BuMa_2008_06 - Deutsche Bunsengesellschaft für Physikalische ...

DEUTSCHE BUNSEN-GESELLSCHAFT
Klaus Funke
Grußadresse der Bunsen-Gesellschaft anlässlich der
Verleihung der Theodor-Förster-Gedächtnisvorlesung
und des Albert-Weller Preises
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Traditionally, the Theodor Förster Lecture as well as the Albert
Weller prize are jointly awarded by the Photochemistry Division
of the German Chemical Society and the German Society
for Physical Chemistry, the Deutsche Bunsen-Gesellschaft für
Physikalische Chemie.
On this occasion, it is my pleasure to be with you here today,
representing Deutsche Bunsen-Gesellschaft and conveying
the Society’s best wishes and regards to you all.
What’s the reason behind the idea of jointly awarding those
two prizes by our two societies? Well, the answer is simple. In
nature, there are no boundaries between, say, physical chemistry
and photochemistry. Likewise, there are no boundaries
between physics and chemistry. And, indeed, the hallmarks of
both physics and chemistry are apparent in the excellent work
done by the two scientists who are being awarded today.
Professor Masahiro Irie from Rikkyo University, Tokyo, is highly
renowned for his outstanding work in the fi eld of photochromic
TAG U N G EN
materials, which have the property of behaving as optical
switches and the potential of being applied in storage devices.
Today, the very prestigious Theodor Förster Lecture is awarded
to him. It is my honour and pleasure to congratulate you,
Professor Irie, on behalf of Deutsche Bunsen-Gesellschaft and
also personally.
In his PhD thesis, Dr. Philipp Zacharias from the University of
Cologne has been building on Professor Irie’s work, preparing
new optical devices and explaining their function. In recognition
of his work, he is awarded the Albert Weller prize. It is my pleasure
to congratulate you as well, Dr. Zacharias, again both
personally and on behalf of Deutsche Bunsen-Gesellschaft.
Prof. Dr. Klaus Funke
Universität Münster
Institut für Physikalische Chemie
Correnstr. 30, 48149 Münster
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