The GDCh has a very long history and tradition, what have been the major adaptations it has gone through during the last 10 years?

First, it is true. Our history is long. In 2 years, we celebrate our 150th anniversary. Even though our current GDCh was founded after the Second World War in 1949 the two predecessor organizations go back to a long history. One of the most important changes we have implemented over the last decade was that we opened our society to everyone that is willing to support us. In the very beginning, it was an academic society. To become a member you had to have a degree in chemistry or one of the neighbouring disciplines. This gradually changed. About ten years ago we changed our statutes. Everyone who wants to support the chemical sciences in our country or wherever he or she lives can now be member of the GDCh. Along with that we have to offer new services and offerings that are of interest, for example, to people in the chemical industry who do not have an academic background. Another important new focus is that we are getting more and more in contact to decision makers, e.g. politicians, and the public at large, in order to improve the image of chemistry and make aware of the role chemistry plays in our daily life.

What recommendations would you make to other younger European societies?

One recommendation would be to be open to anyone who is interested in our science and to communicate to the interested public how chemistry works. Thus, a chemical society will become more visible and play a more advanced role in its respective country and that also, of course, helps to improve the image of chemistry. It also can help to attract more young people into chemistry and that is of large importance not only in Germany but also in other European countries.

Your commitment to professional development is shown with the Society’s Career Service. How long has it been implanted and how would you value its contribution?

Actually, this is one of the longest traditions we have. This kind of service is in place for more than one hundred years. In the past, it was not so much a career service but more a job centre, job placement. About 30 years ago employment services were heavily regulated in Germany and only state run job centres were allowed. There were only very few exceptions and one of these exceptions was the GDCh which obtained a special permit. I think our members have valued that very much. Of course, the focus of this service is directed mostly on younger people who need to make decisions about their career but also for older members our career service is a great benefit. We have good connections to the employers, mainly the chemical industry, and to them we can give very specific information about the applicants. But our career service is not only a recruitment agency. We also offer students for example how to write a CV and we offer courses for people who want to change their jobs in their 40s or 50s, which is usually very difficult. We give them advice and assistance.

Germany and its area of influence is the European centre for chemistry in terms of both research as well as industry. How does that affect GDCh in terms of leadership?

There is of course a correlation between the academic chemistry, the strength of the research, and the significance of the chemical industry. This works in both directions and has also consequences for the GDCh. We are a large society with more than 31,000 members from both industry and academia. In addition, we are proud of our well working administration and staff. There is only another society in Europe that has similar possibilities, the Royal Society of Chemistry in the UK. That the GDCh is among the strongest chemical societies in Europe has a lot to do with the fact that chemistry, as an industry and as a science, is very strong in this country.

You would also have strong connections with the trade association

Yes, we do. In particular with the German Chemical Industry Association VCI (Verband der Chemischen Industrie). Actually, before we moved into this building in the 1960ies, we shared an office building with the VCI. VCI is one of our corporate members and there are many areas, where our organizations cooperate and there are many VCI bodies where a GDCh representative is ex officio a member and vice versa. But we also enjoy good and close contacts with other chemistry associations, such as the Employers’ Federation for the Chemical Industry (BAVC) or the Chemistry trade union (IG BCE).

How do you see the future of GDCh?

On the one hand, I think we should stick to our traditions an be the network of chemists in this country. Of course a network that will be more and more open to other groups in the society. I also think that the development towards being more active at the political scene is something that in the future will become more important than it is already now. And one of the things that we of course have to react on and be aware of is that chemistry as a science is changing. Chemistry is becoming more interdisciplinary. The borders between chemistry and physics, biology, materials science and so on are becoming blurred and that is something that we have to deal with. That is also a question of how our organisation will define itself in the future. We cannot predict it right now. We just have to be aware of these changes and to find a strategy of how to react.

And that of other European Chemical societies such as the smaller ones?

I think there is certainly a future for these societies because chemists like to have a national platform of their own. I am very skeptical of tendencies that bigger societies try to implement sections in smaller countries because I do not think this is in the interest of the people and chemists in that particular country. In Europe there certainly is a future for the smaller societies but this future is very strongly connected to the European idea. Therefore EuCheMS, as the European umbrella of all chemical societies is so important.

