The German Chemical Society (GDCh) awarded the August Wilhelm von Hofmann Medal to the Rector of Lviv University, Academician of the NAS of Ukraine Professor Roman Gladyshevskii. This was reported by the press service of the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv.

It is noted that the prestigious award was presented to the Rector of Lviv University for scientific achievements and special merits in the field of chemistry, as well as for commitment to science under war conditions.

The award ceremony will take place on July 16 at the 10th Chemistry Congress of the European Chemical Society (EuChemS) in Antwerp (Belgium).

In the award announcement of the Medal, it was emphasized that inorganic chemist Roman Gladyshevskii, who has headed the Lviv Crystallochemical School since 2006, researches the crystal structures of intermetallic compounds, and his works in the field of aluminides, halides, silicides, and germanides of rare-earth elements are characterized by particular innovation.

Separately, the German Chemical Society noted the high scientific performance of Lviv University under war conditions and initiatives aimed at helping victims of Russian aggression. Specifically, it is stated that even under air raid sirens, modern research and a high-quality educational process continue at the University, and practical laboratory work remains a priority and is not replaced by digital analogs. Furthermore, Lviv University remains an active participant in the European research area, and in 2023, the 15th International Conference on Crystal Chemistry of Intermetallic compounds brought together participants from 13 countries.

Commenting on the decision of the German Chemical Society, Roman Gladyshevskii emphasized that this high award is the result of the collective work of the entire university community and testifies to the integration of Ukrainian science into the global space.

"This honorary distinction is not only a personal achievement, but above all a recognition of the resilience and high professionalism of the entire staff of the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv. I also consider this an award for many generations of Lviv scientists who for decades established the leadership of the Lviv Crystallochemical School in the world. I am sincerely grateful to my colleagues for their dedication to the cause, and to our German partners for their solidarity with Ukrainian science and the high appraisal of our joint work," — noted the rector.

Background

The August Wilhelm von Hofmann Medal is an award from the German Chemical Society for outstanding contributions to chemistry. The Medal is awarded to foreign chemists or German figures who are not chemists but have achieved significant success in chemistry. This award has a long tradition: it was founded in 1902 by the predecessor society — the German Chemical Society — and is named after the founder and long-time president of the society, August Wilhelm von Hofmann (1818-1892).

Among the medal recipients are scientists who have made significant progress in the development of chemistry, including William Lawrence Bragg (1967) — winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1915 for his services in the investigation of crystal structures by means of X-rays, one of the founders of the tools of modern crystal chemistry; Omar Yaghi (2020) — winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2025 for the development of metal-organic frameworks; Paul Anastas and John Charles Warner (2022) — the founders of green chemistry.