Pioneer of crystallography: Dr. Herbst-Irmer receives honor!

Pioneer of crystallography: Dr. Herbst-Irmer receives honor!

On April 3, 2025, Dr. Regine Herbst-Irmer from the University of Göttingen was awarded the renowned Will Kleber commemorative coin from the German Society for Crystallography (DGK). This honor recognizes her exceptional research work on the analysis of crystal twins and recognizes their critical role in the structure determination of complex crystalline materials. The award ceremony took place as part of the DGK annual meeting in March 2025 in Hanover.

Dr. Herbst-Irmer is the first woman to receive this award and is considered the world's leading expert in the field of twin analysis. Crystal twins, in which two or more differently oriented crystals are fused together, play an important role in crystallography. Herbst-Irmer has developed innovative methods that are now considered standards for the analysis and refinement of twinned crystal structures.

The Will Kleber commemorative coin

The Will Kleber commemorative coin was launched on the centenary of Will Kleber's birth and has been awarded annually since 2008 to personalities for outstanding scientific contributions to crystallography. The award includes both a silver commemorative coin and a certificate. Dr. Herbst-Irmer receives this honor not only for her research, but also for her lasting influence on the field of crystallography.

In addition to her research work, Dr. Herbst-Irmer made valuable contributions to imparting knowledge in this area. Their work has revolutionized the understanding of crystal structures, which is of great benefit not only to scientists but also to students of crystallography, mineralogy and materials science.

A textbook for anyone interested

The relevance of Dr. Herbst-Irmer's research work is also reflected in specialist literature. A revised textbook on crystallography is recommended for students of geosciences, chemistry, physics and materials science. Providing essential background knowledge for professionals, including mineralogists and geologists, this book is designed as both a textbook and a reference work and has established itself as a standard reference in crystallography.

Bernd Müller describes the price of the book as appropriate for the extensive content, which enables an interdisciplinary approach to the topic of crystallography. The updated edition of the book covers key concepts for the quantitative analysis of chemical and physical properties and remains of great importance for all disciplines dealing with crystals.

In summary, the award from Dr. Regine Herbst-Irmer is not only a personal triumph, but can also be seen as groundbreaking for the entire field of crystallography. Their methods and contributions will inspire future generations of scientists and deepen their understanding of the complex world of crystals. Their commitment to science and the further education of students is seen as indispensable, for example in their publications De Gruyter and CCRI. The DGK and the scientific community celebrate this important achievement with sincere respect and joy.