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

Halle (Saale), 2 March 2011 01/2011

Dear members Recommendations on and friends of the Leopoldina, Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is a preimplantation genetic diagnosis topic that is currently being very strongly de- bated. Before summer recess, the Ad-hoc statement by the Leopoldina favours allowing this diagnostic wants to decide the procedure subject to strict conditions nature of this legisla- tion. In advance of this decision there On 18 January the Leopoldina publi- is a great need for cally issued and published an ad-hoc information on the statement on preimplantation genetic complex, scientific, diagnosis (PGD). This was done in medical, ethical and conjunction with acatech – the German legal relationship. Academy of Science and Engineering, The Leopoldina has reacted in this matter the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of and has produced a statement along with Science and Humanities (BBAW) and by other German academies. This paper has not the majority of the academies belonging only fostered discussion on the topic of PGD, to the Union of German Academies of but also triggered discussion about whether Science. The underlying message of the science academies should give advice of statement: PGD is to be placed on an policy and comment on ethical questions. equal footing with prenatal diagnosis This debate is important. As a National Aca- (PD) by lawmakers and access should demy of Science, the Leopoldina has taken be given in under certain on a new duty. It has been commissioned conditions to those women affected. with advising on political and social matters This prevents having to terminate preg- based on scientific knowledge. This makes it nancies where the embryo is severely more than just a society of scholars. Today, affected by hereditary disease. academies of science are a part of society more than ever and can assist in overcoming The statement entitled „Präimplanta- Title page of the Ad-hoc statement on PGD the challenges of the future. Their job is not tionsdiagnostik – Auswirkungen einer only to present facts, but also to reflect on begrenzten Zulassung in Deutschland“ and information event in the German aspects of ethics. Because what would policy (an English version will be published this parliament in Berlin. Since then it has counseling be without advice? spring) covers not only medical and legal received a great deal of public respon- aspects, but also the ethical aspects of se as part of the current debate. Parli- PGD as well. This comes in light of the amentarians want to finalize a law on Kind regards, current need for regulation, resulting regulating PGD before summer recess. from the decision made by the federal su- Further statements, for instance from preme court on 6 July 2010 that a ban on the German Ethics Council are expected PGD cannot be derived from the embryo shortly. PGD is a diagnostic procedure. protection laws. It allows people carrying a diseased The 30-page report was presented on to become parents of a child not suffering News 2 18 January by the members of the PGD from this severe hereditary disease. International Issues 6 workgroup at a federal press conference Continued on page 2 Events 7 People 9 Publishing Details 10 Inside the Leopoldina 11 2 01|2011 // Leopoldina / Newsletter

News

[Continued from page 1] PGD is to be conducted. PGD should only Prof. Dr. Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard To enable this, embryos conceived be allowed to be carried out at a handful ML, and member of the BBAW, (deve- through in-vitro fertilization are tested of facilities that are designated for this lopmental biologist, Tübingen), Prof. Dr. for this disease before being implanted in purpose and regularly checked by the Peter Propping ML (human geneticist, the uterus. An example of a similar test competent authority. PGD should only Bonn), Prof. Dr. Bettina Schöne-Seifert in the field of prenatal diagnoses, i.e. ex- be allowed if authorized by the designa- ML (medical ethicist, Münster), Prof. Dr. amination of the embryo in the womb, is ted competent authority following a sub- Jochen Taupitz ML (medical law specia- amniocentesis. As a result the pregnancy stantiated request. On top of a law gover- list, Mannheim), Prof. Dr. Anna M. Wo- may be terminated due to medical indi- ning PGD and a possible modification to bus ML, also member of the BBAW, (cell cation. The statement by the Academies the genetic diagnosis law, the passing of biologist, Gatersleben), Prof. Dr. Rüdiger formulates in summary the following a reproduction law should be Wolfrum ML (legal scholar, Heidelberg) main recommendations. The text: considered.“ und Prof. Dr. Hans-Peter Zenner ML (physician, member of the Leopoldina “Due to a similar conflict situation for the The statement was produced by an Presidium, Tübingen) as leading mode- woman, PGD should be legally allowed Academy group consisting of 13 renow- rator. (mab) under limited and defined conditions and ned scientists of various fields: Prof. Dr. the consequences associated with this for Claus R. Bartram ML (human geneticist, The complete statement explaining in the embryo are to be placed by lawma- Heidelberg), Prof. Dr. Henning M. Bei- detail the basis for and the impact of the kers on an equal footing with PD (pre- er ML, who is also a member of acatech, recommendation can be found at natal diagnosis, GenDG) and pregnancy (embryology and reproduction biology, www.leopoldina.org termination (Article 218 of the German Aachen), Prof. Dr. Klaus Diedrich ML Penal Code). This equal footing is to be (gynecology and reproductive medicine Printed copies of the statement can be restricted by only allowing in vitro PGD physician, Lübeck), Prof. Dr. Philipp U. ordered from the Leopoldina by e-mail at for non-totipotent cells of the embryo, Heitz ML (Physician, member of the Le- [email protected] whereby it is recommended that condi- opoldina Steering Committee, Zurich), tions be considerably restricted. Testing Prof. Dr. Hermann Hepp ML (gynecolo- can only be done for couples whose child- gy and reproductive medicine physician, ren, from a medically objective point of Munich), Prof. Dr. Otfried Höffe ML (le- view, are at high risk of an onset of a well- gal and moral philosopher, Tübingen), known, severe monogenic disease or a genetic chromosomal disorder, or if there is a risk of a stillbirth or a miscarriage. There should be no age limit for the onset Constructive discussion on policy advice by the academies of the disease. PGD may not be used for nationally or socially defined objectives After publishing the statement, various articles appeared in the Süddeutsche Zeitung that do not concern the well-being of the and the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung which covered the policy advice given by the sci- couple affected. A ban on selecting the entific academies, particularly that of the Leopoldina as a National Academy of Sciences. genetic traits of children according to the In addition to Leopoldina’s President Prof. Dr. Jörg Hacker ML, others also commented on wishes of their parents, determining the the topic including Prof. Dr. Ernst-Ludwig Winnacker ML, Prof. Dr. Otfried Höffe ML, Prof. sex of the child with no relevance to ge- Dr. Peter Graf Kielmansegg, Prof. Dr. Dietmar Willoweit, Prof. Dr. Ottfried Edenhofer and netic disease, using embryos for research Bundestag President . purposes and investigating new, in other words, non-hereditary chromosomal You can find the text of Leopoldina’s President Jörg Hacker’s “Mehr harte Fakten“ disorders (aneuploidy screening) should (“More hard facts”) on the Leopoldina’s website at: continue to exist. Furthermore a compe- www.leopoldina.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Politik/artikel_hacker_sz_20110122.pdf tent authority should be set up to pass regulatory statutes or guidelines on how 01|2011 // Leopoldina / Newsletter 3

