Leopoldina news Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina – Nationale Akademie der Wissenschaften

Halle (Saale), 13 September 2012 03|2012

Dear members and friends of the Leopoldina, Leopoldina issues statement One of the biggest challenges facing society today is the energy supply of tomorrow. As on the opportunities and limits such, the German government’s work on ma- king the transition to of bioenergy renewable, sustainable energy sources affects cluded that bioenergy will not be able to us all. If, by 2050, make a quantitatively significant con- the majority of our tribution to ’s transition to re- energy is to come from newable energy sources. The statement renewable sources and points out that bioenergy requires more our carbon emissions surface area and is associated with high- are to fall by 80 percent, then we must see er greenhouse gas emissions than other the transition as a truly collaborative project renewable sources such as photovoltaic, that each and every one of us must support. solar thermal energy and wind energy. In Research is a crucial part of this project. addition, energy crops potentially com- The German National Academy of Sciences pete with food crops, the statement says. Leopoldina recently brought the issue of However, it also points out the areas energy into the public eye again when it where biogas, bioethanol and biodiesel published its statement „Bioenergy – Chances can be a climate-friendly alternative. For and Limits“. The document provides a nuanced example, the scientists recommend com- exploration of the potential of using bioenergy bining food production and bioenergy as an alternative energy source. This issue of production to make more efficient use of Leopoldina news reports on the findings of the biogenic waste. At the same time, they are paper and the response it has received. also careful to note that the greenhouse The Leopoldina will continue to focus on the gas emissions produced by agriculture transformation of Germany’s energy system. The German federal government is need to be taken into consideration and For example, the topic will feature at this planning to make wind, solar and bio- integrated into the guidelines for sustai- year’s annual assembly (22-24 September, mass the country’s main sources of ener- nable bioenergy. Berlin), which is entitled “Rolle der Wissen- gy in the future. To generate bioenergy, The Leopoldina has continued to schaft im Globalen Wandel“ (The Role of plant matter needs to be converted into engage in the social debate on bioener- Science in Global Change). I would like to take a form that can be used for electricity, gy use. On 12 September, the authors of this opportunity to invite you to join us at the heat and fuel. A statement published the statement discussed the Leopoldina’s conference. by the Leopoldina in July 2012 entitled recommendations at a public event in “Bioenergy - Chances and Limits” led to Berlin attended by representatives of the Kind regards, a lively public debate on bioenergy use. government, parliament, trade associa- More than 20 expert scientists contri- tions and the scientific community. (ca) buted to the statement, which examined the question of whether bioenergy can You can find an article by Prof. Bern- really be a climate-friendly alternative to hard Schink ML, who helped coordinate fossil fuels. After conducting research for the statement, on page 2 Conference Reports 3 one and a half years, the scientists con- Publishing Details 5 Events 7 People 9 2 03|2012 // Leopoldina / Newsletter

The limits of bioenergy By Prof. Bernhard Schink ML, coordinator of the bioenergy statement

