Professor Bolm, you decided early on to pursue a career in chemistry, became a university lecturer and have remained in this field for over thirty years. Would you choose the same path again?
Yes, it has always been the right choice for me. I can conduct my research at my own discretion and support talented young people in their development: these are advantages I enjoy every day. It is not a nine-to-five job; you are always challenged, and occasionally my team thinks I work too hard. There is a trend among young people to turn their backs on academia and look for a quieter job. I try to counteract this, among other things with my lecture ‘Why you should stay at university’. I will be giving it again soon. 

What are your main arguments in favour of a career in academia?
Freedom of thought and the opportunity to do what you like best in your job. 

What sparked your enthusiasm for research and chemistry in particular?
There were no role models in my family. But my parents gave me chemistry sets and I was allowed to buy all the chemicals I needed for my experiments at a nearby pharmacy. That wouldn’t be possible today; adults would consider it too risky, but in the 1960s and 1970s it wasn’t a problem. I owe a lot to my biology teacher. She was doing a PhD in microbiology and taught biology with a strong focus on chemistry. Her fascination was contagious, and at some point I realised: I’m going to be a chemist.

 © Carsten Bolm

Carsten Bolm’s large, internationally diverse working group in front of the institute building.

It seems that you pursued this plan with determination.
It may seem that way from the outside. I myself felt quite erratic during that time. I moved eight times, in Germany, Switzerland and the USA, and nowhere did I stay longer than two years. The fact that this led to an academic career has a lot to do with luck, with meeting the right people at the right time. 

You mentioned the fascination of chemistry. What exactly fascinates you?
Chemistry requires both brainpower and manual dexterity, a wonderful combination. It is also the only discipline in which new substances are constantly being created – substances that did not exist before. That never ceases to inspire me. 

You are an organic chemist, but you also work in mechanochemistry. How do the two fit together?
At the beginning of an academic career, you have to specialise in a few research questions in order to gain a profile and visibility in the professional world. Later, I gradually expanded my spectrum, including in the direction of mechanochemistry. It is often used in the geosciences, for example when it comes to grinding materials energy-efficiently and without solvents using a ball mill. Twenty years ago, this was still uncharted territory in organic synthesis chemistry, but today mechanochemistry is regarded as a significant methodological advancement. In my working group, we use the process to improve existing synthesis methods and to discover new ground in chemistry – the unusual reaction conditions in the ball mills are good for a few surprises.

  © Carsten Bolm

How do such new approaches emerge at your institute?
Often through interdisciplinary exchange. When searching for new active substances to combat diseases, for example, I work a lot with medical professionals. Sulphur chemistry plays a central role in this, for example in the development of new tuberculosis inhibitors. Thanks to interdisciplinary cooperation, we have been able to significantly expand the substrate range of sulfoximines, which are particularly suitable for use in medicinal chemistry and plant protection. We also collaborate with engineers, for example in the recently reconfirmed RWTH Excellence Cluster Integrated Fuel & Chemical Science Center, or FSC2 for short. Here, we support the development of environmentally friendly liquid energy sources. Whether at our own university or as part of large EU projects, we always rely on high-calibre, reliable partners. And that suits us very well. 

What role do contacts with industry play in your work?
A very important one. I would even say that without industry contacts, it would be impossible to work in my field. My working group, for example, has close contacts with the pharmaceutical industry in order to jointly develop new active substances. A plant protection company is currently testing a new class of compounds discovered in our laboratories. And like many other chemistry institutes at German universities, we benefit greatly from the Chemical Industry Fund in promoting young academics. It awards prizes and grants, which is very important for our young scientists. 

How do you see Germany’s position as a centre for chemistry? 
We are concerned that the large chemical companies are offering fewer and fewer jobs for our graduates. But if you look long enough, you will find something – this is especially true for chemists with doctorates. These are often positions in smaller companies. Overall, the industry is suffering from enormous energy costs and many companies are currently considering relocating abroad. Rapid political intervention to reduce costs would be helpful. 

Almost 30 years ago, you accepted a professorship at RWTH and stayed despite other offers. What kept you in Aachen? 
The strong location, good research conditions and high quality of life. I come from Braunschweig, did my habilitation in Basel and dreamed of a life in southwestern Germany. But I ended up in Aachen. At the time, I thought that if an offer came from Freiburg, I would sign it blindly. A little later, the call from Freiburg actually came. The RWTH made such a generous counteroffer that I couldn’t say no. Another offer followed – but once again, RWTH was better. And over time, I have come to really appreciate the city, its proximity to Belgium and the Rhineland. 

