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Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
idw - Informationsdienst
Wissenschaft
With the scheduled change in scientific direction at the Leibniz Institute for Catalysis and the appointment of a new commercial director, two women now head the renowned Rostock-based research institution. Prof. Dr. Eszter Baráth took over as scientific director from her predecessor, Prof. Dr. Robert Francke, at the beginning of May. Since the introduction of co-leadership at the end of 2023, this role has rotated every two years within the four-member executive board. The commercial directorship was filled on the executive board by Dr. Sandra Hinze, who had been serving in the role on an interim basis since the end of 2024.
“This demonstrates how seriously our institute takes the principle of equal opportunity, regardless of gender, age, or background,” says Robert Francke, the outgoing primus inter pares. Both women and men have contributed equally to LIKAT’s research findings. It is extremely gratifying that this is also reflected in the leadership body. The LIKAT Executive Board consists of: Eszter Baráth, Sandra Hinze, Matthias Beller, Robert Francke.
Women's Biographies in Research
Eszter Baráth, the new scientific director, has been conducting research at LIKAT since 2021; she was accepted into the Leibniz Women Professors Program and subsequently appointed as a full professor at the Universitiy of Rostock. She has been a member of the LIKAT Executive Board since late 2023. At LIKAT, Eszter Baráth heads the research department “Synergies in Catalysis.” She cites the key role of catalysis research in achieving a sustainable, climate-neutral economy as the driving force behind her leadership role. “Our future also depends on how successfully we can develop highly selective, energy-efficient catalytic processes for the chemical and energy industries,” says Eszter Baráth. Her research focuses, among other things, on the molecular processes occurring at the surfaces of solid catalysts and their interaction with their liquid or gaseous surroundings. The goal is to transfer the advantages of homogeneous catalysis to heterogeneous catalysis.
Sandra Hinze, the new commercial director, joined LIKAT in 2003, earned her Ph.D. in 2007, and led a research group focused on renewable raw materials and platform chemicals. She subsequently took over as head of public relations and later as head of the institute’s executive staff. Her professional journey from doctoral candidate to board member of a research institute exemplifies career paths for women in a highly demanding scientific environment.
For both Eszter Baráth and Sandra Hinze, career and family life are not mutually exclusive, which includes their responsibilities as mothers. The role model they provide for their younger female colleagues is also a result of the institute’s gender equality plan as well as its efforts to obtain the “Total E-Quality” certificate, which LIKAT has received five times in a row.
Catalysis as a key technology
In the global effort to transition the energy and raw materials sector from fossil fuels to sustainable sources, chemical catalysis plays a key role. In recent years, LIKAT has further strengthened its leading position at the intersection of basic and applied research. As early as 2023, the independent evaluation commission had certified LIKAT’s “outstanding research results.” At the Leibniz Institute for Catalysis, 130 women and 200 men from 37 countries work together to develop catalytic technologies for the benefit of society.
Prof. Dr. Eszter Baráth, Scientific Director: Eszter.barath@catalysis.de
Dr. Sandra Hinze, Commercial Director: Sandra.hinze@catalysis.de
New leadership team at the Leibniz Institute for Catalysis: Dr. Sandra Hinze (Administrative Directo ...
Quelle: Dr. Martha Höhne
Copyright: LIKAT
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