The picture on the box is not always the or starch to produce bioethanol on an in- same as what you get inside. Consumers dustrial scale. This means bioenergy pro- The Statement encounter this fact all the time. The duction is in direct competition with food German National Academy of Sciences production. The same is true for produ- More than 20 expert scientists were Leopoldina conducted a study to deter- cing biodiesel from rapeseed, sunflower involved in the Leopoldina’s bioener- mine what role bioenergy ought to play seeds and oil palms. The technology for gy working group, which produced the in Germany’s future energy mix. It may fermenting other parts of plants like the statement. The following members of initially seem like a good idea to culti- stalks and leaves into ethanol does not the Leopoldina were responsible for vate biomass, especially corn and sugar exist (yet). This waste and the waste from coordinating the group’s work: Prof. beets, then ferment the sugar and use livestock farming is much better suited Rudolf K. Thauer ML, Max Planck In- the resulting alcohol as fuel. The soluti- for fermenting into biogas, a mix of me- stitute for Terrestrial Microbiology in on appears carbon-neutral, producing thane and carbon dioxide. Biogas has the Marburg; Prof. Bernhard Schink ML, an equal amount or less carbon dioxide additional advantage over ethanol of not Professor of Limnology and Microbial than the plants absorbed during their having to be distilled and separated. This Ecology at the University of Konstanz; lifetime. In reality, though, the situation step in ethanol production devours lots Prof. Bärbel Friedrich ML, Chair of the is much more complex. Fertiliser and lots of energy. Decentralised use of bioenergy Department of Biology at Humboldt- of water is needed to grow healthy plants. incorporating either biogas reactors by Universität Berlin and Vice President And providing those two things requires themselves or in combined power plants of the Leopoldina. The statement energy. In addition, plants cultivated for could be economically viable on a small was published in English. A bilingual bioenergy and plants cultivated for food scale. Biogas production especially ought German and English summary is also compete for land, fertiliser (especially to concentrate primarily on utilising was- available, as is a paper containing the phosphate) and water, both locally and te. recommendations in German. globally. Finally, fertilised soil releases As regards biomass production in ge- nitrogen oxide and methane, very potent neral, one should know that plants make You can download all three docu- greenhouse gases that can put just as very inefficient use of the solar energy ments from the Leopoldina website: great a burden on the atmosphere as the that is available to them. Only about one www.leopoldina.org/en/publica- carbon dioxide that was absorbed by the percent of the solar energy that they re- tions/statements-and-recommenda- plants would have done. Producing ener- ceive goes towards the creation of bio- tions/ gy crops therefore involves a number of mass. That energy can be harvested from problems that considerably reduce their fast-growing wood such as poplar and potential benefits. put to immediate use as an energy sour- Over the last one and a half years, ce through combustion. Converting bio- energy. It is a contribution that should the German National Academy of Scien- mass into ethanol leaves just one-fifth of be used by converting agricultural and ces Leopoldina has undertaken a study the original one percent energy utilisati- municipal waste into biogas primari- that sheds light on the different aspects on and only in a best-case scenario. This ly through fermentation or into syngas of producing sources of biomass energy means bioethanol only yields 0.2 percent through pyrolysis. Expanding bioethanol with regard to the climate balance, eco- of the solar energy it was originally expo- production in Germany can only make a logy and process economics. The findings sed to. Efficiency of this sort is negligibly very small contribution to the country’s are sobering. In Germany, bioenergy low, for example when compared with energy supply, and it entails great eco- is only capable of making a very mo- photovoltaics, which already today can logical risks in terms of greenhouse gas dest contribution – just a few percent achieve more than ten percent conversi- emissions and land and soil degradation. – towards meeting total energy needs. on efficiency depending on the technolo- The Academy’s statement makes a point Today’s higher percentages are only pos- gy used. In light of these facts it is also of highlighting these aspects in the hope sible as a result of large quantities of im- unrealistic to pursue objectives like im- that they will become part of future talks ported biomass, which are mainly used proving the efficiency of photosynthesis on bioenergy use in Germany and central as animal feed and which make up about through process optimisation. Europe. one-third of our total biomass conver- The Leopoldina’s statement shows sion. Against this backdrop, it does not that bioenergy can only play a very mo- This article appeared in Financial seem to make much sense to expand pro- dest role in meeting the energy needs of Times Germany on 6 August 2012 in a duction of bioethanol and biogas in Ger- a country like Germany, which is densely slightly modified form. many. Current technology requires sugar populated and requires a large amount of 03|2012 // Leopoldina / Newsletter 3

Conference Reports

New findings from the life sciences The Leopoldina’s Class II discussed a wide range of research topics at its symposium

Class II – Life Sciences held its annual symposium on 24 May 2012. During the event, which was entitled New Advances in the Life Sciences, members of sections within Class II presented their latest research findings. The event was chaired by the coordinator of the symposium, Prof. Claus Bartram ML, senator of the Section Human Genetics and Molecular , and Prof. Pe- ter Propping ML, Secretary of Class II. The introductory speech was given by Prof. Irene Schulz-Hofer ML, Spokes- person of Class II.

Prof. Erwin Grill ML, Center of Life and Food Sciences Weihenstephan at Tech- nische Universität München, opened the symposium. His lecture, entitled “More crop per drop? – Responses of plants to water deficit”, explored the relation- Ole H. Petersen from the Cardiff School of Biosciences spoke about his groundbreaking ship between plant growth and water research findings on pancreatitis in the Leopoldina Lecture Photo: Markus Scholz consumption. The UN’s Food and Ag- riculture Organization (FAO) says that Just like manufacturing processes in to the onset of the disease. plant production is key to solving water the automotive industry, gene expres- Prof. Sebastian Suerbaum ML of the problems around the world. The amount sion is subject to a kind of quality con- Institute for Medical Microbiology and of water a plant consumes depends on trol. Given the immense complexity of Hospital Epidemiology of Hannover Me- its biomass. The global water situation the human genome and proteome, cells dical School gave a lecture entitled “The would therefore benefit if plants could are constantly at risk of suffering errors. evolution of the carcinogenic pathogen use water more effectively and react bet- These might come about as a result of Helicobacter pylori with and within its ter to the stress of events like water shor- mutations, of processing errors within human host”. Around half the world’s tages. One approach involves gaining a the cell, or of damage caused by external population are infected with Helicobac- better understanding of signaling of the factors. Prof. Andreas Kulozik ML from ter pylori. The bacteria can cause gast- plant hormone Abscisic acid (ABA) du- the Center for Child and Adolescent Me- ric cancer that kills half a million people ring deficit irrigation. dicine at University Hospital Heidelberg each year – around 36,000 in the Euro- Prof. Ernst Bamberg ML of the Max spoke about “Quality control of gene pean Union alone. Helicobacter pylori is Planck Institute of Biophysics in Frank- expression”. The lecture looked at why characterised by unusually high genetic furt/Main is one of the founding fathers some patients who possess a dominant and geographic variability. However, re- of optogenetics. In his lecture “Optoge- genetic predisposition to beta thalassa- searchers have succeeded in identifying netics in neurosciences and cell biology”, emia never actually develop the disease. its origins, and its high variability has al- Prof. Bamberg reported on his work with The answer is that nonsense-mediated lowed them to use it to trace ancient hu- Hegemann, Nagel and Deisseroth. They mRNA decay (NMD), a control mecha- man migrations. Thus an African strain discovered that it is possible to control nism which detects nonsense mutations of H. pylori was discovered on the Ame- nerve cells using light and channelrho- in mRNA, prevents mRNA expression rican continent, for example, and resear- dopsins (light-gated ion channel prote- and thus protects against the negative chers have found evidence indicating that ins). Thanks to the team’s discovery, over effects of faulty proteins. However, the large felines were infected with H. pylori 1,000 research groups around the world same mechanism can (in the case of Du- after a “host jump” from humans. All in are now using channelrhodopsins to in- chenne muscular dystrophy, for examp- all, it can be said that H. pylori provides vestigate cells. le) have negative consequences and lead an excellent example of coevolution that 4 03|2012 // Leopoldina / Newsletter