How do we (Europeans) benchmark with other world regional societies such as the American?

That is difficult to generalise. If you look at the ACS (American Chemical Society) as by far the biggest society in that area, none of the chemical societies in Europe can compare with. Moreover, of course, EuCheMS as the umbrella organisation is completely different. If you look merely at the number of members, EuCheMS represents a similar number of chemists as the ACS does. But the ACS is a different kind of organization: it is a half a billion dollar business with more than a thousand employees, mostly due to their publication and CAS activities. But if you look at other big chemical societies such as in Japan or China, I think the European societies don’t need to hide away. In addition, we have the big advantage that we all have a long tradition, simply because chemistry has a long tradition in Europe.

Does Europe maintain its leading role in terms of chemical research and innovation?

This is certainly a challenge. We all know that emerging markets are gaining strength and we also see that all the major chemical companies, including of course European ones, are investing lots of money in China, in India or in South America while the European share of chemistry is decreasing. That will probably continue but I do not think that this will necessarily mean that the innovative power in Europe will also decrease. What we see now is that in particular those products in the chemical industry that are standard, are being produced, to a large extent, outside of Europe close to the markets where they are being needed but if you look at fine chemicals, at special chemicals I still think that development and production will stay in Europe and will remain important. As long as we keep the innovative power here in Europe, we always will have a strong chemical industry.

How do EuCheMS congresses help to bring the Chemical community together?

Actually, this was one of the main goals when the idea of such a European congress came up in the early 2000s: To have a chemistry congress which covers all areas of chemistry and is a showcase for the European chemical advances as well as a platform for European chemists to meet and to network. We don’t have already achieved all these goals but we are on a good way and the next Congress in Seville will certainly be another important step in that direction.

How have they evolved?

Yes, I think it does. I think we have the benefit of, historically and currently, a very intelligent and committed scientific workforce, a massive chemical industry within Europe as well as a very good eco-system for developing science. We also have fantastic universities across Europe, a lot to build on and a lot to be proud of.

How do EuCheMS congresses help bring the Chemical community together?

There is no straight development. First, every congress is different which has something to do with the fact that the respective society that takes the responsibility has its own ways of doing this. Therefore, I am not sure that we can predict where it will go. We have seen that the congresses in Prague and particularly in Turkey were disappointing in terms of participation. That is a big problem and we have to think very hard about where this is coming from. We see that the participation depends on the strength of the local community. The biggest congress in terms of participation was the one the GDCh organised in Nuremberg in 2010 with around 2,500 participants. However, about half of the participants were Germans. We certainly need to work hard to make the congress to all chemists in Europe (and beyond!) a must go event and to decouple participation from the country the congress takes place.

What in your view can be the differential factor this time for the 6th EuCheMS congress in Seville?

We should try to find solutions of how to make it more visible and attractive outside of Spain and that of course is something where the help of other societies is very strongly needed. I think there is still a lot of room for improvement. Of course, every congress has its own focus. In addition, in Spain we have the big advantage that it is not only a scientifically interesting program but also the location is very attractive. Hence, I am very optimistic that the congress in Seville will be very successful.

Based on what you know, how do you evaluate ANQUE’s organization of the Congress so far?

As far as I can tell ANQUE is doing a very good and very professional job. I always got the impression that people in ANQUE know what they are doing.

What would you describe the Spanish scientific community?

My impression is that it is a very lively community and that the quality of the chemistry research that is coming out of Spain has increased a lot in the past years. In that respect Spain has been a very positive exception to many of the other European countries. On the other hand, I also see that in the more recent past due to the economic problems, research in publicly funded institutions, such as universities, is facing difficulties. I very much hope that measures are being taken in Spain to mitigate this situation.

Why should someone who has never participated attend the 6th EuCheMS congress?

I would say you have to go there because of the excellent chemistry being showcased there and of course because of the wonderful location. It is just a perfect combination.