Leopoldina news 5|2017

Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina – German National Academy of Sciences

Halle (Saale), 10 Oktober 2017

Genome editing: Medicine of the future? The Annual Assembly of the Leopoldina discusses aspects of genome editing

SYMPOSIUM P. 2 ANNUAL ASSEMBLY P. 3-5 FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMME P. 8

Science and society Cutting-edge research Studies on chemistry in dialogue on genome editing and neurobiology What next after the New molecular genetic Postdocs spend two years March for Science? methods discussed working in California 05|2017 // LEOPOLDINA NEWS 2 Editorial

Dear Members and Friends of the Leopoldina, “Quo vadis, Providing po- liticians with science communication?” science-based advice is a core What next after the March for Science? function of the Leopoldina. Its experts and ex- pertise are in greater demand than ever when it comes to political decision-making. Yet at the same time, science and politics do not always communicate with one another in suf- ficient depth: the politicians would -of ten like more recommendations for di- rect, concrete action. Scientists, on the other hand, sometimes feel that they are not being consulted or listened to enough. So how might we reconcile expecta- tions and potential whilst maintaining a sense of balance? What opportu- Scientific expertise can be very beneficial when discussing social issues. This is evident from the large nities exist for incorporating scienti- number of conferences and symposia held – not least by the Leopoldina. Photo: David Ausserhofer fic knowledge – with an awareness of political processes and timeframes Scientists from all over the world took to to exist? If we are to obtain answers to and precisely because of this – in de- the streets on 22 April to join the March these questions, then there needs to be a mocratic discourse? And how can for Science. They were demonstrating in frank exchange of views, and not just bet- views be exchanged with members favour of scientific freedom, and remin- ween scientists. Above all, new methods of of the public? How can their interests ding us of the value of scientific research science communication need to be put to be given due weight when providing in tackling the problems of society. One the test, and these must be developed by science-based advice to politicians? All of the positive outcomes of the March for collaborating with a number of different of these questions will be addressed Science was that it drew the attention of target groups from the very outset. at the event, ‘Science needs society’, a broad section of the public to one of the From protest to dialogue to the real which is to take place in a few days’ challenges facing world: the steps time at Schloss Herrenhausen (see science; namely that 25/26 OKTOBER 2017 which need to be ta- the accompanying article). The Robert it needs to be more ken over and above Bosch Foundation, the Leopoldina and successful at incre- ‘Science needs society – what next after the March for Sci- the weekly journal DIE ZEIT will be as- asing public awa- the March for Science?’ is the title of a sym- ence are to be dis- king, in collaboration with the Volks- reness of research posium to be held in Hanover by the Volks- cussed in a series of wagen Foundation, “What next after methods, the dis- wagen Foundation on 25 and 26 October lectures, panel dis- the March for Science?” The march in coveries made as a 2017 in conjunction with the Leopoldina, cussions and wor- April united hundreds of thousands of result, and their rele- the Robert Bosch Foundation, and DIE ZEIT. king groups at the people from all over the world, who vance to our lives. PROGRAMME AND REGISTRATION symposium ‘Wissen- demonstrated for scientific freedom One possible st- (ONLY IN GERMAN) schaft braucht Ge- and protested against the hurdles fa- arting-point for this sellschaft’ (‘Science cing scientists. In the light of these might be the ‘scien- needs society’). Its encouraging signs, science must also tific barometer’, an annual survey which principal objective is to provide the sti- play its part by being open and honest questions Germans on their attitudes to mulus for real-life projects which can help with the public, communicating with science and research. According to the counteract the dissemination of a world- a broad section of the population on most recent survey in July 2017, roughly view which is hostile towards science. The an equal footing, suggesting solutions two thirds of those questioned claimed to President of the Leopoldina, Prof. Dr. Jörg to problems which have been identi- be convinced that science served a use- Hacker ML, will ask what science and po- fied, and campaigning ceaselessly for ful purpose (see page 7). What problems litics (still?) have to say to one another. an appreciation of the complexity of is science communication now having to A realistic appraisal is essential if we are science. tackle, and what are the reasons behind to be able to evaluate the potential of sci- On this note, I would like to thank you them? Which strategies should scientific ence-based advice to resonate in our digi- for your support. organisations be adopting to confront the talised democracies. crisis of confidence which they have found (art) 05|2017 // LEOPOLDINA NEWS 3

About the changeability of the genome More than 400 Members of the Leopoldina and guests attended the Annual Assembly in Halle

The Annual Assembly of the National Academy of Sciences on 22 and 23 Sep- tember focused on ‘Genome editing – challenges for the future’. The develop- ment of targeted genetic interventions by scientists specialising in molecular biology prompted a discussion about as- pects of their application in relation to plants, animals and humans, and about the ethical, legal and technical issues in- volved.