will help us deepen our understanding of entists have made significant progress in Petersen explained very clearly how pan- how humans and pathogens coevolve. recent years in terms of understanding creatic infections develop. The digestive Prof. Herrmann Wagner ML of the how this most common form of demen- enzymes produced by the pancreas are Institute for Biology II at RWTH Aachen tia develops. According to current scien- normally only activated after they reach then spoke about “The acoustic system tific knowledge, amyloid plaques occur the gastrointestinal tract. But under cer- of the barn owl”. As nocturnal birds of more frequently between the brain cells tain conditions they may already become prey, barn owls rely on sound rather of sufferers of Alzheimer’s disease, while active in the pancreas, and as a result, than visual cues to locate their prey and protein aggregates, known as tangles, the pancreas destroys itself. This pro- their brains are highly specialised in the build up inside the brain cells. The amy- cess of self-destruction is known as acute processing of acoustic signals. The so- loid plaques contain a self-aggregating pancreatitis and can become chronic. In phisticated system for horizontal sound molecule, amyloid beta peptide, which most cases, the condition is caused by localisation barn owls have developed destroys neural cells. According to Chris- excessive alcohol consumption. Chronic over the course of their evolution is of tian Haass, preventing the formation of pancreatitis also increases the risk of great interest for both scientists doing amyloid plaques by using secretases – contracting pancreatic cancer – a form of basic research and those working on bio- small molecular enzymes that “snip” the cancer with a very low survival rate. To nic applications. In particular, a deeper amyloid beta peptide out of the amyloid date, no effective therapy exists for pan- understanding of the auditory system on plaques – as blocks is a possible form of creatitis. However, new research findings the molecular, cellular and neural levels therapeutic intervention. provide grounds for hope, as they explain could help researchers develop better The scientific symposium ended with how alcohol activates the self-destruction cochlear implants and hearing aids. the Leopoldina Lecture, which was held mechanism in the pancreas. The UK’s The lecture given by Prof. Christian in the evening by Prof. Ole H. Petersen Medical Research Council described this Haass ML of the Adolf Butenandt Insti- ML from the Cardiff School of Bioscien- discovery as one of the most significant tute at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität ces to an audience of some 150 people. developments of 2011. (kh) in Munich focused on “The molecular In his talk on “How the pancreas reacts clockwork of Alzheimer’s disease”. Sci- to excessive alcohol and is destroyed”, Advances in clinical medicine The symposium held by the Leopoldina’s Class III focused on the latest findings in cancer research and ophthalmology

As part of a series of scientific symposia targeted way and with greater success. only effective in certain cases or are not organised by the Leopoldina’s classes, The aim of the advances in this research effective at all. In particular, the differen- Class III – Medicine held its congress, field is to develop predictive pathology, tiation between two types of endometrial Advances in Clinical Medicine, on 10 that is, to make it possible to detect the carcinoma has improved the quality of July 2012. The event, which was chaired disease at an early stage. life of patients, who can now be treated by the class spokesperson Prof. Hans After this presentation on integrated in a more targeted way. It has also been Konrad Müller-Hermelink ML and the tumour pathology, Prof. Boris C. Bastian shown that radiotherapy is ineffective in class secretary Prof. Philipp U. Heitz ML from the University of California in many cases or can even have an adver- ML, provided an overview of the latest San Francisco lectured on the integrated se impact. As a result of these findings, findings in cancer research and oph- taxonomy of skin tumours. The paradigm the treatment guidelines for endometrial thalmology. Six Leopoldina members shift to precision medicine is also beco- carcinoma have now been fundamentally presented their most recent research ming evident in the field of melanomas, revised. But despite all of the advances, findings at the event. which have been primarily classified to this type of cancer cannot be described as date by their location on the body. Se- a problem that has been solved. Prof. Hans H. Kreipe ML from Hannover quencing technology has also led to a During the second half of the sympo- Medical School gave the first presentati- reinterpretation of the taxonomy of me- sium Prof. Maria-Elisabeth Krautwald- on. Kreipe conducts research on the deve- lanocytic tumours. The mutations un- Junghanns ML from the University of lopment of mammary carcinoma (breast derlying tumorous changes in skin tissue Leipzig gave the audience an interesting cancer). He presented the results achie- now play a crucial role in the classifica- insight into basic research in veterinary ved in recent years in the field of patho- tion of such cases. medicine. In her lecture, she described logical research in terms of identifying In the following talk, Prof. Günter the unusual features of the eyes of birds and classifying tissues and tumour cells. Emons ML from Göttingen University of prey, which count among the most More frequent sequencing of tumours in asked whether oncological research has highly developed optical organs in the recent years has led to progress in the already solved the problem of endome- animal world. As optical orientation is pathological diagnosis of tumours in ge- trial carcinoma (uterine cancer). Here, vital for birds of prey, information on the neral. The combination of morphologi- too, progress in classifying tumours has health of birds’ eyes can play a vital part cal and molecular biological processes is led to major advances in treating the di- in successfully treating injured animals increasingly improving the efficiency of sease. Various studies have shown that and releasing them back into the wild. therapies, which can be applied in a more some of the commonly used therapies are Krautwald-Junghanns has been able to 03|2012 // Leopoldina / Newsletter 5

