Department of Chemistry

12.06.2026 | Looking Back: The Chemistry Program at Open Campus 2026

The Department of Chemistry at Saarland University presented a diverse and interactive program for prospective students, high school students, and the general public at the 2026 Open Campus. During the event, the academic advisor, Dr. Christian Völzing, provided information about the chemistry program in Saarbrücken and was available for one-on-one consultations. In addition, the Chemistry Student Council offered authentic insights into everyday student life and the campus. A special highlight was the NanoBioLab’s nitrogen show. Furthermore, professors, postdocs, and doctoral students presented current research projects and provided insights into the diverse fields of work within chemistry as a core science. The numerous hands-on activities were also very well received: In the hands-on chemistry lab, visitors could conduct experiments themselves—ranging from simple experiments with common household materials for children ages five and up to exciting experiments in organic chemistry for older teens and adults. The NanoBioLab student lab also offered practical insights into experimental work and modern research.

Open Campus 2026 was a complete success for the Department of Chemistry. Thank you to everyone who participated.

31.03.2026 | Susanne Harling and Andreas Adolf are retiring

Two influential figures in the field of inorganic chemistry are retiring after many years of dedicated service. Susanne Harling most recently oversaw CHN analysis for the Department of Chemistry and, through her reliable and competent work, played a key role in shaping day-to-day research activities. Andreas Adolf was considered a central pillar of the Experimental Chemistry lecture series and was an indispensable part of the popular Christmas lecture for many years. During a ceremony, Professors Kickelbick and Seschkewitz honored the extraordinary, long-standing dedication of both colleagues. Particular emphasis was placed on their great dedication to teaching and research, their open and approachable manner, and the high regard in which they were held within the inorganic chemistry research groups. The Department of Chemistry extends its heartfelt thanks for their outstanding collaboration and wishes Ms. Harling and Mr. Adolf all the best for this new chapter in their lives.

06.02.2026 | Chemists from Saarland University create iconic aromatic molecule with silicon

Congratulations to Ankur from the Scheschkewitz group on his fantastic work on the stable all-silicon analog of the iconic cyclopentadienide published today in Science (https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aed1802). After almost half a century of pursuit by chemists worldwide, silicon aromaticity takes a big leap forward. According to experimental and computational evidence, the five-membered ring of the pentasilacyclopentadienide walks the edge between resonance and equilibrium. Kudos to those undergraduate students who always “claimed” that both are the same. In a mind-boggling twist of fate, the group of Takeaki Iwamoto (Sendai, Japan) obtained precisely the same compound as we at Saarland University, only by a different route, now published in the same issue as our results (https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aed0168)

18.12.2025 | Chemistry Christmas Lecture: A Journey Back in Time to the Age of Alchemy

The large chemistry lecture hall was filled to capacity when this year's Christmas lecture took guests on a fascinating journey into the world of alchemy. Led by Prof. David Scheschkewitz, the team presented spectacular experiments that were once intended to fulfill alchemists' dreams of gold – including the transformation of base metals into “silver” and “gold.” Of course, the traditional explosions were also part of the show, leaving the audience amazed. A special moment was the farewell to Andreas Adolf, the long-time laboratory assistant for experimental chemistry and creative mind behind the Christmas lectures of recent years, as he entered his well-deserved retirement. The new team that will organize the Christmas lecture in the future consists of laboratory assistants Dana Barghoud, Ajda Plohl, Vanessa Grabowski, Henrike Waller, and Leonie Wirtz.

17.12.2025 | Joining forces for clean water: Pioneering project strengthens water protection in Saarland

The Department of Inorganic Chemistry at Saarland University and the Ministry for the Environment, Climate, Mobility, Agriculture, and Consumer Protection (MUKMAV) are continuing their long-standing successful collaboration. With the completion of the previous project and the start of a new five-year joint project in mid-2026, research into assessing the condition of Saarland's waters will be intensified. One focus is on the effects of new requirements under the EU Municipal Waste Water Directive and the implementation of the Water Framework Directive in Saarland. In addition to established real-time measurements using mobile measuring stations, automatic samplers will also be used to detect organic and inorganic micropollutants (“emerging pollutants”) from diffuse and point sources. In addition, the project is dedicated to the analysis of small catchment areas in order to answer specific environmentally relevant questions. With this project, the partners are making a decisive contribution to the sustainable development and protection of Saarland's waters.