The University of Duisburg-Essen is awarding Prof. Dr Christian Drosten the 2026 Mercator Professorship. He heads the Institute of Virology at the Charité in Berlin and is internationally renowned for his research into RNA viruses. During the coronavirus pandemic, he became one of the most influential voices in communicating scientific findings to the public. He will deliver his Mercator lecture on 25 November in Essen.

Why are potential organ donations not always identified or followed up in hospitals? The nationwide research project Transplant+, led by the University of Duisburg-Essen, is investigating the causes and aims to improve procedures. It has been awarded 1.25 million euros for this purpose.

What is it really like to govern? Former federal minister Thomas de Maizière will share insights from his decades in politics with students at the NRW School of Governance this winter semester. He joins as the Stiftung Mercator Visiting Professor of Political Management.

Stéphane Kenmoe combines research with science communication. The APS has now elected the UDE-physicist as a Fellow. The distinction recognises his contributions to computational materials research and his worldwide commitment to physics education and outreach.

UDE-Chemist Prof. Dr. Kai S. Exner has been awarded the 2026 Tajima Prize 2026 by the International Society of Electrochemistry. A recent article in Accounts of Materials Research summarises his team's findings on how catalysts change under real reaction conditions.