significantly improve diagnosis by using human eye. become increasingly fond of the term in optical coherence tomography. The qua- Prof. Hans J. Schlitt ML from the recent years. However, it certainly re- lity of the information on the health of University of Regensburg gave the final mains a controversial topic. birds’ eyes provided by this diagnostic presentation in the symposium. His talk Hallek presented personalised me- procedure could not previously be achie- was on general advances in the field of dicine from the perspective of oncology. ved with live birds. liver transplants in Germany, but also Particularly in cancer therapy, diagnostic This procedure has also proved very on the problems involved. Various tech- advances have led to a high degree of useful in other fields of veterinary medi- niques are now being used to tackle nega- individualisation in tumour treatment. cine. For example, Krautwald-Junghanns tive developments. The donation of part This has become possible largely due to has also developed a procedure for detec- of an organ by a living donor is possible, greater understanding of the genetic dis- ting the sex of chicken embryos. This me- but is also viewed critically as it poses a orders that occur in cancer cells and make thod can be used shortly after an egg has risk to the healthy donor. However, other them divide at an unregulated pace. The been fertilised. The aim is to avoid killing techniques are already being conduc- personalised approach has come about huge numbers of male chicks shortly af- ted successfully. For example, split liver through the development of a very wide ter they have hatched. This is still com- transplants involve transplanting the range of drugs in recent years. However, mon practice in the breeding of laying organ of a deceased donor in two recipi- these drugs are only effective for tumours hens today. ents. Auxiliary liver transplants are also caused by the genetic disorders for which Following this short excursion into used for recipients suffering from acute they were developed. Using these drugs the field of veterinary medicine, Prof. liver failure. In this method, a donor liver in an untargeted way often proves to be Rudolf F. Guthoff ML from the Univer- is transplanted to the patient to provide ineffective. Hallek was able to show by sity of Rostock gave a talk on develop- support to the native liver, which is not means of examples that a precise exa- ments in human ophthalmology in which removed. When the native liver has reco- mination of the pathogenesis of the tu- he focused on the limitations of surgical vered after some time, immunosuppres- mours, including molecular diagnosis, treatment of presbyopia, or age-related sive drugs are progressively discontinu- makes it possible to precisely define the long-sightedness. The main aim of the- ed, thus leading the donor liver to reduce most suitable therapy. This leads to a far se therapeutic procedures is to restore in size. In conclusion, Schlitt showed how better prognosis for individual patients accommodation, that is, the ability of extensive research is still needed on im- than has been the case to date. At the the lens to adapt to different distances. munosuppression in particular. The same time, Hallek also pointed out that Guthoff described several accommoda- drugs used here frequently have severe this fundamental change in cancer thera- tive implants and micro-technical solu- side effects that can subsequently reduce py would require wide-ranging changes tions. However, a good solution is still a the success of the treatment. in the organisation of the healthcare sys- long way off. While some of the implants In keeping with tradition, the scien- tem. Although some success can already already available on the market do not tific symposium was rounded off by the be expected, this process is still at the achieve the desired effects due to their Leopoldina Lecture. In the lecture, Prof. beginning. Nonetheless, Hallek was able position in the eye, other technological Michael Hallek ML from Cologne Uni- to answer the question of whether or not solutions are currently still at the basic versity asked if “personalised medicine” personalised medicine marks genuine research stage. In particular, implants represents genuine progress or if it is progress with an unambiguous “yes” in will have to be significantly reduced in merely a marketing gimmick used by the the case of research on and treatment of size before they can be implanted in the pharmaceutical industry. The media has cancer. (hst)

