With the election of Prof. Hans-Joachim Knölker, the Saxon Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Leipzig (SAW) once again welcomes a renowned scientist from the Dresden University of Technology at the head of its Presidium beginning next year. From the start 2024, Knölker will succeed economist, Prof. Hans Wiesmeth, whose second and last possible term of office will end by rotation in this year.

On 13 October 2023, the SAW Plenum elected its new Presidium, which, in addition to the President, includes the Vice-President as well as the Secretaries and their deputies of the three SAW classes. The term of office of the new Presidium runs from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2027.

In a press release, Saxony’s Minister of Science, Sebastian Gemkow, congratulated the new Executive Board and the future President: "I am very pleased that with Prof. Dr. Hans-Joachim Knölker, once again a renowned scientist from Saxony will take over this office, which is so important for Saxony as a science location, and I wish him and the entire Executive Board every success in this endeavour."

Hans-Joachim Knölker also expressed his great happiness about the election and the tasks ahead: "I am very pleased about being elected President of the Saxon Academy of Sciences. It is an honour for me to be able to represent the interests of this institution so rich in tradition. The Saxon Academy of Sciences is currently working on more than 20 research projects, mainly in the humanities and cultural sciences. Many of these projects are carried out in close cooperation with universities, colleges and non-university research institutions. In the coming years, I would like to further develop this unique networking of science and research, which contributes decisively to securing and preserving the cultural heritage of our region, together with the scientists involved. One goal, for example, is to establish cooperation with the Czech Academy in Prague; initial contacts have already been made in this regard. Of course, the SAW wants to continue to participate in the public discussion on scientific and social issues and thus contribute to progress. For me, it is an interesting and appealing task to continue to advance and promote science and research in the central German region of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia with the SAW."

Prof. Hans-Joachim Knölker has served as Professor of Organic Chemistry at TUD since 2001 and as a full member of the Mathematical and Scientific Class of the Saxon Academy of Sciences since 2006. His main research interests at Dresden University of Technology include the development of new methods for organic synthesis, organometallic chemistry, natural product chemistry and medicinal chemistry. The award-winning chemist is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (Great Britain), a Fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and a member of the Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker and the American Chemical Society.

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Prof. Hans-Joachim Knölker
TU Dresden
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