“We are dealing with an area of re- search which is nothing less than revoluti- onary.” These were the words with which the President, Prof. Dr. Jörg Hacker ML, welcomed the more than four hundred guests to the 2017 Annual Assembly. Since 2015, new processes in the field of molecular genetics, in particular CRISPR/ Some fifty gifted schoolchildren from Germany were our guests at the Annual Assembly of the Cas9 molecular scissors, had spread from Leopoldina. They attended the lectures, discussed the issues with scientists, and found out more one research laboratory to another like about the publications produced by the Leopoldina. Photo: Markus Scholz wildfire. That is why Armin Willingmann, Minister of Economic Affairs, Science and (Potsdam) explained the biotechnologi- the earlier contributions. These revolved Digitisation of the State of Saxony-Anhalt, cal methods used with plants. Prof. Dr. again and again around the relationship also welcomed this choice of ‘groundbrea- Ephrat Levy Lahad (Jerusalem/Israel), between actions, ethics and knowledge. king topic’. Georg Schütte, Secretary of Prof. Dr. Andy Greenfield (Harwell/UK) Prof. Dr. Manfred Eigen ML, winner of the State at the Federal Ministry of Education and Prof. Dr. Jochen Taupitz ML (Mann- 1967 Nobel Prize for Chemistry, put this and Research, also stressed the need to heim) later drew on their own national in a nutshell when he said, “The more we bring the debate on the genome into the perspectives when talking about the legal, can do, the less we should do. The less we public spotlight, and to continue the con- ethical and regulatory repercussions asso- should do, the more we must know.” This versation in both specialist and political ciated with genome editing. quotation, with which Jörg Hacker ope- circles. In-depth conversations then took ned the Annual Assembly, will no doubt As expected, the speakers were keen place at the Annual Assembly between also shape our future discourse. for there to be more discussion about the different specialist disciplines, based on (dw) various fields of application and the soci- al relevance of genome editing. Prof. Dr. Ernst-Ludwig Winnacker ML (Munich) began by talking about how modern ge- netics “sets out its stall”; not only offering a solution to chronic sleep disorders, but also promising to help us to live longer and to provide a cure for breast cancer. Prof. Dr. Emmanuelle Charpentier ML (Berlin), Prof. Dr. Rudolf Jaenisch ML (Cambridge, MA/USA) and Prof. Dr. Ethan Bier (San Diego, CA/USA) then went on to exp- lain the origins, breakthroughs, starting- points and operating principles of genome editing. Applications in the field of human biology were exemplified by Prof. Dr. Eric Olson (Dallas, TX/USA), Prof. Dr. Bo- ris Fehse (Hamburg) and Prof. Dr. Ugur Georg Schütte, Secretary of State at the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, and Armin Sahin (Mainz), while Prof. Dr. Jens Boch Willingmann Minister of Economic Affairs, Science and Digitalisation of the State of Saxony-Anhalt, were (Hanover) and Prof. Dr. Ralph Bock ML taken through the Annual Assembly in the company of Jörg Hacker (l to r). Photo: Thomas Meinicke 05|2017 // LEOPOLDINA NEWS 4

Debate on principles of Outstanding gene therapy procedures research Panel raises medical, ethical and legal issues Prizes and medals awarded

