Max Planck Institute for Chemistry

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The Max Planck Institute for Chemistry (German: Max Planck Institut für Chemie - Otto Hahn Institut) is a scientific research institute under the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft.

Basic research in chemistry and related subjects is carried out at the (currently) four departments of the institute. The departments are independently led by their Directors.

1 The departments
2 History
3 Staff
4 Directors of the Institute
- 4.1 Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Chemistry
- 4.2 Max Planck Institute for Chemistry
5 Graduate program
6 External links

[edit] The departments

The department of Atmospheric Chemistry is led by Prof. Jos Lelieveld. The research focuses on the study of ozone and other atmospheric photo-oxidants, their chemical reactions and global cycles.

Prof. Meinrat O. Andreae is the head of the Department of Biogeochemistry. Experimental studies on the exchange of trace gases and aerosols between biosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere are carried out there.

The Geochemistry department explores the chemical composition and the temporal evolution of the Earth's mantle and crust. The department is led by Prof. Albrecht W. Hoffmann

The Particle Chemistry department is led by Prof. Stephan Borrmann and conducts research on the physical and chemical processes that determine cloud formation

[edit] History

The Institute was founded as Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Chemistry in Berlin Dahlem in 1911. In this Institute Otto Hahn, Lise Meitner and Fritz Straßmann conducted the experiments which yielded the discovery of nuclear fission. Otto Hahn was director of the Institute from 1928 till 1949. The Institute was heavyly damaged by air raide in 1944 and moved to Tailfingen.

After World War II the institute moved to the campus of Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz in 1949. In 1959 the Kaiser Wilhelm Society was restructured and renamed becoming the Max Planck Society, the institute was also renamed forming the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry. Radiochemistry, Nuclear physics, Geochemistry, Cosmochemistry and Atmospheric chemistry were research areas of the institute.

[edit] Staff

Early 2005 a total of 247 persons were employed at the institute.

[edit] Directors of the Institute

[edit] Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Chemistry

1912 Ernst Beckmann
1912 - 1916 Richard Willstätter
1912 - 1948 Otto Hahn
1916 - 1926 Alfred Stock

[edit] Max Planck Institute for Chemistry

1949 - 1953 Fritz Straßmann
1941 - 1965 Josef Mattauch
1953 - 1958 Friedrich A. Paneth
1959 - 1978 Heinrich Hintenberger
1959 - 1978 Hermann Wäffler
1967 - 1996 Heinrich Wänke
1968 - 1979 Christian Junge
1978 - 1995 Friedrich Begemann
1980 - 2000 Paul J. Crutzen
1980 - 2007 Albrecht W. Hofmann
1987 Meinrat O. Andreae
1996 Günter W. Lugmair
2000 Johannes Lelieveld
2001 Stephan Borrmann

[edit] Graduate program

The International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) on Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics is a graduate program offering a Ph.D.. The school is run in cooperation with the University of Mainz, the University of Heidelberg and the University of Frankfurt.