Karlsruhe physics pioneer Herwig Schopper dies at the age of 101

Karlsruhe physics pioneer Herwig Schopper dies at the age of 101

Professor Herwig Schopper, an influential physicist, died on August 19, 2025 at the age of 101. His connection to the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) was profound; he was director of the Institute for Nuclear Physics, which was founded under his leadership. Schopper also laid the foundations for the Institutes for Experimental Particle Physics and Astroparticle Physics and promoted the unification of the university and the research center. KIT honored him with an honorary doctorate during the celebrations for the 100th birthday of its Faculty of Physics in 2024. Herwig Schopper's funeral will take place on August 27, 2025 in Nienstedten, Hamburg.

Schopper, born February 28, 1924 in Lanškroun, Czechoslovakia, had Austrian ancestors and earned his academic degrees from the University of Hamburg. There he studied under renowned scientists such as Wilhelm Lenz and Rudolf Fleischmann. From 1950 he was a research assistant to Lise Meitner in Stockholm before moving to the Cavendish Laboratory in 1956 to work under Otto Robert Frisch. His research contributions on the evidence of parity violation in weak interactions and on the measurement of the circular polarization of gamma rays have had a decisive influence on particle physics.

Schoppers Karriere und Beiträge zur Teilchenphysik

In den 1960er Jahren baute Schopper seine Karriere an verschiedenen Institutionen weiter aus, unter anderem an der Universität Erlangen und der Universität Karlsruhe. There he founded the Institute for Experimental Nuclear Physics. His research group conducted significant experiments on electron scattering and neutron scattering at DESY and CERN. Schopper was also responsible for the development of the first hadron calorimeter and superconducting high-frequency cavities in Europe.

From 1981 to 1988 he served as Director General of CERN and had a significant influence on international research in particle physics. Under his leadership, the Large Electron-Positron Collider (LEP) and internationally recognized collaborations on the Standard Model of particle physics were realized. Schopper was not only active in particle physics, but also in various scientific committees and was president of the German and European Physical Society.

A legacy of collaboration and innovation

As a co-founder of the international synchrotron light center SESAME in the Middle East, Schopper championed scientific collaboration established under the umbrella of UNESCO. He was also involved in various consulting projects for UNESCO and the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna. After his retirement in 1989, he remained active and committed, particularly in science communication and peacebuilding.

Herwig Schopper will be remembered as an outstanding scientist and friend. His contributions to particle physics not only shaped his generation, but will also inspire future generations of researchers. Founded in 1954, CERN brought scientists together after World War II and is now one of the world's leading research centers with over 10,000 researchers from around 100 countries. It remains as a witness to Schopper's significant contribution to science and international cooperation.

CERN will continue to discuss innovative projects such as the Future Circular Collider (FCC), which could set the stage for the next era of particle physics. Schopper leaves an important legacy in the research landscape that will continue to have an impact in the future.