Nine scientists were awarded prizes and medals by the Leopoldina this year for their outstanding research. Prof. Dr. Fritz Melchers ML (Berlin) and Prof. Dr. Joachim Trümper ML (Garching) recei- ved the Cothenius Medal for their lifetime achievements in science. The research conducted by Prof. Melchers has contri- buted fundamentally to our understan- ding of the formation of blood cells and immune system malfunctions. Joachim Trümper enjoys an international repu- tation as a pioneer of X-ray astronomy. He was the driving force behind and sci- entific director of the ROSAT satellite Members of the Leopoldina and the Young Academy and other scientists discuss the consequences of mission, which succeeded in conducting germline therapy and somatic gene therapy. Photo: Markus Scholz the first all-sky survey using an X-ray telescope. The panel discussion on Saturday evening panel discussion held by Prof. Dr. Silja The Carus Medals went to Prof. Dr. considered the application of gene thera- Vöneky (Freiburg), Junior Prof. Dr. Bet- Elisabeth Binder ML (Munich), an inter- py procedures. On the one hand, there is tina Keller (Berlin), Prof. Dr. Volker Ger- nationally renowned neuroscientist in the the option of intervening directly in the hardt (Berlin), Prof. Dr. Claus R. Bartram field of anxiety and depression research, germline – and thereby turning off a gene- ML (Heidelberg) and Prof. Dr. Bettina and to Prof. Dr. Matthias Tschöp ML tic defect for future generations too. Schöne-Seifert ML (Münster), which was (Munich), whose studies promise major Alternatively, there is a method of ‘re- chaired by Kathrin Zinkant (Süddeutsche advances in the treatment of diabetes and pairing’ the genetic programme of certain Zeitung). obesity. cells – and thus making an adjustment Various scientific, ethical, legal,- me Prof. Dr. Peter Hegemann ML (Berlin) which is not passed on to the individual’s dical and – last but not least – economic was honoured with the Mendel Medal. A offspring. perspectives came to light. It was empha- co-founder of optogenetics, he has deve- The potential represented by the CRISPR/ sised on several occasions that germline loped a process to control cells with light Cas9 procedure for clinical applications therapy was not currently a treatment op- irradiation. This has opened up the possi- gave added momentum to the debate tion. Fundamental questions still remai- bility of new discoveries being made about about the two options and their conse- ned to be answered by researchers. neurological diseases. quences. This was also reflected in the (rg, dw) Prof. Dr. Anthony Hyman (Dresden), who was awarded the Schleiden Medal, identified the decisive gene for cell divi- sion in the embryo of the nematode. This What do genes say about us and our lives? will enable us to gain a new insight into the formation of gene defects. Evolutionary biologist holds evening lecture for the public The 2017 Prize for Junior Scientists went to Dr. Tobias Giessen (Boston/ Prof. Dr. Axel Meyer ML was delighted to Neanderthal Man. USA), who is studying the biosynthesis of to be greeted by a packed hall at the Le- Meyer referred to some recent deve- antibiotics, as well as to Dr. Markus opoldina for his evening lecture on, ‘How lopments in the USA, where genetic scree- Tschurtschenthaler (Munich) for his genes shape our lives, and the disparity ning is already used for faces on police studies on the development of chronic between men and women’. The evoluti- mugshots, and it has now also occurred enteritis. This year’s George Uschmann onary biologist was keen to improve the for an individual’s genetic information to Prize for Scientific History was awarded audience’s understanding of the genetic be passed on to their health insurer. Whe- to Dr. des. Gunthild Peters (Berlin) for differences between people. re might this lead? The audience members her work on mediaeval measuring He argued that a person’s genetic were left to ponder this thought as they methods. make-up can shed light on their origins were sent out into the night by the univer- (ak) and those of their forebears. It is also sity professor from Constance. possible to trace back our relationship (ak, dw) DISTINCTIONS OF THE ACADEMY 05|2017 // LEOPOLDINA NEWS 5

Topics for the Annual Assemblies in 2018 and 2019 Senate meets at annual convention in Halle (Saale) and discusses latest developments

The Senate of the Leopoldina met on 21 September for its annual convention in the run-up to the Annual Assembly in Halle. The Board of the Academy gave a detailed account to the Senators and guests of the latest developments at the Leopoldina, and talked in depth about some of the important topics on which it had given scientific advice to political and social agencies, its international activities, the work of the Study Centre and its press and public relations work. As well as discharging the Board for the 2016 financial year, the Senate passed a resolution on the admission of new members to the Presidium, in the course of which Prof. Dr. Regina T. Ri- phahn ML (Nuremberg) was elected as the new Vice President for the Humanities, The Presidium of the Leopoldina on the eve of the Annual Assembly. Photo: Thomas Meinicke Social and Behavioural Sciences. Prof. Dr. Sigmar Wittig ML (Karlsruhe) was also 21 to 22 September on the theme of Prof. Dr. Bernd Herrmann ML (Göttin- re-elected to serve a second term as Sec- ‘Nature – Science – Society: results and gen), three Members of the Anatomy and retary of Class I – Mathematics, Natural perspectives after ten years of the National Anthropology section. A programme com- Sciences and Engineering. Academy of Sciences’. The topic of ‘Time mittee led by Presidium member Prof. Dr. The Board of the Leopoldina also in nature, medicine and society’ (working Thomas Lengauer ML (Saarbrücken) is informed those present about the pre- title) has been chosen for the 2019 Annu- soon to start work on drawing up a broad parations being made for the 2018 al Assembly. This was proposed by Prof. scientific programme which incorporates Annual Assembly, which will once Dr. Horst Werner Korf ML (Frankfurt), disciplines such as astrophysics, chrono- again be held in Halle (Saale) from Prof. Dr. Elmar Peschke ML (Halle) and biology and cultural studies. (jb)