Ernst-Ludwig Winnacker was honoured for his service to the Academy

also in the context of global challenges like energy supply, climate change, the state of the oceans, the condition of the financial markets and major health pro- blems like high infant mortality. “Science is needed everywhere we look. Problems don’t stop at borders,” says Winnacker. The foundation of the ERC in 2007 was an important step for Europe in overcoming national egotisms to a certain degree. “It is not a competition for countries, but for institutions.” Scientists go where they find the best conditions – regardless of the country. In Europe the magnets are the Swiss universities in Zurich and Lau- sanne, the universities of Cambridge and Oxford and the Free University of Ams- terdam. In Germany only the Max Planck Institutes can compete with such degree of attractiveness. “Of course it’s all about President of the Leopoldina, Jörg Hacker, presents Ernst-Ludwig Winnacker with the Medal money.” In the end, Winnacker argued of Merit in appreciation of the strong commitment the long-time Vice-President of the Aca- for taking on the “sacred cow” of EU agri- demy has shown and for his continued work for the Leopoldina. Photo: Thomas Meinicke cultural subsidies and for using this mo- ney to finance more research and science. The Academy honoured Ernst-Ludwig tem as a long-time President of the DFG Ernst-Ludwig Winnacker (born in Winnacker, its former Vice-President and to fostering young scientists. Winna- 1941) was Vice-President of the DFG from and the long-time President of the cker also helped start the “Exzellenzini- 1987 to 1993 and its President from 1998 German research foundation Deutsche tiative” (Excellence Initiative) which has to 2006. From 2007 to June 2009 he was Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), with fundamentally altered the higher educa- the first secretary general of the ERC in the Leopoldina’s Medal of Merit. tion landscape in Germany. Finally, Win- Brussels/Belgium. He has been the se- Winnacker was presented the award by nacker is just as important for the “lumi- cretary general of the Human Frontier Leopoldina’s President Jörg Hacker on nous power of German science” abroad. Science Program in Strasbourg/France 14 December in the assembly hall at the He tirelessly worked towards internatio- since 1 July 2009. The latter is an orga- University of Halle. nality and established liaison offices. The nization which promotes international fact that he became the first secretary research in the field of life sciences and, “The Medal of Merit reflects the general of the European Research Coun- above all, young scientists. Ernst-Ludwig Academy’s appreciation,” says Hacker cil (ERC) in Brussels would therefore be Winnacker is a member of the Leopoldi- who spoke of Winnacker’s major con- consistent; he achieved a lot in an Eu- na in the Section of Human Genetics and tribution in his laudation. Winnacker, ropean sense. Cornelia Pieper, Minister Molecular Medicine. a member of the Leopoldina since 1988 of State at the Federal Foreign Office, The Medal of Merit is awarded for contributed greatly to the Academy for also recalled in her welcome speech how outstanding work for the good of the Aca- a long time as Vice-President (1995 to Winnacker worked to build up the ERC: demy. It bears the portrait of the honored 2005). New departments were created “Freedom to do scientific and research member. Ernst-Ludwig Winnacker’s me- and new projects were established. The- work is what allows us to cross borders.” dal was designed by Bernd Göbel, emeri- se were the first important steps on the In his subsequent presentation “Wis- tus professor at the Burg Giebichenstein Leopoldina’s way to becoming a working senschaft ohne nationale Grenzen – eine University of Art and Design Halle. (mab) Academy. Even today, Winnacker conti- europäische Herausforderung” (Science nues to be a tireless advisor, bringing his Without National Borders – an Euro- expertise to the Leopoldina’s committees. pean Challenge) Winnacker spoke of the Hacker goes on to explain the great “strange contradiction” of how research contribution Winnacker has made to is internationally orientated, yet all of the science on a whole: to molecular biology organizations supporting and promoting and genetic engineering in Germany as a research are active on a national level. A top scientist, to the German science sys- contradiction that must be overcome – 4 01|2011 // Leopoldina / Newsletter

To visitors of the “MS Wissenschaft“ models of a (left) and a bacterium are presented to illustrate different functions and activi- ties. Design: Christian Böhme

Health research is this year’s topic The Leopoldina will take part in the Year of Science 2011 by offering many activities

Annette Schavan, minister of education medicine, in other words treatment of includes the Leopoldina lectures – each and research and the initiative “Wissen- non-curable diseases, and with treatment talk given by one lecturer – and the Le- schaft im Dialog” (Science in Dialogue) for diseases with the help of regenerative opoldina talks at which various experts have proclaimed 2011 to be the Year of medicine. Here, the body’s own cells, or- discuss with one another. Lectures and “Research into our Health”. This year gans or tissue are replaced by cultivated talks cover topics to which the Leopoldi- of health research is to direct attention tissue or healed by triggering the body’s na has made statements or recommen- towards people and to open up social own regeneration dations for politics and interdisciplinary debate on the and repair processes. and makes them goals, challenges and the current fields The Leopoldina accessible for the of activity of health research. It will also will devote this year’s general public. demonstrate how important effective Annual Assembly The first talk en- health research is for good, quality to the topic “What titled “Bestimmen medical care in the future. is Life?” something die Gene unser that not only health Schicksal?” (Do As a medical and scientific Academy, the research is grappling our determi- Leopoldina would like to lend special sup- with, but also many other disciplines as ne our fate?) takes place on 3 March in port for this topic and has put together an well. From 23 to 25 September attention Berlin and discusses the limits, risks and extensive programme with many events. will be given to questions surrounding, opportunities of Predictive Genetic Dia- This includes several symposia whose for example, origin, diversity, models, gnosis. Questions that will be discussed subjects can already be deduced: Which impact of life and, not least, threat to, include, for example: What can actually changes will research face in the coming preservation and the limits of life. While be determined by a genetic test? How do years and which areas of research will Nobel Prize winner Prof. Dr. Christiane I deal with the knowledge I obtain from shape our society in the future? Nüsslein-Vollhard ML enlightens on the it? What possibilities of treatment do I emergence of colour patterns of fish („Die have? What is Life? Entstehung der Farbmuster bei Fischen“) on 23 September, another approach to Aboard the “MS Wissenschaft“ One of the Leopoldina’s symposia will the question of life will be made by Prof. broach the issue of the current state of Dr. Richard Schröder who refers to the In 2011 the Leopoldina will be a part discussions regarding the impact that topic from a theologocial point of view. of the exhibition ship “MS Wissenschaft”. epigenetic alterations have on human The Leopoldina is not only catering The ship belonging to the initiative “Wis- diseases. Two other symposia will deal to an audience of experts. Many events senschaft im Dialog” will travel through with innovative therapies in palliative address a broad range of audience. This Germany with an exhibition encompas- 01|2011 // Leopoldina / Newsletter 5

