Award for catalysis research
Dr. Karl Wamsler Innovation Award honors Frances H. Arnold and Tao Zhang
Frances H. Arnold is Professor at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). She received the award in recognition of her groundbreaking contributions to biocatalysis and the directed evolution of enzymes.
Tao Zhang is Director of the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He was honored in particular for his pioneering work in pioneering and establishing the concept of single-atom catalysis.
Award honors chemist and philanthropist
The award, endowed with 50,000 euros, is named after Dr. Karl Wamsler. One of the most influential figures in postwar german chemistry, Wamsler was also a generous supporter of science and the arts. In 2015, TUM named him an Honorary Senator. Established in 2017 by TUM and Clariant in memory of the chemist and entrepreneur, the Dr. Karl Wamsler Innovation Award aims to promote outstanding achievements in catalysis research, including biocatalysis and white biotechnology.
Previous recipients include Prof. Matthias Beller, Prof. Stephen L. Buchwald, Prof. Wolfgang A. Herrmann, Prof. Yang Shao-Horn, Prof. Kyoko Nozaki, Prof. Matthew J. Gaunt, Prof. Veronique van Speybroeck, and Prof. Bert M. Weckhuysen.
Catalysis is among the most societally relevant fields of research. By enabling the targeted acceleration of chemical reactions, it underpins a wide range of industrial processes that contribute to the efficient use of energy and natural resources.
“The award will continue and expand to early-career researchers”
Conrad Keijzer, CEO of Clariant, said: “We are proud to see how the Dr. Karl Wamsler Innovation Award has developed over the past decade, honoring outstanding researchers from around the world and earning international recognition along the way. I am especially pleased that the award will continue in the years ahead and be expanded to include early-career researchers, allowing us to support outstanding scientific talent at an earlier stage of their careers.
TUM President Prof. Thomas F. Hofmann said: “Whether addressing climate change, strengthening technological sovereignty, or advancing sustainable energy systems: the major challenges of our time can only be overcome through scientific breakthroughs and innovative solutions. Catalysis is one of the key enabling technologies that make this transformation possible. I am therefore deeply grateful for Clariant’s continued generous support, which enables us to foster researchers whose expertise and inventiveness help shape this transformation.”
President
Learn more about President Thomas F. Hofmann by watching current videos, listening to speeches, and reading publications. Take advantage of opportunities for personal interaction.
- Information on the Dr. Karl Wamsler Innovation Award and previous recipients:
- The TUM Catalysis Research Center
Technical University of Munich
Corporate Communications Center
- Anja Lapac
- anja.lapac@tum.de
- presse@tum.de
- Teamwebsite