How did you come to the GDNÄ?
Through a phone call a year and a half ago. Michael Dröscher, a chemist like me and long-time secretary general of the GDNÄ, asked me if I would be interested in working with them. I was familiar with the GDNÄ at the time, but I didn’t have a clear picture of its goals. I think that’s the case for many people at universities. I then travelled to the meeting in Potsdam and found it extremely successful. I was impressed by the interaction between the disciplines and the appreciative cooperation between young and old – I had never experienced anything like it before. The GDNÄ’s Young Network was founded in Potsdam and has developed magnificently since then. It immediately gives you lots of new ideas. 

Such as?
Perhaps we will be able to organise a series of lectures on topics related to modern chemistry in Aachen, together with representatives of the jGDNÄ. If that works, it could also be a format for other university cities. Another idea would be to send GNDÄ members on lecture tours to German universities in order to put the society and the jGDNÄ in the university spotlight. 

You were elected to the GDNÄ Executive Board as representative for chemistry. What do you want to achieve in this role? 
One of my main tasks at the moment is to recruit top-class chemists to give lectures on their research that are as accessible as possible for the 2026 meeting in Bremen. The topics should be current and of interdisciplinary interest. It’s a wonderful position and fits in perfectly with my goal: I want to make chemistry more visible – in science and in the public eye – and the GDNÄ along with it.

  © Stefanie Zimmer

The laboratory as a place of learning: Dr Renè Hommelsheim (right) answers Christian Keiser’s questions about sulphur chemistry.

How do such new approaches emerge at your institute?
Often through interdisciplinary exchange. When searching for new active substances to combat diseases, for example, I work a lot with medical professionals. Sulphur chemistry plays a central role in this, for example in the development of new tuberculosis inhibitors. Thanks to interdisciplinary cooperation, we have been able to significantly expand the substrate range of sulfoximines, which are particularly suitable for use in medicinal chemistry and plant protection. We also collaborate with engineers, for example in the recently reconfirmed RWTH Excellence Cluster Integrated Fuel & Chemical Science Center, or FSC2 for short. Here, we support the development of environmentally friendly liquid energy sources. Whether at our own university or as part of large EU projects, we always rely on high-calibre, reliable partners. And that suits us very well. 

What role do contacts with industry play in your work?
A very important one. I would even say that without industry contacts, it would be impossible to work in my field. My working group, for example, has close contacts with the pharmaceutical industry in order to jointly develop new active substances. A plant protection company is currently testing a new class of compounds discovered in our laboratories. And like many other chemistry institutes at German universities, we benefit greatly from the Chemical Industry Fund in promoting young academics. It awards prizes and grants, which is very important for our young scientists. 

How do you see Germany’s position as a centre for chemistry? 
We are concerned that the large chemical companies are offering fewer and fewer jobs for our graduates. But if you look long enough, you will find something – this is especially true for chemists with doctorates. These are often positions in smaller companies. Overall, the industry is suffering from enormous energy costs and many companies are currently considering relocating abroad. Rapid political intervention to reduce costs would be helpful. 

Almost 30 years ago, you accepted a professorship at RWTH and stayed despite other offers. What kept you in Aachen? 
The strong location, good research conditions and high quality of life. I come from Braunschweig, did my habilitation in Basel and dreamed of a life in southwestern Germany. But I ended up in Aachen. At the time, I thought that if an offer came from Freiburg, I would sign it blindly. A little later, the call from Freiburg actually came. The RWTH made such a generous counteroffer that I couldn’t say no. Another offer followed – but once again, RWTH was better. And over time, I have come to really appreciate the city, its proximity to Belgium and the Rhineland. 

How did you come to the GDNÄ?
Through a phone call a year and a half ago. Michael Dröscher, a chemist like me and long-time secretary general of the GDNÄ, asked me if I would be interested in working with them. I was familiar with the GDNÄ at the time, but I didn’t have a clear picture of its goals. I think that’s the case for many people at universities. I then travelled to the meeting in Potsdam and found it extremely successful. I was impressed by the interaction between the disciplines and the appreciative cooperation between young and old – I had never experienced anything like it before. The GDNÄ’s Young Network was founded in Potsdam and has developed magnificently since then. It immediately gives you lots of new ideas. 

Such as?
Perhaps we will be able to organise a series of lectures on topics related to modern chemistry in Aachen, together with representatives of the jGDNÄ. If that works, it could also be a format for other university cities. Another idea would be to send GNDÄ members on lecture tours to German universities in order to put the society and the jGDNÄ in the university spotlight. 

You were elected to the GDNÄ Executive Board as representative for chemistry. What do you want to achieve in this role? 
One of my main tasks at the moment is to recruit top-class chemists to give lectures on their research that are as accessible as possible for the 2026 meeting in Bremen. The topics should be current and of interdisciplinary interest. It’s a wonderful position and fits in perfectly with my goal: I want to make chemistry more visible – in science and in the public eye – and the GDNÄ along with it.