Ursula Staudinger passes the baton to Regina Riphahn New Vice President of the Leopoldina elected to honorary position by the Senate

On the day before the Annual Assembly, pointed in particular to the national re- well as the achievements made by Ursu- the Senate elected Prof. Dr. Regina T. Ri- commendations ‘A Future with Children’ la Staudinger on an international level, phahn ML to serve as the new Vice Pre- and ‘Gewonnene Jahre’ (‘extra years’) as and for which we owe her an equally large sident of the Leopoldina. An eco- debt of gratitude. This responsible nomist, she is currently Professor and demanding honorary position at Friedrich Alexander University will now be filled by Regina T. Ri- in Erlangen-Nuremberg, and has phahn. She conducts research into been a Member of the Leopoldi- empirical education economics, na since 2007. She succeeds Prof. the employment market and hu- Dr. Ursula M. Staudinger ML, man resources economics, as well who has served as Vice President as into social policy and populati- of the Leopoldina since 2007. on economics. She works both at “Ursula Staudinger has made a the Institute for the Study of La- major contribution during her ten bour in Bonn, and at the CESifo in years in office”, said Prof. Dr. Jörg Munich and also holds a research Hacker ML in his tribute to the Ursula M. Staudinger (left) has been Vice President of the Leopoldina chair at the German Institute for psychologist and gerontologist. since 2007. She is now to be succeeded in this post by Regina T. Riphahn Economic Research in Berlin. The President of the Academy (right). Photos: David Ausserhofer, Thomas Meinicke (dw) 05|2017 // LEOPOLDINA NEWS 6

Research into antibiotics: What remains to be done? Discussion paper presented on drug development and our future response to resistance

The subject of antibiotics has entered the men-Schaeff – are examining the relation- the various concrete approaches to solu- social consciousness. However, we must ship between pure research and translati- tions to be “given equal weight as they are continue to work ceaselessly in this area, on, modalities in diagnostics and therapy, adopted within the framework of coordi- especially on the development of new ac- the potential of new active agents, and nated initiatives”. “Multimodal approa- tive agents and on the prevention of re- how antibiotics are used in practice, as ches ... (are) required to tackle the anti- sistance. That is the conclusion drawn by well as prophylactic and antibiotic-inde- biotics problem.” (kh) the authors of the discussion paper, ‘Anti- pendent approaches. biotics research – five years later’, which The eighteen authors involved in the DISCUSSION PAPER ON ANTIBIOTICS was published recently. discussion paper believe it is essential for (ONLY IN GERMAN) Pathogens develop resistance to anti- biotics – a realisation of this has gradu- ally filtered through to all areas of society. The problem has been much discussed on a national and international level by sci- entific institutions, the pharmaceutical industry, civil society and political figures. The Hamburg Academy of Sciences and the Leopoldina have been listening in to these debates ever since the publication of their joint statement on ‘Antibiotics research: problems and perspectives’ in 2013. Thus the ‘Antibiotics Research’ round table met for consultations on three occasions between 2014 and 2016, in or- der to draw up a summary of our efforts to date and to set priorities for our future response to antibiotic resistance. In particular, the experts – who inclu- de Prof. Dr. Bernhard Fleischer ML, Prof. Dr. Michael Hecker ML, Prof. Dr. Thomas C. Mettenleiter ML and Prof. Dr. Lothar Cultivating bacteria for antibiotics research is a long-winded process. Wieler ML as well as Prof. Helga Rübsa- Photo: Photographee.eu - fotolia.com

Discussion paper about New advisory body Science for sustainability on health policy