Leopoldina – Nationale Akademie Authors in this issue: the source is quoted (unless otherwise explicitly der Wissenschaften Dr Christian Anton, Scientific Officer, Department indicated by the article in question). Permission Jägerberg 1 of Science - Policy - Society (ca) must be sought from the Leopoldina for commer- 06108 Halle (Saale)/Germany Dr Kathrin Happe, Scientific Officer, Department of cial use. Telephone: +49-345/4 72 39 – 800 Science - Policy - Society (kh) Email: [email protected] Dr Henning Steinicke, Scientific Officer, Department Links to external websites: of Science - Policy - Society (hst) The Leopoldina does its best to select all hyperlinks Editing and Layout: in Leopoldina news and their contents carefully, Manuela Bank-Zillmann (mab) Copyright but has no influence on the content or design of For the Leopoldina newsletter the copyright and the pages linked to. The Leopoldina hereby explicit- Other Editors: all other rights are held by the Deutsche Akademie ly rejects any liability for the contents of external Prof. Dr Jutta Schnitzer-Ungefug (jsu) der Naturforscher Leopoldina – Nationale Akade- Internet pages. (responsible according to the German press law) mie der Wissenschaften, Jägerberg 1, 06108 Halle Prof. Dr Dr Gunnar Berg ML (gb) an der Saale, Germany. Redistribution, including in Abbreviations Caroline Wichmann (cw) the form of extracts, is permitted ML = Member of the Leopoldina Verena Möwes (mw) for educational, scientific and private purposes if 6 03|2012 // Leopoldina / Newsletter

New members of Class II and III received certificates

New members of Class III - Medicine (from left to right): Reinhard Fässler (Martinsried), Heymut Omran (Münster), Jochen A. Werner (Marburg), Michael Hallek (Cologne), Hans Jürgen Schlitt (Regensburg), Konrad Reinhart (Jena), Sabine Werner (Zurich), Leopoldina-Gene- ralsekretärin Jutta Schnitzer-Ungefug, Henning Schliephake (Göttingen), Hans Peter Rodemann (Tübingen), Manfred Dietel (Berlin), Annette Grüters-Kieslich (Berlin), Leopoldina-Präsident Jörg Hacker, Claudia Spies (Berlin), Maode Lai (Hangzhou/China), Andreas Bockisch (Essen), Angelika Schnieke (Munich), Boris C. Bastian (San Francisco/USA), Brigitte Vollmar (Rostock), Stephan Lang (Essen), Maria- Elisabeth Krautwald-Junghanns (Leipzig). Photos: Markus Scholz

Since the beginning of the year, Leopoldina President Prof. Jörg Ha- cker ML and Secretary General Prof. Jutta Schnitzer-Ungefug award certifi- cates to the new members of the va- rious classes at a ceremony held du- ring the class symposia. Class II – Life Sciences met on 23 May, while Class III – Medicine held its symposium on 10 July. At these events, the new members also receive information on the Leopoldina and its tasks, as well as on the Academy’s organisational struc- ture and administrative sections. The heads of the Department Science – Politics – Society, the Department International Relations and the De- partment Press and Public Relations present an overview of their work. There is also a presentation on the New members of Class II - Life Sciences (from left to right): Andreas Kulozik (Heidelberg), tasks and contact persons of the President Jörg Hacker, Christian Bogdan (), Caroline Kisker (Würzburg), Stanislav Academy’s archive, library and admi- N. Gorb (), Maciej Zylicz (Warsaw/Poland), Alexander Borst (Martinsried), Ulf-Ingo nistration. Flügge (Cologne), Geoffrey L. Smith (Cambridge/UK), Sebastian Suerbaum (Hannover), Ernst Bamberg (/Main), Secretary General Jutta Schnitzer-Ungefug, Manfred Schartl (Würzburg), Erich Gulbins (Essen), Walter Rosenthal (Berlin). 03|2012 // Leopoldina / Newsletter 7

