Prof. Stefan Hecht is a new member of the National Academy of Science and Engineering

The National Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech) has elected the Scientific Director of the DWI – Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials, Stefan Hecht, as a new member. With him, Prof. Stefan Jockenhövel (2019, Associate Scientist at DWI) as well as Prof. Martin Möller (2008, former Scientific Director of DWI), the Leibniz Institute in Aachen is represented three times in acatech.

Stefan Hecht has been Scientific Director of the DWI – Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials and Chair of Macromolecular Chemistry at RWTH Aachen University since 2019. He is very pleased about his election to the National Academy of Science and Engineering: "This election means both recognition and motivation for me. I am extremely honored to be able to develop technological solutions and recommendations for pressing future issues together with renowned colleagues," says the chemist. As a new acatech member, he will be particularly active in the field of materials science.

About the National Academy of Science and Engineering

Acatech is a national academy funded by the German federal and state governments. It represents the engineering sciences at home and abroad and provides efficient structures for science-based dialog on technology-related issues of the future. Four focal points determine its work:

• Scientific recommendations and opinions
• Knowledge transfer and networking of science and economy
• Promoting young talent in technical professions
• International representation of the engineering sciences

Members are admitted to the academy based on their outstanding scientific achievements and high reputation. acatech has more than 400 members. They come from the engineering and natural sciences, medicine, and the humanities and social sciences. The selected experts from science, industry and society develop well-founded draft proposals for action, which are introduced into the public and political debate. For example, in 2019 a group of experts, of which Prof. Möller is a member, published an impulse paper with reference to the biologization of materials research (Materialforschung: Impulsgeber Natur. Innovationspotenzial biologisch inspirierter Materialien und Werkstoffe). Among other things, this paper uses examples to show the variety of possible structural, functional and synthesis principles with which nature is already inspiring materials research and will continue to do so in the future - advancing society and the economy.