The Leopoldina discussion pa- which encompasses both pure The ‘International Advisory land), is to chair the commit- per ‘The turn to sustainability? science and applied research, Body on Global Health Poli- tee. The agenda 2030 and its im- as well as the whole spectrum cy’ was appointed in August The newly established ad- plications for science and po- of disciplines. The authors also to advise the Federal Ministry visory body is to give fresh im- licy’ records the proceedings demonstrate how science poli- of Health on the realignment petus to identifying solutions of the symposium of the same cy can be designed to be sus- of its strategy on internatio- to global health policy chal- name held in October 2016 in tainable, point to the national nal health policy. One of the lenges. The spotlight is on the Berlin. In their contributions, and international experiences six experts appointed to role played by Germany’s pl- prominent figures from sci- from which we can learn, and the body was Prof. Dr. Jörg anning regions in the interna- ence and politics underline the tell us where there is a pres- Hacker ML, President of the tional community. According central importance which sci- sing need for action in scienti- Leopoldina. Prof. Dr. Ilona to Kickbusch, their previous ence can play if we are to meet fic practice if we are to impro- Kickbusch, Director of the work has been characterised the sustainability targets set by ve sustainability. (chw) Global Health Centre at the by a multilateral approach and the United Nations. Graduate Institute of Inter- collaboration with many nati- They generate a wide-ran- DISCUSSION PAPER (ONLY IN national and Development onal and international stake- ging understanding of science GERMAN) Studies in Geneva (Switzer- holders. (dw) 05|2017 // LEOPOLDINA NEWS 7

Global Young Academy extends networks even further National Young Academies discuss access to international policy consultation

Sixty-plus representatives from more than 35 National Young Academies of Scien- ces (NYAs) and academy initiatives from all over the world met in Johannesburg, South Africa this July. The convention, which was hosted by the South African Young Academy of Science (SAYAS), and which was organised in collaboration with the Global Young Academy (GYA), was already the third of its kind. It was being held for the first time in Africa, where the Young Academy movement is particularly dynamic. The participants exchanged informa- tion about current challenges they are facing which are of central importance to NYAs. This includes questions relating to funding, gender equality, and cooperation with established National Academies of Sciences, and with policymakers and the public. Leopoldina Member Peter Fritz was actively involved in the third global convention of National Young A central theme of the networking Academies of Sciences in Johannesburg. Photo: SAYAS/ASSAf event was the question of how Young Aca- demies and their members can contribute play a greater role in evidence-based po- the current growth spurt in the global to the achievement of UN sustainability licy consultation and how they could be- NYA network, for which the GYA acts as targets. Prof. Dr. Peter Fritz ML (Leipzig) come involved in advising the UN on po- a platform and as a supporter of newly and Dr. Tracey Elliott for the InterAca- licymaking. established academies. Today, there are demy Partnership presented the project, The event provided the stimulus for 33 Young Academies, and many more are ‘Improving scientific input into global a position paper addressing the role of being set up in countries including Hun- policymaking’ on this very issue. They Young Academies, which will be published gary, Cameroon and Bangladesh. demonstrated ways in which NYAs could in October. The meeting also highlighted (amg)

What do German citizens think about science and research?

Are members of the general public in- a fact-based discussion on the relation- ful purpose, while eleven percent answe- terested in scientific subjects? Do peop- ship between science and the public, and red that it did more harm than good. le trust science in an age of ‘fake news’? to contribute to the further development The 2017 science barometer consi- What do people see as being the role of of science communication. dered the aspect of trust in greater detail science in society? The ‘science barometer’ With the German elections being than in previous years: twelve percent of provided by Initiative Wissenschaft offers scheduled for 2017, the role of science and those surveyed said that they either did up answers to these and other questions research in the electoral campaign was not, or tended not to trust science and for discussion. The survey also prepares central to the survey held in late July. Six- research, while half said they trusted it important ground for the ‘Wissenschaft ty-five percent of those questioned were of either completely or for the most part; 37 braucht Gesellschaft’ (‘Science needs soci- the opinion that insufficient attention had percent were undecided. The expertise of ety’) conference (see page 2), which also so far been paid to scientific subjects du- scientists was given as the main reason for addresses these issues. ring the electoral campaign, while 21 per- trusting them. But among those who did A representative survey has been held cent held the opposite view. Of those sur- not trust them, their dependence on those every year since 2014 in order to take veyed, 58 percent claimed to be interested providing the funding was the most com- stock of what Germans think about sci- in science and research. About two-thirds mon factor cited. (rz) ence and research. The aim is to facilitate were convinced that science served a use- SCIENCE BAROMETER 2017 05|2017 // LEOPOLDINA NEWS 8

