Journal of ChemicalRuzha Technology Harizanova, and Metallurgy, Ivailo Gugov 50, 4, 2015, 345-356 PROF. CHRISTIAN RÜSSEL – ALWAYS ONE STEP AHEAD AND IN SEARCH OF SOMETHING NEW IN GLASS SCIENCE Ruzha Harizanova, Ivailo Gugov Department of Physics, Received 19 January 2015 University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, Accepted 20 May 2015 8 Kl. Ohridski, 1756 Sofia, Bulgaria E-mail:
[email protected] ABSTRACT The 18th Conference on Glass and Ceramics is dedicated to Prof. Christian Rüssel for his outstanding contributions to glass science and technology. Due to his close connections to Bulgarian scientists from Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy he was awarded the title Dr. h. c. of the University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy on September 29th, 2014, while on October 7th, 2014 he received the Golden Band Honorary Medal “Prof. Marin Drinov” from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Christian Rüssel was born on the 1st of August, 1952 in Nürnberg. He obtained his diploma in Chemistry in 1980. He is married to his wife Angela, who is also an engineer in glass and ceramics. He has a daughter Kathrin and two grandchildren, Clara and Johann. Between 1980 and 1992 C. Rüssel gathered tremendous scientific experience by successively joining the Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Erlangen University, the Fraunhofer Institute of Solar Energy, Freiburg and the Faculty of Engineering, Department of Materials Science, Erlangen. In 1992, he headed the Otto-Schott-Institut for Glass Chemistry, Jena where he organized four Otto Schott Colloquia. He was an active member of the management of the Friedrich Schiller University working as Dean of the Faculty of Chemistry and Geoscience (1996-1997) and Vice Rector of Research (2002-2004).