The “MS Wissenschaft“ will be travelling along German rivers again starting 19 May. Stops are planned in 35 cities. For the first time two exhibits by the Leopoldina will be aboard. Photo: T. Gabriel/Triad

sing the entire bandwidth of health re- search. Those who visit the ship in one of Leopoldina events in the Year of Science „Research into our Health“ the 35 cities it will stop in, can study the Leopoldina’s exhibit which throws light Lectures, Talks and Exhibitions on and bacteria, i.e. how they Thursday, 3 March, 6.00 p.m., Berlin function and how they can be combated. Leopoldina Talk “Bestimmen die Gene unser Schicksal?” (Do our genes determine our fate?) Just like what is offered aboard the “MS Prof. Dr. Jörg Hacker ML, Prof. Dr. Peter Propping ML, Prof. Dr. Klaus Tanner ML, PD Dr. Denise Wissenschaft”, a part of the programme Horn, Andrea Hahne, moderated by: Dr. Patrick Illinger, Süddeutsche Zeitung of the Leopoldina Night on 1 July in Halle Tuesday, 26 April, 6.00 p.m., Halle is also directed at young visitors. Health Leopoldina Fishbowl on preimplantation genetic diagnosis will also be on the menu as part of the round of discussions in cooperation with the Haus der Wissenschaft Braunschweig 10th Night of Sciences in Halle. 19 May to 29 September, nationwide in 35 cities, “MS Wissenschaft“ stops found at: www.ms-wissenschaft.de Questions to Leopoldina-Experts Leopoldina exhibition “ and the immune system” Friday, 1 July, from 6.00 p.m. onwards, Halle At the beginning of the year the Leo- Leopoldina Night as part of the Night of Sciences in Halle with Leopoldina Talk contributing to poldina published a list of 76 health ex- the theme of the Year of Science 2011 “Research into our Health” perts from its series who are available to Prof. Dr. Jörg Hacker ML, President of the Leopoldina answer questions posed by the media and other interested people. Symposia In this context it must also be men- 12 to 14 April, Würzburg tioned that in mid-January, the Leo- FEMS-Symposium “Emerging topics of microbial pathogenesis” poldina, along with other academies, Prof. Dr. Jörg Hacker ML, Halle, Prof. Dr. Thomas Rudel, Würzburg, Prof. Dr. Matthias Frosch, published statements regarding pre-im- Würzburg, Prof. Dr. Jörg Vogel, Würzburg, Prof. Dr. Eliora Z. Ron and Prof. Dr. Yair Aharonowitz, plantation genetic diagnosis. Here a topic Tel Aviv/ currently being hotly debated is taken up 20 to 22 June, Weißenburg by science and research, thereby contri- Symposium “Epigenetics and the control of gene expression” buting to developping a political opinion. Prof. Dr. Walter Doerfler ML, Prof. Dr. Bernhard Fleckenstein ML, Prof. Dr. Ulf Pettersson (cw) 24 to 26 July, Tübingen Symposium “Regenerative Medicine” The programme of the Leopoldina can Prof. Dr. Hans-Peter Zenner ML, Prof. Dr. Johannes Schubert ML, Prof. Dr. Gernot Duncker ML be found at: www.leopoldina.org 18 to 21 September, Würzburg Symposium “Translational Research in neuro-psychiatric disorders” Information on the Year of Science can Prof. Dr. Michael Frotscher ML, Prof. Dr. Peter Riederer ML be found at: www.forschung-fuer- 23 to 25 September, Halle unsere-gesundheit.de Leopoldina Annual Assembly “What is life?” Prof. Dr. Jörg Hacker ML, President of the Leopoldina, Prof. Dr. Michael Hecker, Greifswald Information on the exhibition on the 25 to 26 November, Berlin “MS Wissenschaft” and its timetable can Symposium “Innovative therapies in palliative medicine” be found at: www.ms-wissenschaft.de Prof. Dr. Peter Scriba ML, Prof. Dr. Monika Führer (as of 28 February 2011)

6 01|2011 // Leopoldina / Newsletter

International Issues

The EASAC office in Brussels has FEAM: Mental health been in existence for one year has been neglected