Neurobiologist Lena Veit (l) and chemist Günter Thiele (r) are among the 18 scholarship winners whose research trip to the USA is currently being supported by the Leopoldina fellowship programme. Photos: Andreas Clausing Leopoldina programme supports postdocs in the USA Neurobiologist Lena Veit and chemist Günter Thiele conduct research at universities in California

San Francisco and nearby Berkeley have which regulates this process. Because of largely been superseded in industry and for many years been popular destinations their relatively simple and already well research today because of their toxicity, for scholarship winners under the Leo- studied brain structure, birds are ideal some processes still continue to require poldina funding programme. At present, subjects for those wishing to identify and their use, just as they did in the past. It is Dr. Lena Veit and Dr. Günter Thiele – a evaluate the processes of late learning often expensive to remove and dispose of neurobiologist and a chemist respectively using the example of birds. Analyses of such mercury compounds. – are engaged in projects in the US state this type can, after all, also help us better Thiele’s research might help make it of California: Dr. Veit is studying birdsong understand language acquisition by hu- possible to replace them. The use of MOFs at the University of California (San Fran- mans in childhood, adolescence and adult allows mercury compounds to be dissol- cisco) in the working group led by Prof. life. This in turn opens up an opportuni- ved more easy and reused for catalysis. In Dr. Michael Brainard, while Dr. Thiele ty for us to identify with greater accura- theory, this might even increase catalytic is conducting research under Prof. Dr. cy factors which trigger diseases such as activity. The consequence would be that Jeffrey R. Long at the Department of Parkinson’s. much smaller amounts of mercury were Chemistry of the University of California Günter Thiele’s project is primarily required for synthesis. (Berkeley). concerned with the synthesis and charac- The postdoc chemist has also iden- Brainard’s team is examining how the terisation of metal-organic frameworks, or tified other MOF applications which he behaviour of living creatures can alter as a MOFs, which contain mercury. Although would like to study in greater detail fol- result of experiences which impact upon the use of mercury and its compounds has lowing his return to Germany. The next the nervous system. Lena step he would like to take in Veit is studying the Bengalese GERMAN ACADEMIC INTERNATIONAL NETWORK his career is to earn his habi- finch in particular. It learns litation at the Free Universi- its typical song from adult The annual conference of the German Academic International Network ty in Berlin. Lena Veit, who birds while it is still young, (GAIN) was once again held from 25 to 27 August in San Francisco on the completed her doctorate in which is usually continues to west coast of the USA. The roughly 450 participants included five scholar- Tübingen, would also like to sing throughout its life. But ship winners from the Leopoldina. For the first time, the National Academy continue studying the subject adults can also be stimulated of Sciences had its own information stand at the event. President Prof. Dr. from her postdoc period. She by external factors to change Jörg Hacker ML joined the working group on ‘German scientists in North plans to set up her own re- their song. America in dialogue with policy-makers in Germany’, and chatted to the search group from the spring A motor learning net- scholarship winners about their experiences of the USA. of 2019 at Eberhard Karls work exists in the brains of LEOPOLDINA FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMME University in Tübingen. birds – but also mammals – (ac) 05|2017 // LEOPOLDINA NEWS 9

