Beaming faces, moving speeches, and outstanding research achievements: This year’s graduation ceremony for the Chemistry programs of the TUM School of Natural Sciences honored more than 90 graduates from the programs in Biochemistry, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, and Food Chemistry in a festive setting. The celebration took place in the Hans Fischer Lecture Hall on Garching campus and was charmingly hosted by Ole Fleischhauer and Marina Ruoff (MPIC, the student council of Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science and Chemistry).
Department Head Prof. Tom Nilges opened the ceremony with a welcoming speech, in which he not only congratulated the graduates and their families, but also highlighted the development of the TUM School of Natural Sciences (NAT). With a wink, he reflected on the founding process of NAT, emphasized the interdisciplinary collaboration – especially with the Max Planck Institutes – and pointed to the continuously growing infrastructure of the Garching campus. He also proudly mentioned the stable number of students and NAT's involvement in several Excellence Clusters.
Evonik Research Award
A highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of the Evonik Research Award, presented by Dr. Christoph Weckbecker of Evonik Industries. In his speech, he emphasized the close cooperation between Evonik and TUM – particularly in the field of battery research – and introduced the Evonik-TUM mentoring program.
Johanna Reich was honored for her key role in a collaborative research center in Karlsruhe, as highlighted by laudator Prof. Barbara Lechner. Jonas Futter was recognized for his work on CO₂ conversion, which has also been incorporated into a startup. His laudation was given by Prof. Cathleen Zeymer on behalf of Prof. Bernhard Rieger.
Graduates’ Speech: Studying with Curiosity and Humor
Jannik Husemann (BSc Chemistry) and Emmanuel Basler (BSc Biochemistry) offered the student perspective.
In an emotional yet humorous speech, they looked back on their shared time at university. They recalled challenging lectures, such as General and Inorganic Chemistry or Organic Chemistry 2, quirky lab experiences, and the many small moments that shaped their studies. Despite all the hardships, it was above all the sense of togetherness that carried them through.
They also emphasized the importance of internships, study sessions in the library, and evenings spent together at the local Greek restaurant. It wasn’t just about coffee – friendships were formed, and achievements celebrated – sometimes even together with professors.
A special thanks was extended to the lecturers, research staff, as well as families and friends who had supported the students over the years. The speech ended with a symbolic message from chemistry: "The right connections make all the difference."
Scientific Lecture on Enzyme Design
Prof. Cathleen Zeymer captivated the audience with a scientific lecture on the topic "Enzyme Design: Biocatalysts from the Computer." She demonstrated how computer-assisted methods and AI-supported algorithms can be used to develop tailor-made enzymes – with applications ranging from biopharmaceuticals to green chemistry.
Her examples ranged from vanillin to rare earths, including an artificial cerium enzyme for photoredox catalysis – offering a vivid insight into the present and future of biocatalysis.
Study Awards for Outstanding Achievements
Following the formal awarding of graduation certificates by the Academic Program Directors (APDs), prizes for the best academic achievements were awarded, donated by the Jürgen Manchot Foundation. The study prizes were awarded to:
- Emanuel Basler (Biochemistry, BSc)
- David Focht (Chemistry, BSc)
- Maximilian Mittel (Chemical Engineering, BSc)
- Ramona Dandl & Benedikt Müller (Biochemistry, MSc)
- Theresa Bloehs & Nina Stockinger (Chemistry, MSc)
- Anna Maria Denk & Benedikt Hofer (Chemical Engineering, MSc)
The heartfelt laudations were delivered by professors as well as doctoral candidates. A special highlight was the laudation by TUM Junior Fellow Dr. Romy Ettlinger for Theresa Bloehs, who was honored with a pineapple – in fitting tribute to her research topic – decorated with her achievements and experiences.
Musical Conclusion with the “Old’s Cool BigBand”
The celebration concluded with refreshments, drinks, and lively musical entertainment by the “Old’s Cool BigBand” – made up of TUM professors – in front of the lecture hall.
Special thanks to the sponsors of the event: Evonik Industries and the Jürgen Manchot Foundation.
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