The independent scientific expertise of the National Academies is to The topic of mental disease has been be made accessible for EU institutions neglected by EU politicians. This was the conclusion of a statement made by the Federation of the European Even though the EASAC, a federation of these contacts, the questions of EU poli- Academies of Medicine (FEAM) – a National Academies of the European Uni- ticians are taken up as early as possible federation of medical academies, on (EU), has been around for ten years, it and forwarded to the active workgroups. including the Leopoldina, from 14 took nine years before an EASAC office This ensures that the EASAC reports European countries. The current si- was opened in Brussels. Since March tackle those issues that are important tuation in psychiatry is inhibited by 2010, a point of contact for the EASAC for the political decision-making process an insufficient biological understan- has been located at the Royal Academies and make them as beneficial for the EU ding of mental disorders, a lack of for Science and the Arts of Belgium which institutions as possible. In addition to its recognition, a lack of effective thera- has been busy throughout the past twelve contacts with the institutions of the “EU pies, stigmatization and poor access months. pillars” Parliament, Commission and to healthcare. The report in English Council of Ministers, the EASAC office entitled “FEAM Statement on Men- Strengths lie in EU consensus in Brussels also endeavors to carry out a tal Health Policy Issues” is based on lively exchange with the two official sci- the discussion of this critical topic at The tasks of the EASAC office in entific advisory institutions of the Par- a FEAM meeting in Prague in 2009. A Brussels are derived from the EASAC’s liament and Commission: the Scientific major component are the recommen- general goals. EASAC wants to make the Technology Options Assessment (STOA) dations resulting from this meeting excellent and independent scientific ex- and the Joint Research Council (JRC). made to decision-makers in the Euro- pertise of the EU’s National Academies One of the EASAC’s current workgroups pean Union and European countries available to institutions in Brussels in on the topic of “Impact of Nanomaterials who are aiming for an uniform policy order to enable political decisions. The on Human Health” is actually working in the area of mental health. On the specific strength of the EASAC is that all together with the JRC and will present its one hand, there is to be a better un- of its reports and statements are passed report this summer. derstanding of psychosocial and bio- by consensus. Thus, for political nego- logical factors of mental disorders. tiations still often defined by national anniversary in November On the other hand, new scientific fin- interests, there is an EU-wide scientific dings need to be used in such a way consensus on certain issues. The EASAC’s Brussels office has be- that diagnosis and therapy can be de- come an increasingly important location signed more effectively. It is also im- Three subject areas for political briefings and workgroup portant to optimize proven strategies meetings in past months. The neo-classi- within the healthcare services. Lin- Every year, the EASAC sets up new cal palace of the Belgian academies in the king research with clinical application workgroups in the areas of energy, life centre of Brussels provides a prestigious particularly demands a higher invest- sciences and the environment. The main setting for such meetings. The celebra- ment in numerous fields of research task of the Brussels office is to establish tion to mark the 10th anniversary of the and in the supporting infrastructure. contact with the groups and points of EASAC in November 2011 is to be held More attempts must be made to find contact of the EU institutions for whom there as well. (csd) and implement public-private part- the EASAC’s work is of relevance. Howe- nerships. (mab) ver it’s not just a one way street: Not only are the results of the EASAC conveyed to 01|2011 // Leopoldina / Newsletter 7

Events

International Workshop: “Medicine as a Medium of Multiple Modernities – Transactions and Contingencies bet- ween , Germany and in the 19th and early 20th Centuries”, 10 to 12 March 2011, 9.00 a.m., assembly hall of the Löwengebäude, the main building of Martin Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg, Universitätsplatz 1, 06108 Halle (Saale)/Germany - Includes an evening Lecture: Prof. Dr. Li Xuetao “Achsenzeit und China - wechselseitige Wirkungen”, 10 March 2011, 8.00 p.m.

Medicine focuses on the most recent sci- cal comparison is not the research goal explain processes of modernization by entific findings and techniques while at in itself but only a heuristic instrument. looking at contingent historical events the same time it is a practice deeply in- Germany, Japan and China will be at the and thereby to capture the environment terwoven in the everyday live of people. centre of attention because moderniza- and the intentions of historical actors - it Thus medicine can serve as a medium tion in these three countries occurred is, as Wolfgang Knöbl says - „contingency that mirrors on one hand, complex scien- in different periods while being in a key sensitive“. The idealtypischen constructs tific, technical as well as economic pro- relationship of interdependence when of certain ‘levels’ or ‘zones’ of modernity cesses and on the other hand, adaptation transferring modern medicine from Eu- proposed by Eisenstadt are far from real to these social processes in the everyday rope to East Asia and within Asia. social configurations or even historical lives of people. From the perspective of With the selection of these two regi- detail. However, this project will con- globalization, it is the aim of this project ons and three countries, the diverse ex- tribute right here by studying historical to explore and create knowledge to un- change and transaction of ideas between transfer processes. derstand current issues of globalization Europe and Asia in different areas of by examining processes of modernizati- knowledge and activity will be the focus Scientific organization: on through the focus of medicine. of investigations. In terms of historical Prof. Dr. Heiner Fangerau, Ulm This specific approach promises valu- periods, investigations will concentrate Prof. Dr. Alfons Labisch ML, Düsseldorf able insights when processes of globaliza- on the time of the introduction of mo- Prof. Dr. Christian Oberländer, tion and modernization are examined in dern scientific medicine in the late 19th Halle (Saale) different countries, regions, institutions and early 20th centuries. or disciplines. For the purpose of com- The concept of ‚multiple modernities‘ parison, the regions of Europe and East by Shmuel N. Eisenstadt is the theoreti- Asia will be selected. However, histori- cal approach of this project. It allows to

Leopoldina-Symposium: “Tropical infectious diseases”, Joint Conference of the National Academy of Sciences Leo- poldina and the Ghana Academy of Art and Sciences, 21 to 22 March 2011, Kumasi/Ghana

From 21 to 22 March a joint conference gers half of world‘s population to become bacteria, which cause for example tuber- of the Ghana Academy of Art and Scien- newly infected. Every year hundreds of culosis or leprosy, Chlamydia as well as ces and the German National Academy millions of people are infected with Ma- Helminth, Bacterial and Viral infections. of Sciences Leopoldina will take place in laria. If there is no medical treatment The scientific organization of the Ger- Kumasi/Ghana. available about a million people die every man-Ghanaian joint symposium lies in Members of both academies as well year from the Malaria-infection – half of the hands of Prof. Dr. Bernhard Fleischer as representatives of the Deutsche For- them dying are babies and infants up to ML, Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors schungsgemeinschaft (DFG) and other the age of 5. of the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tro- personalities of research, medicine and Amongst others Prof. Dr. Horstmann pical Medicine Hamburg. politics will discuss matters of tropical and Dr. Thomas Jacobs of the Bernhard infectious diseases as well as possibilities Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine and chances of a North-South-Cooperati- Hamburg will talk about this topic, sup- on in Health Research. ported by fellow researchers and colle- Malaria and AIDS will be the topics agues from Germany and Ghana. discussed on the first day of the confe- Announced aspects on the symposium’s rence. Malaria, the WHO states, endan- schedule for the second day are Myco- 8 01|2011 // Leopoldina / Newsletter

FEMS-Leopoldina-Symposium: “Emerging Topics in Microbial Pathogenesis”, 12 to 14 April 2011, Beginning of the Event on 12 April, 8.00 a.m., Gartenpavillion, Juliusspital Würzburg, Klinikstrasse 1, 97070 Würzburg/Germany