People

Aleida Assmann ML Aleida Assmann ty of Kiel. There he developed the only the Department of Organic Chemistry of ML was awarded the 2017 Balzan Prize field of study in Germany dedicated to the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural for her work on the concept of collective high-temperature solid-state chemistry, Sciences of Humboldt University in Ber- memory. Every year, the Balzan Prize ho- focusing his research on the synthesis at lin. He was awarded the honorary title nours initiatives in the cause of humanity, high temperatures of oxometalates and ‘Honoured Inventor of the USSR’ in 1983 peace, and fraternity among peoples. halogen oxometalates of the main group for his contribution to the development metals and transition metals. These high of a process to synthesise methoxybenzyl The medical researcher Horst-Werner temperatures were achieved using plasma acetone. Gross was admitted to the Leo- Korf ML was the recipient of the Johan- torches, solar furnaces and carbon dioxide poldina as a Member in 1970. nes Ariens Kappers Medal of the Euro- lasers, and the resulting – often metastab- pean Biological Rhythms Society for his le – structures were examined by means of Rainer Jaenicke ML work on the development of chronobiolo- X-ray diffraction. Müller-Buschbaum was 30.10.1930 - 26.6.2016 | Schwalbach gy and chronomedicine. admitted to the Academy as a Member in a. Ts. 1992. Biochemistry and biophysics The German Society for Gastroenterology, Rainer Jaenicke began his career rese- Digestive and Metabolic Diseases (DGVS) Paul Champagnat ML arching the structure of protein comple- elected Ole Petersen ML as an honorary 23.1.1921 - 17.12.2011 | Aubusson, xes, such as those of the tobacco mosaic member. France virus. He later studied the folding and sta- Organismic and evolutionary biolo- bility of proteins under extreme physical The chemist and President of the Hum- gy conditions, such as a high salt content or boldt Foundation Helmut Schwarz ML Paul Champagnat, Director of the Insti- extremes of temperature. He was awarded was elected a Foreign Member of the Rus- tute of Plant Physiology at the University the Max Planck Research Prize in 1994. sian Academy of Natural Sciences. in Clermont-Ferrand and of the Phytot- Jaenicke was a Member of the Leopoldina ron Institute at the Centre national de la from 1991. Celâl Şengör ML was awarded the 2017 recherche (CRNS) in Gif-sur-Yette, had a Mary C. Rabbitt History and Philosophy major impact in France on research into Otto L. Lange ML of Geology Award by the Geological Socie- the branch of botanical science known 21.8.1927 - 14.8.2017 | Würzburg ty of America for his articles on the history as experimental morphology. He was ad- Organismic and evolutionary biolo- of the geosciences. mitted to the Leopoldina as a Member in gy 1976. The botanist Otto L. Lange is viewed as The psychologist Ursula M. Staudin- one of the founders of ecophysiology. This ger ML was awarded the SENECA Medal Zbigniew R. Grabowski ML field of study aims to identify the beha- of the Industrie-Club e.V. Düsseldorf. She 11.6.1927 - 28.1.2017 | Warsaw, Po- viour and reactions of plants in interac- received the medal for her outstanding land tion with the environment. Lange held research achievements in the field of ge- Chemistry the Chair in Botany at the University of rontology. Zbiegniew Grabowski taught for forty ye- Würzburg for 35 years, published a series ars at the University of Warsaw, where of standard works, and received many ho- Education economist Ludger Wöss- he was also the Director of the Institute nours, including the Cothenius Medal of mann ML won the Gustav Stolper Award of Physical Chemistry. His main field of the Leopoldina, which was awarded for of the German Economic Association. The research was the spectroscopy and photo- his life’s work. Lange was a Member of the prize pays tribute to researchers whose chemistry of organic molecules, in parti- Academy from 1972. findings have made an important contri- cular the structure and transformation of bution to public discussions on economic electronically excited molecules. Last but Christian Nezelof ML problems and interrelationships. not least, he was intrigued by the spectra 19.2.1922 - 18.5.2015 | Paris and reactions of interstellar molecules. Pathology and forensic medicine Deceased members Grabowski was elected a Member of the Christian Nezelof was a French medical Leopoldina in 1977. researcher who distinguished himself in Hanskarl Müller-Buschbaum ML the fields of paediatrics and pathology. As 24.5.1931 - 21.11.2016 | Kiel Hans Groß ML a professor at the University of Paris, he Chemistry 30.10.1928 - 14.7.2017 | Berlin was partly responsible for more than 350 The chemist Hanskarl Müller-Busch- Chemistry publications. In 1962, he discovered the baum was the Director of the Institute Hans Gross, an Honorary Member of the Nezelof Syndrome which bears his name, of Inorganic Chemistry at the Universi- Latvian Academy of Sciences, taught in a rare congenital disease of the thymus 05|2017 // LEOPOLDINA NEWS 10