Events

Scienitific organization: 14 to 16 October September Detlev Drenckhahn ML (Würzburg) 7. Heinrich F. C. Behr-Symposium: “Stammzellen und Krebs” 6 September to 19 October 2012 German Cancer Research Center, Im Leopoldina Photo Exhibition: October Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidel- “Neue Bilder vom Alter(n)” berg/Germany Leopoldina, Jägerberg 1, 06108 Halle 4 to 5 October Scientific organization: (Saale)/Germany 12.00 a.m. Otmar Wiestler ML (Heidelberg) Jena Life Science Forum 2012: 13 September “Designing living matter – Can we do 18 to 21. October 2.00 p.m. better than evolution?” Cooperation 5.45 p.m. Leopoldina Colloquium: of the Frege Centre for Structural IMB Conference: On the occassion of the 80th Sciences of the Jena University and “DNA Demethylation, Repair and Birthday of the Past President Benno the Leopoldina Beyond” Parthier Jena University, Assembly Hall, Fürs- Institute of Molecular Biology, Audito- Leopoldina, Jägerberg 1, 06108 Halle tengraben 1 und Rosensäle, Fürsten- rium, Ackermannweg 4, 55128 Mainz/ (Saale)/Germany graben 27, 07743 Jena/Germany Germany Scientific organization: Bernd Olaf Scientific organization: 13 to 14 September Küppers ML (Jena), Peter Schuster ML Christof Niehrs ML (Mainz), George 3rd Human Rights Committee-Sym- (Vienna) Reid (Mainz), Holger Richly (Mainz), posium: Helle Ulrich (London) “Human Rights and Science” 8 to 9 October Vertretung des Landes Sachsen-Anhalt Leopoldina Symposium: 28 October to 14 December beim Bund, Sachsen-Anhalt-Saal, Lui- “Technological Innovations for a Exhibition: senstraße 18, 10117 Berlin/Germany low Carbon Society” Cooperation “Salutem et Felicitatem! Gründung of the Academy of Science of South und internationale Ausstrahlung 17 to 19 September Africa and the Leopoldina on the der Leopoldina”, Vernissage, 28 Octo- 11.00 a.m. occassion of the German-South Afri- ber, 3.00 p.m., with Presentation of Joint Workshop: can Year of Science 2012/2013 the Johann Lorenz Bausch Promoti- “Strengthening the Dialogue bet- Nedbank Menlyn Maine, Auditorium, on Prize awarded by the Leopoldina ween Science and Policy” Cooperati- Pretoria/South Africa Freundeskreis on of EASAC and NASAC Scientific organization: Leopoldina, Cafeteria, Jägerberg 1, Leopoldina, Jägerberg 1, 06108 Halle Sigmar Wittig ML (Karlsruhe) 06108 Halle (Saale)/Germany (Saale)/Germany 9 October 19 to 22 September 4.30 p.m. November 1.00 p.m. Seminar on the History of Science: International Conference: Prof. Dr. Lothar Pelz ML, Rostock: 1 to 3 November “Innate immunity of the lung - Im- “Die Kinder von Lewenberg. Von der Leopoldina Symposium: proving pneumonia outcome” Confe- Grossherzoglichen Bildungs- und “Changing Patterns of Health Prob- rence of the Transregional Collabo- Pflegeanstalt für geistesschwache lems in Sub-Saharan Africa: Impact rative Research Center SFB-TR 84 and Kinder zur NS-Kinderfachabteilung of Communicable and Non-Commu- the Leopoldina Sachsenberg” nicable Diseases”, Cooperation of Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Leopoldina, Auditorium, Jägerberg 1, NASAC, the Ghana Academy of arts Sciences and Humanities, Markgrafen- 06108 Halle (Saale)/Germany and Sciences and the Leopoldina straße 38, 10117 Berlin/Germany Bernhard-Nocht-Institut, Auditorium, 9 October Bernhard-Nocht-Straße 74, 20359 22 to 24 September 1.30 p.m. Hamburg/Germany 9.00 a.m. German-Japanese Symposium: Scientific organization: Volker ter Leopoldina Annual Assembly: “Positive Aging” Cooperation of the Meulen ML (Würzburg) “Die Rolle der Wissenschaft im glo- German Research and Innovation balen wandel” Forum Tokyo, the Institute of Geron- 6 November Program: www.leopoldina.org/en/ tology of the Tokyo Universtity and 4.00 p.m. events/event/event/1674/ the Leopoldina Seminar on the History of Science: Langenbeck-Virchow-Haus, Luisen- Hotel New Otani, 4-1 Kioi-Cho, Chiyo- Prof. Dr. Dittmar dahlmann, Bonn: straße 58/59, 10117 Berlin/Germany da, Raum Suiho, Tokyo/Japan “Peter Simon Pallas und sein wissen- 8 03|2012 // Leopoldina / Newsletter

schaftliches Werk” „Biomedical Ethics and Law“ and the Leopoldina, Auditorium, Jägerberg 1, Leopoldina 06108 Halle (Saale)/Germany University Hospital, Frauenklinikstra- ße 10, 8091 Zurich/Switzerland 11 to 16 November Leopoldina Photo Exhibition: “Neue Bilder vom Alter(n)” December Kreishaus Landkreis Emsland, Orde- niederung 1, 49716 Meppen/Germany 4 December 4.30 p.m. 12 November Seminar on the History of Science: 9.30 a.m. Prof. Dr. Mariacarla Gadebusch Leopoldina Workshop: Bondio, Munich: “Gute Medizin “Nachhaltigkeit in der Wissenschaft” trotz Fehlbarkeit. Ein Vermächtnis Vertretung des Landes Sachsen-Anhalt von Santorius, Popper und einigen beim Bund, Luisenstraße 18, 10117 anderen” Berlin/Germany Leopoldina, Auditorium, Jägerberg 1, 06108 Halle (Saale)/Germany 20 November to 21 December Leopoldina Photo Exhibition: 18 December “Neue Bilder vom Alter(n)” 4.30 p.m. MEDIO RHEIN ERFT Bergheim, Leopoldina Christmas Lecture: Konrad-Adenauer-Platz 1, 50126 Berg- With the Nobel laureate in Medicine heim/Germany 2011 Prof. Dr. Jules A. Hoffmann ML, Strasbourg/France 21 November Leopoldina, Auditorium, Jägerberg 1, 6.00 p.m. 06108 Halle (Saale)/Germany Leopoldina Discussion: “Neue Anforderungen an die Wissen- 19 December schaftskommunikation” 7.00 p.m. Leopoldina, Auditorium, Jägerberg 1, Fishbowl Discussion: 06108 Halle (Saale)/Germany On The transition to renewable ener- gy sources 22 to 24 November Palais am Fürstenwall, Staatskanzlei 2.00 p.m. Sachsen-Anhalt, Hegelstraße 40-42, Leopoldina Conference: 39104 Magdeburg/Germany “Wissenschaftsakademien im Zeit- alter der Ideologien. Politische Umbrüche – wissenschaftliche January 2013 Herausforderungen – institutionelle Anpassung” Conference of the Pro- 8 January ject group History of the Leopoldina 6.00 p.m. in the First Half of the 20th Century Seminar on the History of Science: and the Leopoldina Prof. Dr. Michael Hagner ML, Zurich: Leopoldina, Jägerberg 1, 06108 Halle “Gegenwart und Zukunft des wissen- (Saale)/Germany schaftlichen Buches” Leopoldina, Auditorium, Jägerberg 1, 30 November 06108 Halle (Saale)/Germany 8.00 a.m. Leopoldina Symposium: “Autopsie und Religion” Cooperation of the Center for Medicine - Ethics - Law Helvetiae, the Departement Pathology of the Zurich Universi- ty Hospital, the Chair of Criminal Law, Law of criminal procedure and Medical Law, the Graduate program

