Münch Prize.
For 27 years, the JCF Spring Symposium has been one of the largest conferences in Europe by and for young researchers. The event is hosted annually by different regional forums of the JCF, the junior research organization of the German Chemical Society (GDCh). In 2025, the regional forums of Münster, Essen-Duisburg, and Dortmund took over the organization and jointly developed a diverse program. In addition to internationally renowned scientists, the event features presentations by junior research group leaders and young researchers.
The motto "Cycling Chemistry" not only reflects the venue but also alludes to the topics of recycling and battery cycling – the cyclical recharging of batteries. It thus underscores the importance of chemistry for a sustainable future and the role of young scientists in developing innovative solutions. This is also reflected in the high-caliber scientific program. Among the plenary speakers are Professor Dr. Klaus Kümmerer, Leuphana University of Lüneburg; Professor Dr. Saiful Islam, University of Oxford, UK; Professor Dr. Sebastian Hasenstab-Riedel, Free University of Berlin; Professor Dr. Fikile R. Brushett, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, USA; Professor Dr. Lena Daumann, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf; and Professor Dr. Viktoria Däschlein-Gessner, Ruhr University Bochum. In addition, various workshops will be offered, and the diverse supporting program (including a diversity lunch) provides opportunities for informal networking. From March 12th to 14th, the GDCh career service will have a stand on site and will answer questions about Career and starting a career.
The Drs. Volker and Elke Münch Prize will be awarded on March 15th. The prize, endowed with €7,000 by the foundation of the same name affiliated with the German Chemical Society (GDCh), is awarded to young inventors who have made a groundbreaking invention in the field of chemistry or chemical process engineering. The prize money supports a patent application. This year, the award goes to the BionicFuel team, consisting of Dr. Pascal R. Böwer (Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg), Dr. Melanie Walther(University of Bremen), and Tim M. Thiedemann (also Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg). They developed a concept for a new purification technology for fermentation processes and experimentally demonstrated its feasibility. Their innovative technology is based on biotechnological processes and uses organic waste as a feedstock. With this technology, the team aims to establish an environmentally friendly alternative to petroleum-based processes that considers both social and ecological aspects.
Also on March 15, the Carl-Roth Award will be presented. The GDCh (German Chemical Society) awards the €5,000 prize to young chemists who develop resource-efficient synthesis pathways or use chemicals in innovative ways. The prize is funded by Carl Roth GmbH & Co. KG, which also contributes an additional €3,000 in the form of a voucher. This year, the prize is shared by Anna F. Tiefel and Maximilian Wohlgemuth. Tiefel receives the award for her scientific work at the University of Regensburg in the field of photocatalysis – specifically on photoinduced nucleophilic substitution reactions of allylic selenides. Wohlgemuth is honored for his work at Ruhr University Bochum on mechanochemistry – an innovative approach to carrying out chemical reactions in ball mills entirely without solvents or external heat input.
On March 15, Dr. Daniel Kowalczyk from the University of Ulm will also receive the FAIR4Chem Award for his published dataset from chemical research, which fulfills the FAIR principles (findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable) and thus makes a significant contribution to increasing transparency in research. The prize is awarded by the NFDI4Chem consortium, in which the German Chemical Society (GDCh) participates, and supported by the German Chemical Industry Fund.
Further information can be found at https://symposium.jcf.io.
The German Chemical Society) , with approximately 28,000 members, is one of the largest chemical societies worldwide. It promotes scientific work, research, and teaching, as well as the exchange and dissemination of new scientific findings. The GDCh supports the creation of networks, transdisciplinary and international collaboration, and continuous education and professional development in schools, universities, and the workplace. The GDCh has 27 Divisions and 60 local sections and regional forums of the JCF (Young Chemistry Forum) at almost all university locations. Nationwide, the JCF provides a platform for around 10,000 young members of the GDCh.
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The German Chemical Society (GDCh) has awarded the Fresenius Award to Associate Professor Dr. Kathrin Breuker of the University of Innsbruck. She receives the award, which includes a gold medal and prize money of 7,500 euros, for her outstanding contributions to analytical chemistry. With her scientific work, Breuker provides fundamental insights into the properties of biomacromolecules in the gas phase. She will receive the prize on March 10 at ANAKON 2025 in Leipzig. The GDCh Division of Analytical Chemistry, which is organizing the Conference , and its working groups will also be honoring other scientists at the event.
Kathrin Breuker receives the Fresenius Award in particular for her achievements in the field of biomolecular mass spectrometry, a method for determining the mass of biomolecules. She developed innovative methods for studying complex molecular systems. These include native protein structures, the folding and unfolding of proteins in the gas phase, and the dissociation (breakdown) of proteins and nucleic acids (RNA). For this, Breuker used high-resolution mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS, a technique for precise mass determination) and various fragmentation methods that break molecules down into smaller pieces. Her work provides fundamental insights into the properties of biomacromolecules in the gas phase.
Furthermore, Breuker is involved in scientific committees, particularly the German Society for Mass Spectrometry (DGMS), and actively builds international networks. She is chair of the jury for the "Mass Spectrometry in the Life Sciences" prize and a member of the jury for the DGMS Mattauch-Herzog Prize.
Kathrin Breuker completed her physics studies at the University of Münster in 1994, graduating with a diploma. She then moved to ETH Zurich, Switzerland, where she received her doctorate in 1999. After postdoctoral positions at Cornell University, Ithaca, USA, and in Innsbruck, Austria, she began working as a research group leader at the University of Innsbruck in 2002. Following her habilitation in biophysical chemistry, she became an assistant professor there in 2014. Since 2019, Breuker has been an associate professor at the Institute of Organic Chemistry at the University of Innsbruck. Her research has received numerous awards and grants.
Other award ceremonies:
As part of ANAKON , the GDCh Division of Analytical Chemistry and two of its working groups also present several awards:
Further information about the Conference can be found at www.gdch.de/anakon2025
The German Chemical Society (GDCh), with over 28,000 members, is one of the largest chemical societies worldwide. It comprises 27 Divisions, including the Division of Analytical Chemistry, founded in 1951, with over 2,400 members. This Division gives analytical chemistry a strong voice in science, industry, politics, and the public sphere, and promotes education in analytical chemistry. Intensive, subject-specific work is carried out in the nine working groups and the Industry Forum Analytics Chemistry.
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