The Theodor-Boveri-Institute of Bios- sentations on the application of newest by young Scientists. cience, part of the Julius-Maximillians- technologies in infection research like University Würzburg announces a sym- intra-vital microscopy and next gene- Scientific Organization: posium, which is jointly sponsored by the ration sequencing. But also most recent Prof. Dr. Jörg Hacker ML, Halle Federation of European Microbiological advances in translational research will be Prof. Dr. Thomas Rudel, Würzburg, Societies (FEMS) and the German Natio- presented during the conference. Prof. Dr. Matthias Frosch, Würzburg, nal Academy of Sciences Leopoldina. More than twenty-five internationally Prof. Dr. Jörg Vogel, Würzburg, The focus of the symposium will be leading researchers have been invited as Prof. Dr. Eliora Z. Ron, Tel Aviv/Israel, on cutting-edge themes in molecular and speakers. There will also be significant Prof. Dr. Yair Aharonowitz, Tel Aviv/ cellular pathogenesis as well as infection time during the conference for poster Israel and immunity. These will include pre- sessions and short talks to be presented

Leopoldina’s 2011 Annual Assembly: “What is life?”, 23 to 25 September 2011, 9.00 a.m., K & K Kongress- und Kultur- zentrum Halle, Franckestrasse 1, 06110 Halle (Saale)/Germany

“What is life?” is one of the oldest questi- years ago. The Leopoldina would like to learn. Questions about the development ons ever asked in human history. Initially treat and discuss this fundamental issue of life, with reference to evolutionary a domain of the philosophers of the Anci- at its 2011 Annual Assembly. theory, will also play a role at the Annual ent World, the issue is now increasingly This includes issues such as the crea- Assembly. coming into the focus of natural science. tion of artificial life using methods from Scientific organization: In the 1940s physicists such as Erwin synthetic biology; the question of what Prof. Dr. Jörg Hacker ML, Halle (Saale) Schrödinger asked this question while is specific to human life; the issue of Prof. Dr. Michael Hecker ML, Greifswald studying the problem of where hereditary stem cells and their application in basic factors come from: Genes. research and practical medicine, other The complete programme of these ye- Since the breakthrough in functional concepts from modern medicine (ge- ars Annual Assembly will be published in genome research, today scientists can nomics, individualised medicine, etc.) the upcoming newsletter. describe and understand molecular life used to maintain life, and the problem of processes with a complexity which would how to differentiate between organisms have been totally unthinkable just twenty and computer systems which are able to 01|2011 // Leopoldina / Newsletter 9

People

Deceased members 2011 Leibniz Prizes Prof. Dr. Jacques Bernheim ML, Two top female researchers will receive the Leibniz Prize, the most prestigious re- 28 July 1924 - 2008 Geneva/Switzerland search prize in Germany. Prof. Dr. Ulla Bonas ML and Prof. Dr. Anja Feldmann ML, Pathology and Forensic Medicine Section both members of the Leopoldina, will be presented the awards of the Deutsche Fo- He became a member of the Leopoldina schungsgemeinschaft (DFG) on 16 March in Berlin. Each prize is worth 2.5 million in 1970 due to his innovative work in the euros: area of forensic anthropology. Ulla Bonas from the University of Halle-Witten- berg studies the interaction between pathogenic Prof. Dr. Michel Jaubert de bacteria and plants affected by the plant patho- Beaujeu ML, gen Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria (Xcv). 5 June 1917 – 1 Feb 2009 This particularly affects pepper and to- Surgery, Orthopedics and Anesthesiology mato plants. Her research is closely linked to an Section effector proteine of Xcv, the AvrBs3 gene. Bonas He was admitted as a member of the Le- was able to clone, characterize and explain the opoldina in 1977 for his work in neonatal functions of this gene. On the one hand AvrBs3 and pediatric surgery, particularly in the contributes to cell growth which encourages the area of thoraxic surgery. plant to supply the avirulence gene with nutrients. On the other hand it releases a suicide program in Prof. Dr. Wolf D. Keidel ML, resistant plants through a bond to the promotor of 14 Dec 1917 – 17 Jan 2011 Bayreuth/Ger- U. Bonas Photo: M. Glöckner/Uni Halle the Bs3-resistence gene which results in cell death. many Her work is of fundamental importance for under- Physiology and Pharmacology/Toxicolo- standing plant-microbe interactions. It is extremely important for as it gy Section reveals ways to selectively switch genes on and off. Bonas has been a member of the He became a member of the Leopoldina Leopoldina’s Microbiology and Immunology Section since 2008. in 1970 for his pioneering work in senso- ry physiology – particularly hearing and the sense of vibration on the skin. He is Anja Feldmann of the Technische considered to be the first to apply the Universität Berlin, is one of the top terms and investigation methods of in- international researchers in the field formation theory and cybernetic to sen- of the Internet. Feldmann has influ- sory physiology. enced the development of the Inter- net beyond basic research, particu- Prof. Günter Tembrock ML, larly with her work on the analysis 7 June 1918 – 26 Jan 2011 Berlin/Ger- and modeling of Internet traffic and many Internet routing. Her studies on the Organismic and Evolutionary Biology limits and possibilities of web proxy Section A. Feldmann Photo: Dahl/TU Berlin caching have influenced the business He became of member of the Leopoldina decisions of countless Internet servi- in 1965 for his research work into beha- ces. In more recent work, Anja Feldmann has studied systems that defend against vioral biology among other things. His attack in high speed networks. She has also looked at new forms of application and work led to the establishment of a “Re- use such as chats, Web 2.0 and social networks with the aim of incorporating her fin- search facility for animal psychology” at dings into improving the architecture of the Internet. Feldmann has been a member Humboldt University’s Zoological Insti- of the Leopoldina’s Informatics Section since 2009. tute in Berlin. He coined the term “bioa- coustics” and is the founder of the largest archive of animal sounds in Europe. 10 01|2011 // Leopoldina / Newsletter