Further information about all events can be found at www.leopoldina.org 03|2012 // Leopoldina / Newsletter 9

People

Deceased members ryngology and Stomatology two most important nerve growth factors Hubert E. Schroeder is considered the – BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic fac- Andrew Fielding Huxley ML father of oral structural biology. He was tor) and CNTF (ciliary neurotrophic fac- 22 November 1917 to 30 May 2012 Cam- elected a member of the Leopoldina in tor). In 1979 the Leopoldina elected him bridge/UK 1996. His work focused on oral epithelia, as a member for his pioneering work. Section Physiology and Pharmacology/ in particular on gingiva and the junctio- Toxicology nal epithelia. He delivered new findings Newly elected members, Sir Andrew F. Huxley explored the action on bacterial infections in the mouth and March and May 2012 potential of axons in neurons and, to- was the first to explore the structure of gether with his colleague Alan Hodgkin, the dental root. Amparo Acker-Palmer, Professor of developed the Hodgkin-Huxley model, Neural and Vascular Development at the which describes how action potentials Werner Schroth ML Institute for Cell Biology and Neuro- in neurons are initiated and propagated. 5 September 1928 to 16 June 2012 Leip- science, Goethe Universität Frankfurt/ In 1963 Huxley and Hodgkin were awar- zig/Germany Main/Germany (Section Human Gene- ded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for their Section Chemistry tics and Molecular Medicine) discoveries concerning the ionic mecha- Werner Schroth’s research mainly fo- nisms involved in excitation and inhibiti- cused on the analysis of azulenes – ex- Annette Beck-Sickinger, Professor on in the peripheral and central portions ploring their physical makeup, testing of Bioorganic Chemistry & Biochemistry of the nerve cell membrane. A year later out theories and preparing compounds at the Institute of Biochemistry, Leipzig Huxley was elected as a member of the from them. These aromatic hydrocar- University/Germany (Section Che- Leopoldina. bons are particularly useful in chemistry mistry) and biology due to their dark-blue colour. Erkki Koivisto ML Schroth also studied salts with heterocy- Bruce Beutler, Regental Professor and 19 January 1927 to 27 February 2012 clic compounds and their heterofunctio- Director at the Center for Genetics of Tampere/Finland nal precursors. In honour of his achieve- Host Defense, University of Texas Sou- Section Radiology ments in this field, the Leopoldina made thwestern Medical Center, Dallas/USA Erkki Koivisto was appointed a member him a member in 1989. (Section Genetics/Molecular Biology and of the Leopoldina in 1986 for his efforts Cell Biology) to promote radiology around the world. Heinz A. Staab ML His research activities focused primarily 26 March 1926 to 29 June 2012 Berlin/ Marc Burger, Professor of Mathema- on diagnostic radiology and on techno- Germany tics at the Department of Mathematics, logical advancements to improve diag- Section Chemistry Swiss Federal Institute of Technology nostic practice. The Leopoldina welcomed Heinz A. Staab Zurich/Switzerland (Section Mathema- into its ranks in 1974. He was elected for tics) Karl Lennert ML his pioneering work in physical and or- 4 June 1921 to 27 August 2012 Kiel/Ger- ganic chemistry. For example, he found Webster K. Cavenee, Professor of many that kekulene, sometimes called “super- Medicine and Cell & Molecular Medi- Section Pathology and Forensic Medicine benzene” serves to probe the relative im- cine at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer The Leopoldina made Karl Lennert a portance of benzenoid versus annulenoid Research, University of California, La member in 1966 in recognition of his aromaticity. He also investigated the de- Jolla, San Diego/USA (Section Human work on lymph-node tumours and their pendency of excimer and charge-transfer Genetics and Molecular Medicine) characteristics. He proposed a new sys- interactions, work that enabled him to tem, called the “Kiel Classification”, prepare cyclophane-bridged conjugates. Matthias Drieß, Professor of Che- which classified lymphomas according mistry at the Department of Chemistry, to their biological, morphological and Hans Thoenen ML Technische Universität Berlin/Germany immunological characteristics. He also 5 May 1928 to 23 June 2012 Munich/ (Section Chemistry) collected tissue samples and created a Germany register of lymph nodes, something that Section Neurosciences William B. Durham, Senior Research greatly benefited collaboration between Hans Thoenen’s work focused on ana- Scientist at the Department of Earth, medical specialists throughout Europe. lysing the physiological function of the Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, sympathetic nervous system. He was Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Hubert E. Schroeder ML thus able to learn about the interactions Cambridge/USA (Section Earth Scien- 17 February 1931 to 14 August 2012 between healthy and damaged cells and ces) Rheinfelden/Germany how the body repairs damage. Of parti- Section Ophthalmology, Oto-Rhino-La- cular significance was his discovery of the 10 03|2012 // Leopoldina / Newsletter

