Dies academicus: Honors for outstanding dedication and scientific performance

TUM recognizes individuals of merit

TUM presented the following honors:

Honorary Senators

• Vigdis Nipperdey, attorney and municipal politician, was among the founding members of the TUM Board of Trustees (1998), at the time a first in the German university landscape. As Chairperson she worked energetically and enthusiastically for a contemporary reform policy whose impact is visible today in the successful example of TUM.

• Prof. Dr.-Ing. Robert and Renate Schmucker have used their own private funds to support needy individuals in difficult situations. Exemplary is also their effort as patrons of the TUM University Foundation. Robert Schmucker is professor for aeronautics technologies at TUM and founder of the Scientific Workgroup for Rocketry and Spaceflight (WARR).

• State minister (ret.) Dr. Otto Wiesheu was a member of the Bavarian state government from 1990 to 2005 and a member of the TUM Board of Trustees from 2007 to 2015. During this time he contributed decisively to the development of the Garching and Freising-Weihenstephan sites and built new bridges between science and business.

Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Medal

TUM presents the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Medal for outstanding scientific achievements.

• Prof. Dr. Thomas Misgeld investigates the question of how cellular extensions (axons) and their connection points (synapses) deteriorate in neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis and during normal brain development.

• Prof. Dr. Xiaoxiang Zhu has developed new methods for monitoring natural hazards, for urban mapmaking and for analysis of urbanization dynamics in her research field, the signal processing in earth observation.

Karl Max von Bauernfeind Medal

The Karl Max von Bauernfeind Medal is awarded to individuals who have rendered great service to the university through their exceptional dedication; this year's recipients are:

• Franz Aicher, Priest (ret.), for his unusual and lasting achievements related to the preservation of the historical structures of the former Cistercian monastery Raitenhaslach and for his support in the establishment of the TUM Science and Study Center now located there.

• Gerda Corches, secretary to the Chancellor, for her outstanding dedication and her many years of loyal and professional career service.

• Monika Partsch, head of the Vocational Training Center (AUTUM) for her extraordinary dedication to vocational education.

• Johann Wittner, Chairman of the General Staff Council, for his dedicated work in personnel committees and administrative bodies.

Ludwig Medal

On the occasion of its 150th anniversary TUM is distributing the limited edition Ludwig Medal for substantial efforts during the anniversary year:

• Dr. Veronika Diem, University Library, for her exceptional volunteer commitment to the TUM program for refugees (Silver Ludwig Medal).

• Tanja Jovanovic, Central Department for Real Estate, for her highly dedicated efforts in the renovation of TUM's older buildings and in particular in the reinforcement of historical buildings on the main Munich campus (Gold Ludwig Medal).

• Klaus Tschira Foundation for the generous contribution made to the renovation of the historical clock tower in order to house the “Tschira Forum” in a highly impressive location representing the stature of TUM (Gold Ludwig Medal).

• Dr. Clarissa Ruge, President's Representative for Image and Marketing, for her innovative films contributed to the TUM anniversary celebration (Gold Ludwig Medal).

Dr. Karl Wamsler Innovation Award

TUM and Clariant present the Dr. Karl Wamsler Innovation Award for excellence in the field of catalysis. The award is endowed with 50,000 Euros.

This year Prof. Stephen L. Buchwald, Ph.D., of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), was honored for the coupling reaction bearing his name, the Buchwald-Hartwing Coupling, the catalysis of carbon-nitrogen and carbon-oxygen bonds with organometallic catalysts based on copper and palladium.

Friedrich Schiedel Prize for Politics and Technology

For the first time the Friedrich Schiedel Foundation and TUM have presented the Friedrich Schiedel Prize for Politics and Technology, which honors outstanding individuals who have contributed to deepening the understanding of the mutual interactions of politics, society and technology. The prize is endowed with 30,000 Euros and includes a guest residency at the TUM School of Governance.

The winner is Prof. Helen Margetts, Ph.D., professor at Oxford University and Director of the Public Policy Program at the Alan Turing Institute in London, for her pioneering work on political behaviors and institutions in the age of the internet, social media and data science.

TUM Supervisory Award

The new TUM Supervisory Award honors exemplary supervision of doctoral candidates. It was created by the TUM Graduate Council, which represents the doctoral candidates. The endowment of 5,000 Euros is funded by the TUM Graduate School.

The first to win the prize is Prof. Dr. Bernhard Wolfrum, professor for neuroelectronics, who is being honored in particular for his intensive work with "his" doctoral candidates, his promotion of studies abroad and contributions to conferences as well as an excellent working atmosphere.

Prize for outstanding young researchers

The Johannes B. Ortner Foundation awards a prize for outstanding young researchers at TUM. This year's winners:

• Verena Gaukler, Department of Architecture, for her Master's thesis on the "Harder Kultur-Bastei" on the Ingolstadt city walls.

• Dr. med. Katharina Hollerieth, TUM School of Medicine, for her doctoral thesis on preclinical and clinical evaluation of factors influencing shear wave elastography using the example of renal transplants.

• Beatrice Stefanie Ludwig, Department of Chemistry, for her Master's thesis on integrin ligands for coating biomaterials.

• Katharina Niggl, Department of Civil, Geo and Environmental Engineering, for her Master's thesis on tempered silt from the manufacture of kaolin and its application as a puzzolanic additive.

• Katharina Paul, TUM School of Management, for her Master's thesis on the economic viability of autonomous on-demand mobility business models.

• Stefan Pieczonka, TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, for his Master's thesis on the characterization of biomarkers in biotically stressed potatoes.

August Föppl-Medal

TUM presents the August Föppl Medal for outstanding contributions to professional training: This year's winners are:

• Brigitte Goldbach, Personnel and Accountancy Office of the Department of Chemistry, for her exemplary performance in professional training for commercial professionals and her dedicated and effective support of the training center.

• Andrea Hartung, Chair of Energy Systems, for her exemplary performance in professional training for chemistry laboratory assistants and her dedicated and effective support for the Erasmus exchange program for trainees.

• Heidemarie Hermann, Personnel and Accountancy Office of the Department of Chemistry, for her exemplary performance in professional training for commercial professionals and her dedicated and effective support of the training center.

• Jens Krüger, FRM II, for his exemplary performance in professional training for IT specialists and his support of the training center when participating in vocational training fairs.

• Dr. Caroline Leiß, University Library, for her exemplary performance in professional training for specialist staff for media and information services.

• Hans Münstermann, head of the Glassblowers Workshop of the Department of Chemistry, for his exemplary performance in professional training for glass equipment makers, including a 2017 national award winner.

• Hubert Walter, Research Center Weihenstephan for Brewing and Food Quality, for his exemplary performance in professional training for chemistry laboratory assistants, including a 2017 Chamber of Commerce and Industry award winner.

• Dr. Elisabeth Windeisen-Holzhauser, Wood Research Center, for her exemplary performance in professional training for chemistry laboratory assistants and her dedicated and effective support for more sensitive trainees.

More Information:

Awards and Honors at TUM