Braunschweig scientist Moritz Wolff – honor at the Nobel Prize winners’ meeting!

Braunschweig scientist Moritz Wolff – honor at the Nobel Prize winners’ meeting!

Moritz Wolff, a promising research associate at the Institute for Physical and Theoretical Chemistry at the Technical University of Braunschweig, recently received impressive news: he has been nominated to take part in the prestigious Nobel Prize Laureate Meeting in Lindau. This will take place from June 29th to July 4th, 2025 and promises to be a unique forum for exchange between over 30 Nobel Prize winners and more than 630 young scientists from all over the world. Professor Stefanie Tschierlei, Wolff's supervisor, recommended him for this honor, which he himself considers a great distinction and honor. The Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings, which have existed for over 70 years, promote interdisciplinary dialogue and exchange between different generations and cultures.

Wolff is particularly interested in the research of Professor Moungi Bawendi, who works on quantum dots in photochemistry. Wolff devotes his own research to the photochemistry of transition metal complexes. These special molecules are able to enable environmentally friendly chemical reactions under mild conditions with light. Its goal is to advance artificial photosynthesis, a technology that could produce solar-generated fuels from CO2 or water.

The challenges of artificial photosynthesis

A significant voice in this area of ​​research is Benjamin List, a German chemist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry two years ago. His work in the development of asymmetric organocatalysis revolutionized chemistry. He is heavily involved in research into artificial photosynthesis, which is seen as a way to solve three pressing problems facing humanity. In a recent interview, he explained that mimicking natural photosynthesis is a thermodynamically challenging reaction that requires significant amounts of energy to convert CO2 into sugar and oxygen. List sees this technology not only as having the potential to reduce greenhouse gases, but also as an opportunity to create a sustainable chemical industry.

Since receiving the Nobel Prize, List has conducted intensive research into artificial photosynthesis. He is also active in training the next generation of scientists and has even hired a master's student to support young talent. He also speaks at numerous scientific conferences and uses these platforms to express his vision for a more sustainable future.

Connection between research and society

The Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings are not only a platform for the exchange of knowledge and experiences, but also a place where the commitment of scientists to socially relevant topics becomes clear. In particular, the topics of sustainable chemistry and environmental protection are the focus of numerous discussions. The conferences offer the opportunity to explore the interfaces between different scientific disciplines and to develop innovative solutions to today's challenges.

The commitment of scientists like Moritz Wolff and Benjamin List makes it clear how important and relevant research is for solving global problems. Their ability to innovate could be crucial to leading the world towards a more sustainable future.