Prof. Dr. Stefanie Dehnen from the Department of Chemistry at the Philipps University of Marburg will be the new Vice President of the German Chemical Society (GDCh) as of January 1, 2020. The GDCh has around 31,000 members who actively and sustainably contribute their expertise to science, politics and society and promote interdisciplinary and international cooperation.
The Vice Presidents are elected from the Executive Board for a term of two years. Dehnen received by far the most votes in the board election in the summer of 2019. “Naturally, I was very pleased about this and I feel extremely honored,” says Dehnen.
In addition to active chemists, the voters included students, young as well as retired chemists. “I would like to express my deep gratitude for the great trust placed in me. The election results make me feel obliged to do everything in my power to support our wonderful subject and its role in science, politics and society,” says Dehnen.
The decision not to run for president during this term is explained by her strong involvement in numerous other panels and commissions, in addition to her research and teaching duties, which she also wishes to do justice to. She is now looking forward to working with Prof. Peter Schreiner from the Justus Liebig University in Giessen, who has been elected as the new President of the GDCh. “For many years we have been bound by very fruitful scientific collaborations and joint work in scientific committees,” adds Dehnen.
Stefanie Dehnen is Professor of Inorganic Chemistry and Director of the Scientific Center for Materials Science at Philipps University. Her research group deals with the synthesis and characterization of inorganic and organometallic multicomponent cluster compounds.
Stefanie Dehnen is Professor of Inorganic Chemistry and Director of the Scientific Center for Materials Science at Philipps University. Her research group deals with the synthesis and characterization of inorganic and organometallic multicomponent cluster compounds.
Dehnen is active in numerous committees, including the German Research Foundation (DFG) since 2016. In addition, she is a reviewer for various scientific societies, institutes and all relevant journals in Germany and abroad. The university lecturer and mother of four is also active in wide-ranging communication of scientific issues: Dehnen is director of the “Chemikum Marburg” hands-on laboratory.
“I consider it extremely important to strengthen the visibility of chemistry in politics and society and to make it even clearer than before that we are representatives of an incomparably central subject that furthermore ranges from fascinating and innovative basic research to cutting-edge and sustainable developments in the chemical industry,” says Dehnen.In her new position as Vice President of the GDCh, she seeks to promote a more attractive public image of the subject and even better professional and structural networking nationally and internationally, also with regard to young scientists. “We should act with a healthy self-awareness and grow more aware of our mediating role – especially in times of new political and social boundaries, which we are currently experiencing,” says Dehnen.