Elisabeth und Prof. Dr. Horst-Dietrich Hardt-Foundation

The couple Elisabeth and Prof. Dr. Horst-Dietrich Hardt established the foundation of the same name from their estate. The purpose of the foundation is, among other things, to promote science and research. This is achieved by

  • awarding the ‘Elisabeth and Prof. Dr. Horst-Dietrich Hardt Prize’ and
  • supporting doctoral students in the field of chemistry at Saarland University.

Elisabeth und Prof. Dr. Horst-Dietrich Hardt-Prize

The Elisabeth and Prof. Dr. Horst-Dietrich Hardt Foundation awards a research prize every five years. The prize is endowed with €25,000 and honors outstanding, pioneering research work in the field of inorganic chemistry. There are no restrictions in terms of research focus or methodology in the field of inorganic chemistry. Work with a general reference to the phenomenon of thermochromism or luminescence is also welcome. 

The previous winners are:

  • Prof. Dr. Katja Heinze (University of Mainz, 2022)
  • Prof. Dr. Lutz Gade, University of Heidelberg (2017)
  • Prof. Dr. Manfred Scheer, University of Regensburg (2012)
  • Prof. Dr. Christian Limberg, Humboldt University of Berlin (2009)
  • Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schnick, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (2006)

Funding for doctoral students

There are two lines of funding for doctoral students in the Department of Chemistry at Saarland University: 

  • Support for doctoral training by funding participation in international conferences and congresses
  • Awarding doctoral theses in the field of chemistry that have been awarded summa cum laude with prize money of €500

Professor Dr. Horst-Dietrich Hardt

Professor Hardt taught at Saarland University from 1963 to 1982, where he was particularly involved in research into the fluorescence thermochromism of metal complexes.

Professor Hardt was born in Brussels in 1917. After studying chemistry in Heidelberg, he initially worked as an assistant at the Institute of Chemistry at Saarland University from 1950. His dissertation in 1953 was soon followed by his habilitation on solvent inclusions in organic beryllium salts and the award of the Venia Legendi for general and inorganic chemistry. He was appointed associate professor in 1963. He taught and researched at Saarland University until his retirement in 1982.