gland. The Christian Nezelof Prize is awar- te of Technology has been awarded a scho- for Hygiene and Microbiology, the Ger- ded annually for outstanding achieve- larship enabling her to spend 14 months man Society for Immunology, and the So- ments in paediatric pathology. Nezelof was in the working group of Prof. Dr. Fernan- ciety for Virology. Gerold was a Leopoldi- elected a Member of the Academy in 1979. do Coda Marques at the Department of na scholarship winner in 2009, and is Mathematics, Princeton University, New currently working in Hanover at the Insti- Achim Trebst ML Jersey, USA. tute for Experimental Virology of the 9.6.1929 - 4.9.2017 | Bochum TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Biochemistry and biophysics Dr. Lynn Jeanette Savic, who recently Clinical Infection Research. The biochemist Achim Trebst conducted worked at the Charité – University Medi- most of his research in the field of pho- cine in Berlin, is spending 24 months wor- PD Dr. Klaus Neuhaus, who received a tosynthesis. He carried out pioneering king in the Department of Radiology and scholarship from 2001 to 2003, earned his work in this area, among other things on Biomedical Imaging at the Yale School of habilitation in 2016 and now leads the the functional autonomy of the chloro- Medicine in New Haven, USA, under Prof. Core Facility Microbiome/NGS at the plast system and on a mechanical under- Dr. Jean-Francois Geschwind. ZIEL Institute for Food and Health of the standing of the flow of electrons using Technical University of Munich in Frei- dibromthymoquinone. Trebst developed Dr. Sarita Silveira from the Institute for sing. chemical tools for the functional and Medical Psychology of Ludwig Maximilian structural localisation of energy sources University in Munich, will be spending 24 Prof. Dr. Alexander Szameit from the and energy storage systems during pho- months in the Posit Science and Brain University of Rostock, a Leopoldina scho- tosynthesis. Trebst was a Member of the Plasticity Institute at the University of Ca- larship holder from 2009 to 2011, recei- Leopoldina from 1974. lifornia in San Francisco (UCSF), USA, ved the Alfried Krupp Prize for Young Pro- under Prof. Michael Merzenich. fessors awarded by the Alfried Krupp von Hiroaki Ueki ML Bohlen und Halbach Foundation, which 30.10.1936 - 11.5.2016 | Okayama, Dr. Klaus Speck, who was recently em- comes with a prize fund of Euro 1 million. Japan ployed in the Faculty of Chemistry and Born in Halle, he was appointed Chair of Internal medicine and dermatology Pharmacy at Ludwig Maximilian Univer- Experimental Solid State Optics in De- The Japanese medical researcher Hiroaki sity in Munich, will be working with Prof. cember 2016. Ueki studied how immunofluorescence Dr. Stephan L. Buchwald for 18 months in methods could be applied in dermatolo- the Department of Chemistry at Massa- Dr. Lena Veit, a Leopoldina scholarship gy, the pathogenic importance of immune chusetts Institute of Technology in Cam- holder since 2016, has been awarded the complexes, and the effect of autoantibo- bridge, USA. Klaus Tschira Award for Achievements in dies in the skin. After spending time stu- Public Understanding of Sciences - Klar- dying in Germany, he became an advocate Former fellows Text. She is the fourth of our scholarship of German-Japanese relations in the field Prof. Dr. Sabine Becker has been em- winners to be awarded this prize. The of dermatology. Ueki was elected a Mem- ployed as a junior professor in the Depart- Klaus Tschira Foundation has been pre- ber of the Leopoldina in 1989. ment of Chemistry at the University of senting the award, which is open to candi- Kaiserslautern since May 2017. She dates from Germany, Austria and Switzer- Leopoldina Fellowship Programme worked with Prof. Dr. Stephen J. Lippard land, since 2006. in the Department of Chemistry at Massa- New fellows chusetts Institute of Technology in Cam- Prof. Katharina Anna Zweig from the Dr. Tim Krappitz from the Institute for bridge, USA between 2015 and 2017 after University of Kaiserslautern, a Leopoldina Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry winning a Leopoldina scholarship. scholarship holder from 2008 to 2010, re- of the University of Hamburg is to spend ceived the Ars Legendi Faculty Prize for 24 months at Queensland University of Dr. Gisa Gerold is to receive the Robert Engineering in July 2017, which is awar- Technology (QUT) in Brisbane, Australia, Koch Postdoctoral Prize of the Robert ded by the umbrella organisation of the working with Prof. Christopher Barner- Koch Foundation in November 2017 in Faculty Associations of Engineering and Kowollik. Berlin. The prize is awarded annually to Computer Science at Universities (4ING) three young scientists for their outstan- and the Association for the Promotion of Dr. Elena Mäder-Baumdicker from the ding work in different fields, based on the Science and the Humanities. The award Institute for Analysis at Karlsruhe Institu- recommendations of the German Society comes with a prize fund of Euro 25,000. 05|2017 // LEOPOLDINA NEWS 11

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