In July 2026, the TUM School of Natural Sciences honored its graduates in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Food Chemistry, and Chemical Engineering with a festive ceremony featuring numerous awards, inspiring speeches, and a celebratory program. Students, family members, faculty, and staff gathered in the fully packed Hans Fischer Lecture Hall to celebrate the successful completion of an important chapter in their lives.

Right from the start, hosts Marina Ruoff and Emanuel Basler set a warm and cheerful tone. “We’re delighted to see such a full house - almost like an Organic Chemistry II lecture back in your studies,” Marina Ruoff remarked with a smile as she welcomed the graduates, their families, professors, Academic Program Directors, and guests.

After introducing the program, Department Head Prof. Tom Nilges officially opened the ceremony. In his address, he first acknowledged the dedication of the organizing team from the TUM School of Natural Sciences and highlighted the School’s diverse activities and future development opportunities. He also addressed the graduates’ parents with particular warmth: “We were very happy with your children and greatly enjoyed educating them,” said Nilges, drawing enthusiastic applause from the audience. He was followed by Vice Dean of Academic & Student Affairs Prof. Fritz Kühn, who presented current figures and developments within the degree programs before surprising the audience by awarding the Ernst Otto Fischer Award for Excellence in Teaching to Prof. Tom Nilges. The honor came as a complete surprise to the recipient.

The ceremony then continued with the presentation of the Evonik Research Award. Dr. Daniel Witthaut first introduced Evonik and discussed some of today’s most pressing challenges, emphasizing the importance of collaboration: “Only by working together will we be able to overcome the challenges we currently face.” At the same time, he highlighted the essential role of research and innovation in the company’s success: “Evonik’s contribution is built on research and innovation.” He then handed over to Dr. Peter Coburger, who read the laudatory speech written by Dr. Terry Hadlington for Till Kalkuhl, this year’s recipient of the Evonik Research Award.

This was followed by the joint address by the graduating students. In their speech, Simona Hanuliaková and Ole Fleischhauer reflected on the shared years of study experienced by the graduates of Chemistry, Biochemistry, Food Chemistry, and Chemical Engineering. They highlighted the many academic and personal challenges that had to be overcome throughout both the Bachelor's and Master's programs – from lectures, practical courses, and laboratory work to demanding examinations and final theses. At the same time, emphasis was placed on how perseverance, adaptability, and the willingness to continuously adjust to new circumstances had shaped the graduates throughout their studies. They also reflected on the special importance of the people who accompanied them along the way. Fellow students became friends, study partners, and lab partners with whom successes, setbacks, and unforgettable experiences were shared. Expressing gratitude to families, friends, professors, and staff members, they underlined that graduates take away not only academic knowledge, but also valuable memories, meaningful relationships, and personal experiences. The address concluded with congratulations on this important milestone and encouragement to carry forward their curiosity, courage, and determination into the next stage of their lives.

The audience then warmly welcomed Dr. Romy Ettlinger. The hosts recalled her widely praised speech at the previous year’s graduation ceremony and promised another engaging and entertaining presentation. In her talk, “Small Pores, Big Impact: Molecular Waste Separation for Clean Water,” Ettlinger explained current challenges in water purification and demonstrated how Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs) - a field of research recognized with the Nobel Prize in 2025 - can help selectively remove contaminants from water. A particular highlight was a live experiment. Using a sponge, she transformed pink phenolphthalein-colored water back into a clear liquid, vividly demonstrating the chemical principles of substance separation. Chemists in the audience, of course, knew the trick behind (pH value).

After a short coffee break, the central part of the ceremony followed: the presentation of graduation certificates by the Academic Program Directors. Prof. Martin Elsner (Chemistry), Prof. Johannes Buchner (Biochemistry), Prof. Michael Rychlik (Food Chemistry), and Prof. Olaf Hinrichsen (Chemical Engineering) called each graduate individually onto the stage. Accompanied by presentations of their respective research projects, the graduates received their commemorative certificates as a lasting reminder of their time at the TUM School of Natural Sciences.

The official program concluded with the presentation of the Manchot Study Awards, recognizing outstanding academic achievements.

Bachelor’s Degree Awards

• Biochemistry: Magdalena Gerstendörfer
• Food Chemistry: Lena Linnemann
• Chemical Engineering: Maximilian Schön

Master’s Degree Awards

• Biochemistry: Pia Bruckmayer and Lara Fuß
• Chemistry: Celina Bräutigam and Florian Gollmann
• Chemical Engineering: Michael Berg and Simeon Schneider

Following the many awards and honors, the day concluded with refreshments and drinks in front of the Hans Fischer Lecture Hall. Musical accompaniment was provided by Old’s Cool BigBand, TUM’s professors’ band, creating the perfect atmosphere for conversations, commemorative photographs, and personal reunions.

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