Award for the chemist, catalysis researcher and future President of the GDNÄ

At the annual meeting of the National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina in Halle, Professor Ferdi Schüth was newly elected to the Academy’s Presidium. The chemist and catalysis researcher is Director at the Max Planck Institute for Coal Research in Mülheim. As the current Vice-President of the Society of German Natural Scientists and Physicians, he will take over the presidency of the GDNÄ in January 2027. The thematic focus of the Leopoldina Annual Meeting 2025 was artificial intelligence. 

In addition to Ferdi Schüth, Professors Thomas Lengauer and immunobiologist Thomas Boehm were also elected Vice-Presidents at the Leopoldina Annual Meeting on 25 and 26 September. Mathematician and computer scientist Lengauer gave the Leopoldina Lecture at the GDNÄ Annual Meeting 2018 in Saarbrücken on the topic of statistical data analysis in the age of big data. 

Ferdi Schüth’s research focuses on hydrogen storage, among other topics. He has developed innovative storage solutions and materials that enable the safe and efficient storage of hydrogen, thereby supporting the use of fuel cells and renewable energies. 

The Leopoldina is managed by an Executive Board and a Presidium. The Presidium meets at least four times a year and prepares all important decisions of the Academy. The members of the Presidium are elected by the Senate and serve a five-year term. They may be re-elected once. The Executive Board consists of the President and the Vice-Presidents. They are elected for a term of five years. They may be re-elected once.