The German Chemical Society (GDCh) has awarded Prof. Dr. Siegfried R. Waldvogel, Director of the Department of Electrosynthesis at the MPI CEC, the Wöhler Prize for Sustainable Chemistry. The GDCh is thus recognising his outstanding research achievements in the field of electrosynthesis – a process in which chemical reactions are carried out in a particularly environmentally friendly manner with the aid of electric current.

Prof. Waldvogel has been researching how organic compounds can be produced efficiently and sustainably using electricity – without the use of toxic reagents or large quantities of waste materials – for over 25 years. His work ranges from the fundamentals of chemical reactions to practical applications in industry. One example of this is the co-founding of the start-up ESy-Labs GmbH, which uses electrosynthesis for the production of pharmaceutical active ingredients and fine chemicals.

The award will be presented on 29 September 2025 at the GDCh's Science Forum Chemistry (SFC) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). The forum is one of the most important events for the chemical community in Germany and provides a platform for the exchange of ideas on forward-looking research.

‘Sustainability begins in the laboratory’ – Prof. Waldvogel's work consistently follows this principle. His research shows how innovative chemical processes can help drive the transition to a climate-friendly and resource-efficient industry. At the MPI CEC, he is now contributing his expertise to interdisciplinary research on chemical energy conversion.

We congratulate Prof. Waldvogel on this well-deserved award and are delighted to have another internationally recognised pioneer in sustainable chemistry in our ranks.