Awards with Reputation

Exceptional performance deserves recognition. So as to clearly accentuate this outwardly, prizes and distinctions are awarded. It is a symbol of the admiration of a chemist's peers and demonstrates that the recipient's accomplishments and contributions to chemistry are judged exceptional by his/her colleagues. The prizes and awards of the GDCh belong to the most valued distinctions in chemistry.

The highest award of the GDCh is the Honorary Membership. Since 1952 a total of 36 chemists became Honorary Members of the GDCh, including Otto Hahn, Robert B. Woodward, Jean-Marie Lehn, George Olah and other eminent scientists. 

In 1903, more than hundred years ago, the two predecessor organizations of today's GDCh, the Deutsche Chemische Gesellschaft (DChG) and the Verein Deutscher Chemiker (VDCh), established their first awards, the August-Wilhelm-von-Hofmann-Denkmünze (commemorative coin) and the Liebig-Denkmünze, named after two great chemists of the 19th century. These medals do still exist and are awards of particular weight. 

In addition to prizes and medals, the GDCh also awards several named lectureships to recognize outstanding accomplishmentss in chemistry. Most of these lectures have been established in cooperation with other European chemical societies.