Since 2013 the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion organizes a Summer School once a year, alternating between the three departments. The school aims at teaching students various research methods and at fostering exchange between students and scientists.
Some lectures of the Summer School 2014 are also available on youtube.com
Summer School 2023
After a three-year break due to the pandemic, the Summer School "Spectroscopy and Electronic Structure of Transition Metal Complexes" of Prof. Serena DeBeer, Director at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion, and Prof. Frank Neese, Director at the Max Planck Institute for Coal Research, finally took place again in the Science Park in Gelsenkirchen from September 24 to 29.
The more than 93 participants, who had to qualify in advance through a selection process in the form of an application, spent six days gaining insights into spectroscopic methods and their theoretical calculations in lectures and practical teaching sessions.
Summer School 2019
In 2019, the departments Inorganic Spectroscopy (Prof. DeBeer/MPI CEC) and Molecular Theory and Spectroscopy (Prof. Neese/MPI KOFO) jointly organized a Summer School titled "Spectroscopy and Electronic Structure of Transition Metal Complexes".
The combination of spectroscopic techniques with quantum chemistry and high-level computation is a fundamental component of modern molecular sciences. This powerful synergy drives cutting-edge research in fields ranging from inorganic chemistry to biochemistry and from catalysis to energy research. The program focused particularly on how this combination is used in transition metal chemistry. Its goal was to provide young scientists with the fundamental knowledge and practical skills required to achieve this synergy in their own work.
Summer School 2018
In 2018, the Heterogeneous Reactions department under the direction of Prof. Schlögl was responsible for the content of the Summer School "Catalysis and Energy: from Synthesis to Application".
The Summer School started with a unique experimental lecture and offered all participants a large panel of interesting lectures on basic research and specific catalytic topics presented by top scientists in their respective fields. Scientists from all over the world got the opportunity to take part in inspiring practical sessions. Many participants took the chance to present their own research activities and discuss it with the lecturers and other participants during flash presentations and poster sessions.
Summer School 2017
Around 100 young scientists from all over the world took part in the 5th Summer School hosted by the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion.
The school was titled „Electronic Structure and Spectroscopy of Transition Metal Complexes“ and took place at Wissenschaftspark in Gelsenkirchen. It was addressed to graduate students, post-doctoral scientists, and senior researchers with experimental or theoretical background, who are interested in the deep connections between molecular electronic structure, magnetism, spectroscopy, and reactivity of transition metal complexes.
Summer School 2016
In September 2016, the 4th Summer School of the MPI CEC took place at Wissenschaftspark Gelsenkirchen. Molecular Theory and Spectroscopy was again central in the 2016 edition of our school, however, we also expanded the content of our program in an effort to bridge the historic divide between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis. Our Summer School on "Physical Methods in Molecular and Heterogeneous Catalysis" with experts from the molecular and the heterogeneous areas of catalysis research taught on physical methods that are used for the study and characterization of both molecular and heterogeneous systems. By combining these historically distinct areas under a single program, we aimed to help the students develop an appreciation of the common physical principles and to encourage a unified view of analytical methods in catalysis.
Summer School 2015
More than 100 young scientists from all over the world took part in the third Summer School hosted by the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion at Wissenschaftspark in Gelsenkirchen. Under the title "Methods in Molecular Energy Research: Theory and Spectroscopy" the students learned a lot about spectroscopic methods and their theoretical calculations.
Summer School 2013
In the first week of September 2013, the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion started its first Summer School on "Methods in Molecular Energy Research: Theory and Spectroscopy". The scientific event which was organized by the department Molecular Theory Spectroscopy (Prof. Dr. Frank Neese) took place in Essen.