Prof. Dr. Valeria A. Troitskaya ML, Newly elected members of the Christof Rapp, Munich, Professor of 15 Nov 1917 – 22 Jan 2010 Melbourne/ Academy, 24 November 2010 Ancient Philosophy and Rhetoric and Australia Director of the “Center for Advanced Earth Sciences Section Hans-Joachim Gehrke, Berlin, Pro- Studies“ at the Ludwig Maximilians Uni- She became a member of the Leopoldina fessor of Ancient History at the Universi- versity in Munich (Cultural Sciences Sec- in 1970 for her work in studying geomag- ty of Freiburg i. Br. and President of the tion) netism, in particular pulsations. German Archeological Institute in Berlin (Cultural Sciences Section) Jochen Taupitz, Mannheim, Professor Prof. Dr. Bernhard Witkop ML of Civil Law, Civil Procedure Law, Private 9 May 1917 – 22 Nov 2010 Chevy Chase, Dieter Langewiesche, Tübingen, Pro- International Law and Comparative Law MD/USA fessor Emeritus of Medieval and Modern at the University of Mannheim (Episte- Chemistry Section History in the History Department of the mology Section) He was chosen to become a member of Eberhard Karls University in Tübingen the Leopoldina in 1972 for his wide-ran- (Cultural Sciences Section) David E. Wellbery, Chicago/USA, Le- ging work in the areas of indole series, roy T. and Margaret Deffenbaugh Carl- peptides, and catecholamines among Reinhard Merkel, Hamburg, Professor son University Professor and Director of other things, and for his research into of Criminal Law at the Faculty of Law of the Center for Interdisciplinary Research amphibian poisons. the University of Hamburg (Epistemolo- on German Literature and Culture, Uni- gy Section) versity of Chicago (Cultural Sciences Sec- tion)

Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Martini-Stiftung Berlin fully, but has no influence on the content or design Leopoldina – Nationale Akademie Carola Kleinschmidt, freelance journalist of the pages linked to. The Leopoldina hereby ex- der Wissenschaften e.V. Dr. Eva-Maria Streier, Head of Press and Public plicitly rejects any liability for the contents of ex- Emil-Abderhalden-Str. 37 Relations of the Deutsche Forschungsgemein- ternal Internet pages. 06108 Halle (Saale) schaft (DFG) Telefon: +49-345/4 72 39 – 800 Caroline Wichmann, Head of Press and Public Abbreviations Fax: +49-345/4 72 39 – 19 Relations Leopoldina (cw) ML = Member of the Leopoldina E-Mail: [email protected] Copyright Editors For the Leopoldina newsletter the copyright and Prof. Dr. Jutta Schnitzer-Ungefug (jsu) all other rights are held by the Deutsche Akademie (responsible according to the German press law) der Naturforscher Leopoldina – Nationale Akade- Prof. Dr. Dr. Gunnar Berg ML (gb) mie der Wissenschaften, Emil-Abderhalden-Str. Manuela Bank (mab) 37, 06108 Halle an der Saale, Germany. Redistribu- Anne Schauer (asc) tion, including in the form of extracts, is permitted for educational, scientific and private purposes if Other authors in this issue: the source is quoted (unless otherwise explicitly Dr. Christian Anton, consultant at the Leopoldina indicated by the article in question). Permission policy advice department (ca) must be sought from the Leopoldina for commer- Dr. Jörg Beineke, Senior Scientific Coordinator cial use. Leopoldina (jb) Dr. Christiane S. Diehl, Executive Director EASAC Links to external websites: (csd) The Leopoldina does its best to select all hyper- Dr. Rolf Hömke, Press and Public Relations, Paul- links in Leopoldina news and their contents care- 01|2011 // Leopoldina / Newsletter 11

Inside the Leopoldina

Anniversaries of Leopoldina members in 2011

The following is a list of members of the Academy celebrating jubilee birthdays starting from 65 onwards. In the future this list will be published at the end of each year for the year to come.

65th anniversary: 70th anniversary Hans-Jörg Rheinberger, Berlin/Germany, 12 Jan Wolf Lepenies, Berlin/Germany, 11 Jan Christoph Reiners, Würzburg/Germany, 28 Jan Uzy Smilansky, Rehovot/Israel, 24 Jan Bernd Herrmann, Göttingen/Germany, 3 Feb Irene Schulz-Hofer, Konstanz/Germany, 25 Jan Hermann Koepsell, Würzburg/Germany, 23 Feb Ekkehart Tillmanns, Vienna/Austria, 29 Jan Siegfried Blechert, Berlin/Germany, 1 Mar Klaus Peter Sauer, Bonn/Germany, 2 Feb Felix Unger, Salzburg/Austria, 2 Mar Bodo Christ, Freiburg i.Br./Germany, 4 Feb Lis Brack-Bernsen, Pentling/Germany, 2 Mar Günter Burg, Maur/Switzerland, 5 Feb Jef Vandenberghe, Amsterdam/, 5 Mar Bernard C. Rossier, Lausanne/Switzerland, 24 Feb Dieter Enders, Aachen/Germany, 17 Mar Peter Schuster, Vienna/Austria, 7 Mar Hans Lutz, Zurich/Switzerland, 20 Mar Fritz A.Henn, Upton, NY/USA, 26 Mar Peter H. Krammer, Heidelberg/Germany, 2 Apr Detlev Ganten, Berlin/Germany, 28 Mar Elisabeth Giacobino, Paris/France, 3 Apr Martin Röllinghoff, /Germany, 1 Apr Johannes Schubert, Halle (Saale)/Germany, 5 Apr Jörn Thiede, Copenhagen/Denmark, 14 Apr Ellen Fanning, Nashville, TN/USA, 10 Apr Jürgen Kocka, Berlin/Germany, 19 Apr Klaus Diedrich, Lübeck/Germany, 28 Apr Dietrich von Engelhard, Lübeck/Germany, 5 Apr Ulrich Schubert, Vienna/Austria, 26 May Friedrich A. Seifert, Berlin/Germany, 8 May James Robert Brown, London, Ontario/Canada, 30 May Karl Sperling, Berlin/Germany, 11 May Eva-Bettina Bröcker, Würzburg/Germany, 1 June Konrad Beyreuther, Heidelberg/Germany, 14 May Walter Michaeli, Aachen/Germany, 4 June Lutz Nover, Oberursel-Weisskirchen/Germany, 16 May Didier Astruc, Talence/France, 9 June Michel Eichelbaum, Stuttgart/Germany, 19 May Urs Boschung, Bern/Switzerland, 21 June Hans Föllmer, Berlin/Germany, 20 May Wilhelm Barthlott, Bonn/Germany, 22 June Hermann Wagner, Munich/Germany, 20 May Kyriacos C. Nicolaou, La Jolla, CA/USA, 5 July Ernst Th. Rietschel, Berlin/Germany, 21 May Hans Bertram, Berlin/Germany, 8 July Uta Frith, Harrow/UK, 25 May Michael Hecker, Greifswald/Germany, 9 July Heinz Saedler, Cologne/Germany, 3 June Thomas Börner, Berlin/Germany, 11 July Martyn M.Caldwell, Washington, DC/USA, 28 June Karsten Fehlhaber, Leipzig/Germany, 13 July Karl O.Stetter, Regensburg/Germany, 16 July Hans-Detlev Saeger, Dresden/Germany, 20 July Michael Stolleis, Kronberg/Germany, 20 July Paul Hoyningen-Huene, Zurich/Switzerland, 31 July D. Yves von Cramon, Munich, 21 July Klaus Höffken, Jena/Germany, 5 Aug Ernst-Ludwig Winnacker, Strasbourg/France, 26 July Heinz Schott, Bonn/Germany, 8 Aug Jules A. Hoffmann, Strasbourg, 2 Aug Bernard F. Schutz, Potsdam/Germany, 11 Aug István Klinghammer, Budapest/Hungary, 10 Aug Grigory E. Volovik, Helsinki/Finland, 7 Sept Gerd Assmann, Münster/Germany, 11 Aug , Piscataway, NJ/USA, 10 Sept Onora O‘Neill, London/UK, 23 Aug Pekka Juhani Saukko, Turku/Finland, 12 Oct Ernst-Detlef Schulze, Jena/Germany, 12 Sept Gottfried Schmalz, Regensburg/Germany, 13 Oct David Joseph Apple, Sullivan‘s Island, SC/USA, 14 Sept Ekhard K.H.Salje, Cambridge/UK, 20 Oct Jürgen Knop, Bad Kreuznach/Germany, 21 Sept Alfons Labisch, Düsseldorf/Germany, 20 Oct Rolf Kinne, Dortmund/Germany, 27 Sept Rolf Kreienberg, Ulm, 27 Oct Theodor W. Hänsch, Munich/Germany, 30 Oct Bernhard Kräutler, Innsbruck/Austria, 2 Nov Jürgen Baumert, Berlin/Germany, 3 Nov Walter Bär, Zurich/Switzerland, 7 Nov François Mathey, Singapore, 4 Nov Dieter Birnbacher, Düsseldorf/Germany, 21 Nov Pierre Albrecht, Strasbourg/France, 4 Nov Wolfgang Baumeister, Martinsried/Germany, 22 Nov Hannes Flühler, Zurich/Switzerland, 4 Dec Reinhard Graf, Stolzalpe/Austria, 25 Nov Rüdiger Wolfrum, Heidelberg/Germany, 13 Dec Michel Che, Paris/France, 29 Dec 12 01|2011 // Leopoldina / Newsletter

