The Nobel Prize winner: Lehn inspires with chemistry lecture in Freiberg

The Nobel Prize winner: Lehn inspires with chemistry lecture in Freiberg

Professor Jean-Marie Lehn, Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry, is a prominent figure in the world of science and was welcomed back to the TU Bergakademie Freiberg on June 30, 2025. Lehn, who was already a guest in 2012, emphasized the urgency of making research accessible to people outside of academia at the 36th Clemens Winkler Colloquium. “The natural sciences are crucial for the future of humanity,” Lehn emphatically stated. He was originally interested in a career in philosophy, but ultimately chose the natural sciences, which is highlighted by his criticism of the untestability of philosophical answers.

Lehn, who completed his chemistry studies at the University of Strasbourg in 1960, received his doctorate three years later under Guy Ourisson. During his academic career, he worked at Harvard University in Robert Burns Woodward's laboratory, where he was involved in the synthesis of vitamin B12 and experienced the emergence of the Woodward-Hoffmann rules. After his return to Strasbourg, he was appointed full professor in 1970 and was professor of molecular interactions at the Collège de France in Paris between 1980 and his retirement.

A pioneer of supramolecular chemistry

Lehn's scientific legacy is particularly linked to supramolecular chemistry, a new field concerned with complex systems and their intermolecular interactions. As early as 1968, he developed cage-like molecules that would serve as the key to his later work on molecular recognition. This research ultimately led to the awarding of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1987, which he shared with Donald J. Cram and Charles Pedersen, for his fundamental contributions to supramolecular chemistry.

Lehn not only laid foundations in chemistry, but also made significant advances in the areas of catalysis and supramolecular transport processes. He also devoted himself to the design of 'programmed' systems that are capable of self-organization through spontaneous assembly into well-defined supramolecular architectures. This lays the foundation for innovative applications in molecular electronics and photonics.

Awards and recognition

Jean-Marie Lehn has received many awards, including the CNRS Gold Medal (1981) and the Royal Society Davy Medal (1997). He is also a member of numerous prestigious academies, including the Académie des Sciences and the Académie des Technologies. His role as a leading scientist is highlighted by his popular nature and commitment to science communication.

His inspiring words that “all life is based on chemical entities and processes” show us the essential importance of chemistry and explain why his research should resonate with the general public. Lehn remains a central figure today, both in the academic community and in the public discourse about science.

For more information about his work and developments in supramolecular chemistry, please visit the website TU Freiberg, ISIS and Wikipedia.