Our roots

After Prof. Neese moved to the neighbouring institute (MPI for Coal Research) in 2017, Prof. Serena DeBeer, then head of a research group at the institute, was appointed director. She heads the new department 'Inorganic Spectroscopy'.

On 5.09.2017 the ground-breaking ceremony for the first new building within the extension of the institute took place. At almost the same time, Prof. Walter Leitner was appointed Director of the Department of Molecular Catalysis.

In 2013 an architectural competition for the extension of the institute began and an experimental photovoltaic system was installed on the roof of the institute.

In 2015, the MPI CEC received the Max Planck Society's Trainee Award for the second time for the particularly innovative training concept at the institute and the dedicated trainers.
In the same year, the Institute was able to secure funding for the establishment of a new International Max Planck Research School: IMPRS-RECHARGE.

In 2008, there are already 50 years of research at Stiftstrasse. Following the retirement of Prof. Wieghardt in August 2010, Prof. Frank Neese was appointed Director of the MPI for Bioinorganic Chemistry and Scientific Member of the Max Planck Society in July 2011. In October, Prof. Robert Schlögl joined the Institute as provisional head of the MPI for Bioinorganic Chemistry.

In 2012, the President of the Max Planck Society announced the launch of the excellent research work of the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion at the annual meeting of the MPG.

Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Lubitz was appointed as the new Director of the Institute and accepted as a Scientific Member of the Max Planck Society. His research focused on biophysical chemistry and the spectroscopy of metal proteins. Three years later, in 2003, the institute was reoriented and renamed: MPI for Bioinorganic Chemistry.

The Ernst Haage Foundation was established in 2006. Every year, the foundation honors outstanding achievements of young scientists and promotes the next generation of scientists.

In May 1981, the Institute for Radiation Chemistry at the Max Planck Institute for Coal Research became the independent Max Planck Institute for Radiation Chemistry. To mark the 25th anniversary of the research facility and with a forward-looking view of the energy revolution, a system for energy recovery from exhaust air was installed and commissioned at the institute in 1983.

In 1995 the annual lecture "Frontiers in Biological Chemistry" was established.

In 1970 Prof. Dr. Dietrich Schulte-Frohlinde was appointed Scientific Member of the Max Planck Society and Managing Director of the department. In addition, Prof. Polansky followed the call as director. In 1973, the department was reorganized and renamed to "Institute for Radiation Chemistry at the Max Planck Institute for Coal Research".

In 1976 Prof. Dr. Kurt Schaffner joined the institute as a scientific member of the Max Planck Society and director.

In 1957 Prof. Dr. Günther O. Schenck was appointed Founding Director of the Independent Department of Radiation Chemistry of the MPI for Coal Research and Scientific Member of the Max Planck Society. One year later the Independent Department of Radiation Chemistry of the MPI for Coal Research was founded. In 1963 the construction of the institute building began, which was inaugurated after two years.

In 1968 Prof. Schenck was released as director due to a serious illness. Prof. G. Wilke, Deputy Director of the MPI for Coal Research, temporarily took over the official duties.
The Max Planck Society finally appointed Prof. Dr. Oskar E. Polansky as a Scientific Member of the Society. He conducted research in the Independent Department of Radiation Chemistry as group leader in the field of organic photochemistry and theoretical chemistry.