Jochen Feldmann, Professor of Expe- Kurt Kremer, Professor of Physics and Christine Silberhorn, Professor of rimental Physics at the Faculty of Phy- Director of Polymer Theory at the Max Applied Physics, University of Pader- sics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Planck Institute for Polymer Research, born/Germany (Section Physics) Munich/Germany (Section Physics) Mainz/Germany (Section Physics) Gabriele Stangl, Professor of Human Brett B. Finlay, Professor at the Ulrike Kutay, Professor of Bioche- Nutrition at the Department of Agri- Michael Smith Laboratories, University mistry at the Institute of Biochemistry, cultural and Nutrition Sciences, Martin of British Columbia, Vancouver/Canada Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Luther Universität Halle-Wittenberg/ (Section Microbiology and Immunology) Zurich/Switzerland (Section Bioche- Germany (Section Agricultural and Nut- mistry and Biophysics) ritional Sciences) Raghavendra Gadagkar, Professor of Ecological and Evolutionary Biology Thomas Langer, Professor of Genetics Martin Suhm, Professor of Physical at the Centre for Ecological Sciences, at the Institute for Genetics, Cologne Chemistry and Director of the Institute Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore/ University/Germany (Section Bioche- for Physical Chemistry, Georg-August- India (Section Organismic and Evolutio- mistry and Biophysics) Universität Göttingen (Chemistry nary Biology) Section) Jiayang Li, Professor at the Institute Sara Anna van de Geer, Professor of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Julia Vorholt, Professor of Microbiolo- of Mathematics at the Department of Chinese Academy of Sciences, as well as gy at the Institute of Microbiology, Swiss Mathematics, Swiss Federal Institute of Vice President of the Chinese Academy Federal Institute of Technology Zurich/ Technology Zurich/Switzerland (Section of Sciences/China (Section Organismic Switzerland (Section Microbiology and Mathematics) and Evolutionary Biology) Immunology)

Ursula Hamenstädt, Professor of Ma- Wolfgang Meyerhof, Professor of Huanming Yang, Professor of Gene- thematics at the Mathematical Institute, Molecular Genetics at the University of tics and President at the Beijing Geno- University of Bonn/Germany (Section Potsdam and Head of the Department mics Institute, Chinese Academy of Sci- Mathematics) of Molecular Genetics at the German ences, Shenzhen/China (Section Human Institute of Human Nutrition/Germany Genetics and Molecular Medicine) Hanns Hatt, Professor of Cytophy- (Section Agricultural and Nutritional siology at the Faculty of Biology and Sciences) Biotechnology, Ruhr Universität Bo- chum/Germany (Section Physiology and Klaus-Robert Müller, Professor of Pharmacology/Toxicology) Machine Learning at the Department of Software Engineering and Theoretical Gerald H. Haug, Professor of Geology Computer Science, Technische Univer- at the Geological Institute, Swiss Federal sität Berlin/Germany (Section Informa- Institute of Technology Zurich/Switzer- tics) land (Section Earth Sciences) Gerald Rimbach, Professor of Human Peter Hegemann, Professor of Experi- Nutrition and Food Science at the mental Biophysics at the Department of Institute of Human Nutrition and Food Biology, Humboldt Universität, Berlin/ Science, University of Kiel/Germany Germany (Section Biochemistry and (Section Agricultural and Nutritional Biophysics) Sciences)

Lutz Hein, Professor of Pharmacology Brigitta Schütt, Professor of Physical and Toxicology and Director of Section Geography at the Department of Earth II at the Institute of Experimental and Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin, and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicolo- Vice President of the Freie Universität gy, University of Freiburg/Germany Berlin/Germany (Section Earth Scien- (Section Physiology and Pharmacology/ ces) Toxicology) Ali Mehmet Celâl Şengör, Profes- Stipan Jonjić, Professor at the De- sor of Geology at the Department of partment for Histology and Embryology Geological Engineering, Istanbul Tech- and Chair of the Center for Proteomics, nical University/Israel (Section Earth University of Rijeka/Croatia (Section Sciences) Microbiology and Immunology)