Aktuell

• von Juliana Fischer
• 13.10.2026

From the behaviour of water molecules at material surfaces to stories told on the big screen: PD Dr Stéphane Kenmoe combines research with science communication. The American Physical Society (APS) has now elected the physicist at the University of Duisburg-Essen as a Fellow. The distinction recognises his contributions to computational materials research and his worldwide commitment to physics education and outreach.

The APS honours Kenmoe for his computational research into material surfaces and catalytic processes, including those relevant to hydrogen production and cleaner fuels. The award also recognises his worldwide efforts to advance physics education and science communication. Election as an APS Fellow is a special honour conferred by scientific peers. Each year, no more than 0.5 per cent of APS members, excluding students, can be newly elected Fellows.

How can catalysts be improved to make chemical reactions more efficient? This is one of the questions driving Stéphane Kenmoe’s research. Catalysts speed up chemical reactions without being consumed themselves. One example is splitting water to produce hydrogen. Here, the way water molecules interact with the catalyst’s surface also plays a role. Kenmoe uses computer simulations to study these processes at the level of individual atoms. His findings could help researchers develop more effective catalysts.

“I see this honour as recognition from my peers of my contribution to international efforts to preserve knowledge as a shared heritage of humanity,” says Kenmoe.

Kenmoe leads the Condensed Matter Chemistry and Physics research group at the Faculty of Chemistry of the University of Duisburg-Essen. His work includes investigating metal oxides that could replace expensive catalyst materials. His team also conducts research into oxidation reactions in liquids as part of the German Research Foundation (DFG)-funded Collaborative Research Centre/Transregio 247.

For Kenmoe, research and science communication go hand in hand. “On a more personal level, it shows the value of being both a researcher and a science communicator – and the importance of working at open-minded institutions that are willing to rethink how they recognise and reward people who combine these roles.”

Kenmoe is committed to making scientific knowledge and methods accessible worldwide. To this end, the Cameroon-born physicist founded CASESMA in 2018, a training programme that teaches early-career researchers from African countries methods used in computational physics and chemistry and connects them with international experts. More than 400 young researchers have taken part so far.

Kenmoe also uses film to inspire an interest in science. He co-wrote the screenplay for the feature film Seeds of Science and was involved in its production. The film follows a girl in sub-Saharan Africa who discovers a passion for science but struggles to gain access to education.

Further Information

More information on the APS Fellowship:https://www.aps.org/funding-recognition/aps-fellowship/fip-fellowship 

PD Dr. Stéphane Kenmoe, Faculty of Chemistry, Tel.  0049 201 183 2497, stephane.kenmoe@uni-due.de