75th anniversary: Karl-Armin Tröger, Freiberg/Germany, 30 Nov Günter Schultz, Berlin/Germany, 23 Jan Karl Heinz Büchel, Burscheid/Germany, 10 Dec Samuel C. C. Ting, Geneva/Switzerland, 27 Jan Karlheinz Bauch, Chemnitz/Germany, 19 Feb 85th anniversary: Harald zur Hausen, Heidelberg/Germany, 11 Mar Emilie Jäger, Meikirch/Switzerland, 4 Jan Jean-Pierre Changeux, Paris/France, 6 Apr Hans Berckhemer, Bad Homburg/Germany, 16 Jan Peter Fulde, Dresden/Germany, 6 Apr Dietfried Jorke, Jena/Germany, 19 Feb Enno Christophers, /Germany, 7 Apr Martin Kramer, Wiesbaden/Germany, 22 Feb Detlef Petzoldt, Heidelberg/Germany, 21 Apr David H. Hubel, Boston, MA/USA, 27 Feb Fritz Melchers, Berlin/Germany, 27 Apr Daniel Kastler, Bandol/France, 4 Mar Volker Strassen, Dresden/Germany, 29 Apr Heinz A. Staab, Heidelberg/Germany, 26 Mar Dankwart Stiller, Halle (Saale)/Germany, 18 May Wolfgang Gerok, Freiburg i.Br./Germany, 27 Mar Günter Blobel, New York, NY/USA, 21 May Yutaka Sano, Kyoto/Japan, 18 Apr Paul Kleihues, Zurich/Switzerland, 21 May Klaus Riegel, Munich/Germany, 14 May Eckard Wimmer, East Setauket, NY/USA, 22 May Heinz Häfner, Heidelberg/Germany, 20 May Per Brandtzaeg, Oslo/Norway, 9 June Rudolf Kippenhahn, Göttingen/Germany, 24 May Ulrich Pfeifer, Bonn/Germany, 11 June Hans Dierck Waller, Tübingen/Germany, 29 May Bert Hölldobler, Würzburg/Germany, 25 June Rudolf Klöti, Zurich/Switzerland, 3 June Johannes Klammt, Schwerin/Germany, 27 June Erich Muscholl, Mainz/Germany, 3 July Meir Lahav, Rehovot/Israel, 27 June Erich Hecker, Heidelberg/Germany, 7 July Stefan Hildebrandt, St. Augustin, 13 July Mieczyslaw Wender, Poznan/, 26 July Günther Wolfram, Freising-Weihenstephan/Germany, 15 July Andreas Oksche, Gießen/Germany, 27 July Ulrich Lüttge, Mühltal/Germany, 16 July Heinz Fortak, Berlin/Germany, 11 Aug Rolf Ziegler, Feldafing/Germany, 22 July Klaus Dransfeld, Ermatingen/Switzerland, 12 Aug Wolfgang Künzel, Gießen/Germany, 28 July Genji Matsuda, Nagasaki/Japan, 28 Aug Hans G.Beger, Ulm/Germany, 10 Aug Rudolf Manfred Schmidt, Halle (Saale)/Germany, 6 Nov Meinhard Classen, Munich, 12 Aug Oleh Hornykiewicz, Vienna/Austria, 17 Nov Gottfried Schatz, Reinach/Switzerland, 18 Aug Arnulf Fritsch, Vienna/Austria, 21 Dec Peter Noll, Berlin/Germany, 9 Sept Rudolf Rigler, Stockholm/Sweden, 13 Sept 90th anniversary: Gerhard Ertl, Berlin/Germany, 10 Oct Hans Mau, Tübingen/Germany, 13 Jan Jürgen Mittelstraß, Konstanz/Germany, 11 Oct Paul Champagnat, Aubusson/France, 23 Jan Werner F.Kümmel, Udenheim/Germany, 17 Oct Harro Seyfarth, Leipzig/Germany, 6 Feb Erwin Schöpf, Freiburg i.Br./Germany, 18 Oct Jacques Friedel, Paris/France, 11 Feb Reinhard Kühnau, Halle (Saale)/Germany, 26 Oct Jacob Karl Frenkel, Santa Fe, NM/USA, 16 Feb Hiroaki Ueki, Okayama/Japan, 30 Oct Theodor O. Diener, Beltsville, MD/USA, 28 Feb Heinrich Soffel, Gauting/Germany, 30 Oct Siegfried Hünig, Würzburg/Germany, 3 Apr Klaus Rajewsky, Boston, MA/USA, 12 Nov Hans-Heinrich Voigt, Göttingen/Germany, 18 Apr Cornelis Jager, Den Burg/Netherlands, 29 Apr 80th anniversary: Karl Lennert, Kiel/Germany, 4 June Jürgen W. Spranger, Sinzheim/Germany, 1 Jan Albert Herz, Munich/Germany, 5 June Rolf Klötzler, Borsdorf/Germany, 11 Jan Helmut Rische, Wernigerode/Germany, 12 June Fritz Peter Schäfer, Göttingen/Germany, 15 Jan László Szekeres, Szeged/Hungary, 4 July Norbert Hilschmann, Göttingen/Germany, 8 Feb Gustav V.R. Born, London/UK, 29 July Gisbert Frhr. zu Putlitz, Heidelberg/Germany, 14 Feb Paul Hagenmuller, Pessac/France, 3 Aug Hubert E. Schroeder, Opfikon/Switzerland, 17 Feb Boris A. Lapin, Sochi-Adler/, 10 Aug Ikuo Ishiyama, Saitama/Japan, 27 Feb Christian Müller, Bern/Switzerland, 11 Aug Eberhard Schnepf, Heidelberg/Germany, 4 Apr Wolfgang Spann, Munich/Germany, 29 Aug Horst Köditz, Magdeburg/Germany, 6 May Gerhard Seifert, Hamburg/Germany, 9 Sept Johannes Eckert, Zurich/Switzerland, 14 May Johannes W. Rohen, Erlangen/Germany, 18 Sept Hanskarl Müller-Buschbaum, Kiel/Germany, 24 May Ekkehard Grundmann, Münster/Germany, 28 Sept Hans-Joachim Queisser, Stuttgart/Germany, 6 July Vince Varró, Szeged/Hungary, 13 Oct Malte E. Wigand, /Germany, 18 Aug Wilhelm Hasselbach, Heidelberg/Germany, 15 Oct Aleksandr S. Spirin, Pushchino/Russia, 4 Sept Konrad Seige, Lieskau/Germany, 27 Oct Leonhard Bittner, Greifswald/Germany, 9 Sept Friedrich Stelzner, Bonn/Germany, 4 Nov Rudolf Taube, Halle (Saale)/Germany, 11 Sept Joachim-Hermann Scharf, Halle (Saale)/Germany, 7 Nov Bruno Messerli, Zimmerwald/Switzerland, 17 Sept Kurt Schaffner, Mülheim/Germany, 6 Oct 91st anniversary: Charles Weissmann, Jupiter, FL/USA, 14 Oct Osamu Hayaishi, Osaka/Japan, 8 Jan Rudolf Hagemann, Halle (Saale)/Germany, 21 Oct Wilhelm Oelßner, Leipzig/Germany, 3 Mar 01|2011 // Leopoldina / Newsletter 13

