This year’s Gerhard Ertl Lecture by Hector Abruña — a credo for the “transformative power of science”
On December 10, the Fritz Haber Institute ceremoniously presented the 18th Gerhard Ertl Lecture Award to Prof. Dr. Hector D. Abruña of Cornell University, whose engaging lecture on his research on energy carriers of the future captivated the audience. Since 2008, the prestigious award honors outstanding researchers who have achieved significant advances in the field of catalysis research.
On December 10, 2007, our former director, Prof. Dr. Gerhard Erl, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in Stockholm “for his studies of chemical processes on solid surfaces.” In commemoration of this Nobel Prize Ceremony, the Fritz Haber Institute, together with Berlin’s universities and BASF, has since organized the annual Gerhard Ertl Lecture, which honors outstanding researchers in the field of physical chemistry, with special emphasis on catalysis. This year, Prof. Dr. Hector D. Abruña of Cornell University was honored and, at the award ceremony, delivered a lecture on the timely topic “Energy Conversion and Storage: Novel Materials and Operando Methods.”
The award ceremony was opened by Prof. Dr. Beatriz Roldan Cuenya, the institute’s managing director, who emphasized in her welcome address not only the importance of Prof. Abruña’s outstanding research but also his commitment to fostering the next generation of scientists. Afterward, Dr. Wolfram Stichert, Senior Vice President for Catalysts Research and Testing at BASF SE, stated in his laudatory speech that Prof. Abruña’s research has been instrumental in advancing our current understanding of electrochemical processes. He highlighted Abruña’s work on fuel cells, batteries, and sensors - technologies we already encounter in everyday life and that will continue to shape the energy system of the future. Our esteemed former director and namesake of the Lecture Award, Gerhard Ertl, remotely joined the award ceremony, after having hosted him for lunch earlier in the day. He sent a personal greeting to Prof. Abruña, whom he had met at Cornell some years earlier. In fact, before Prof. Ertl received his Nobel award he was awarded the prestigious Baker Lectoreship award at Cornell University, where he gave a number of memorable lectures in 2007, as revealed by Prof. Abruña who was in attendance.
The awardee began his lecture in his own entertaining way: he said he didn’t want to put anyone in the audience to sleep, but rather to have fun together. And that’s exactly how it turned out. With charm and wit, he introduced the topic of electrochemistry, spoke about his search for better catalysts for the future energy system, and explained his experimental approach. Particularly compelling was his account of a project from the “Abruña Energy Initiative,” through which, following the destructions of hurricane Maria, he supplied the residents of the Caribbean island of Vieques (Puerto Rico) with electricity from renewable sources. “Deep down, we all believe in the transformative power of science,” said Abruña. His talk was full of passion for catalysis research and fascinated the entire audience.
The Puerto Rico-born Professor Héctor D. Abruña is internationally recognized for his pioneering research in electrochemistry and analytical chemistry. His work has greatly expanded our understanding of fuel cells, batteries, and molecular electronics. We are delighted that, through the Gerhard Ertl Lecture, we have the chance to invite such outstanding international researchers to our institute in Berlin each year. Every visit and every Ertl lecture enrich both us and the catalysis research community in Berlin. The scientific exchange and personal conversations always provide fresh impetus. We look back with gratitude on the 2025 Gerhard Ertl Lecture and are already looking forward to next year!
