Ten female and twelve male scientists have accepted their election into the National Academy of Science and Engineering. Their appointment is a distinction and an honorary role: acatech members bring their scientific expertise to bear in advising policymakers and society.
The scientists were elected into the Academy at the acatech General Assembly on the strength of their research accomplishments and reputation. They enhance the interdisciplinary expertise of acatech in a wide variety of fields that are important when it comes to providing comprehensive advice in relation to innovation: their specialist fields range from quantum research to engineering disciplines and on to fundamental issues relating to the technological sciences.
acatech President Jan Wörner welcomes the new members of the Academy:
The vote of the General Assembly was unanimous. I am grateful that all elected scientists have accepted: their outstanding expertise will underpin the science-based advice that acatech provides to policymakers and society. In addition, there has been another huge increase in the challenges facing research and innovation. I would like to thank our new as well as all our existing members for their active commitment to acatech.
Jan Wörner, acatech Präsident
The following have been elected into the National Academy of Science and Engineering as ordinary members:
Monika Aidelsburger, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and Max Planck Institute, Leader Quantum Optics Group at the Faculty of Physics: her research area is quantum simulation. Aged 35, she is the youngest member to be appointed into acatech.
Gianaurelio Cuniberti, Dresden University of Technology, Professor of Materials Science and Nanotechnology at the Institute of Materials Science: his areas of research are new materials for nanoelectronics.
Stefanos Fasoulas, University of Stuttgart, Managing Director at the Institute of Space Systems, Professor of Space Transportation Technology: his areas of research are space engineering and systems.
Veronika Grimm, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), holder of the Chair of Economics, in particular Economic Theory: her research areas are energy economics, game theory and behavioural economics. Veronika Grimm is a member of the German Council of Economic Experts.
Jürgen Groll, University of Würzburg, Institute of Functional Materials and Biofabrication, holder of the Chair of Functional Materials in Medicine and Dentistry. His research areas include biofabrication, renewable materials and polymer biomaterials.
Stefanie Heiden, Leibniz University Hannover, holder of the Chair and Head of the Institute of Innovation Research, Technology Management & Entrepreneurship ITE. Her areas of research are sustainable innovation, entrepreneurship, technology convergence and decoupling of growth and resource/energy use, bioeconomy, agile process architectures in the life sciences, sustainable finance, acceleration, de-risking & innovation financing and diffusion.
Doris Heinrich, Institute for Bioprocess and Analytical Measurement Technology (iba) and Technische Universität Ilmenau, Director of the iba and Professor of Biotechnical Micro- and Nanosystems in Life Sciences: her areas of research are health technology, biotechnology, biophysics, bio(quantum)sensing and 4D tissue engineering.
Katharina Hölzle, Head of the Institute of Human Factors and Technology Management IAT at the University of Stuttgart and Member of the Executive Board Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO. Her areas of research are technology and innovation management, human factors and digitalisation.
Niels Hovius, Helmholtz Centre Potsdam German Research Centre for Geosciences GFZ, Geomorphology Section: his areas of research are geomorphology, carbon cycle, natural hazards and climate change impact.
Dieter Krause, Hamburg University of Technology, Head of the Institute of Product Development and Mechanical Engineering Design and currently Chairman of the Board of WiGeP (Scientific Society for Product Development): his research areas are development methods, modular product architectures, structural analysis and test engineering in the application fields of aviation, mechanical and plant engineering and medical technology.
Ilka Parchmann, Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education, Head of the Department of Chemistry Education: her areas of research are formal and non-formal learning, teacher education and science communication.
Jürgen Richter-Gebert, Technical University of Munich, holder of the Chair of Geometry and Visualisation at the Department of Mathematics: his fields of research are computer-aided geometry as well as interactive educational software.
Tobias Schäffter, National Metrology Institute (PTB), Head of the Institut Berlin; TU Berlin and Einstein Center Digital Future: his fields of research are digital medicine and imaging technology, especially quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (qMRI) as well as artificial intelligence and its approval for use in medical devices.
Christine Selhuber-Unkel, Heidelberg University, Institute for Molecular Systems Engineering and Advanced Materials (IMSEAM): her areas of research are 3D structured materials, biomaterials and biohybrid systems.
Hartmut Weyer, Clausthal University of Technology, Director of the Institute of German and International Mining and Energy Law: his areas of research are energy regulation, renewable energy and climate protection, circular economy and recycling.
Wil van der Aalst, RWTH Aachen University, holder of the Chair of Computer Science – Process and Data Science: his areas of research are computer science and data science.
The followed have been elected as extraordinary members:
Myles W. Jackson, Institute for Advanced Study (Princeton, NJ), Albers-Schönberg Professor in the History of Science: his fields of research are history of science and technology.
Sami Kara, The University of New South Wales, Researcher/Lecturer at the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering: his areas of research are energy and resource efficiency in manufacturing, decarbonisation, circular economy and industrial symbiosis, disassembly, reuse and recycling, life cycle assessment and costing.
Ulrike Kuhlmann, University of Stuttgart, Head of the Institute of Construction and Design: her specialist fields are building construction and architecture.
Elisabeth Merk, Urban Development Councillor of the state capital Munich, Department of Urban Planning and Building Regulation; Honorary Professor at the Hochschule für Technik (HFT) Stuttgart and at the Technical University of Munich: the focus of her work and fields of research are urban planning and architecture.
Helga Rübsamen-Schaeff, founder of biotech company AiCuris AG, member of the Supervisory Board, member of the Board of Partners of E. Merck KG, Supernumary Professor of Biochemistry, Pharmacy, Food Chemistry at Goethe University Frankfurt: her areas of research are virology and bacteriology.
Chi Zhang, Tongji University, Founding Dean & Academic Committee Chair at the School of Chemical Science and Engineering: his specialist area is chemistry.
This year the proportion of female scientists among the new acatech members exceeded 45 per cent. acatech has thus surpassed the target set in its action plan for equality within the Academy to propose at least 30 per cent female scientists for appointment as new acatech members.