Nicolaas Bloembergen, Tucson, AZ/USA, 11 Mar Leonid S. Rosenstrauch-Ross, Stamford, CT/USA, 8 Dec Werner Janzarik, Heidelberg/Germany, 3 June Siegfried Herzog, Greiz/Germany, 10 Dec Rolf Huisgen, Munich/Germany, 13 June Eduard Gitsch, Vienna/Austria, 3 Aug 94th anniversary: Stefania Jablonska, /Poland, 7 Sept Fritz Kümmerle, Mainz/Germany, 14 Feb Leopold G. Koss, New York, NY/USA, 2 Oct Hilgard O‘Reilly Sternberg, Berkeley, CA/USA, 5 July Saburo Nagakura, Kawasaki-shi/Japan, 3 Oct Christian Duve, Nethen/Belgium, 2 Oct Hugo L. Obwegeser, Schwerzenbach/Switzerland, 21 Oct Walter H. Munk, La Jolla, CA/USA, 19 Oct Otto Kandler, Munich, 23 Oct Sir Andrew F. Huxley, Cambridge/UK, 22 Nov Otto Mayrhofer, Vienna/Austria, 2 Nov Egbert Schmiedt, Grünwald/Germany, 20 Nov 95th anniversary: Paul Stevanovits, Budapest/Hungary, 24 Nov Heinz Jagodzinski, Munich/Germany, 20 Apr Hans Haller, Dresden/Germany, 17 Dec Hans-Werner Altmann, Würzburg/Germany, 7 June Yves Laporte, Paris/France, 17 Dec Paul Schölmerich, Mainz/Germany, 27 June Heinrich Köle, Graz/Austria, 24 Dec Niilo Hallman, Helsinki/Finland, 15 July Hisao Takayasu, Tokio/Japan, 26 Nov 92nd anniversary: G. Roberto Burgio, Pavia/Italy, 30 Apr 96th anniversary: Lubos Perek, Prague/Czech Republic, 26 July Karl Maramorosch, New Brunswick, NJ/USA, 16 Jan Hans-Jürgen Eichhorn, Berlin/Germany, 13 Sept Sakari Timonen, Helsinki/Finland, 17 Mar Kurt Unger, Quedlinburg/Germany, 20 Sept Shoji Shibata, Tokio/Japan, 23 Oct Wilhelm Künzer, Freiburg i.Br/Germany., 3 Nov Friedrich-Ernst Stieve, Munich/Germany, 5 Nov Simon N. Checinasvili, Tbilisi/Georgia, 26 Nov Hans Kuhn, Troistorrents/Switzerland, 5 Dec 97th anniversary: Klaus Betke, Lochham/Germany, 30 Oct 93rd anniversary: Heinz Kliewe, Greifswald/Germany, 15 Jan 98th anniversary: Maurice E. Müller, Bern/Switzerland, 28 Mar Britton Chance, Philadelphia, PA/USA, 24 July Harold Henkes, Voorst/Netherlands, 18 Apr Eugen Seibold, Freiburg i.Br./Germany, 11 May 99th anniversary: Ole Wasz-Höckert, Fuengirola/Spain, 28 Aug Vasilij V. Kuprijanov, Moscow/Russia, 1 June Jens Christian Skou, Risskov/Denmark, 8 Oct