Accolade and social commitment at the same time: Prof. Dr. Bernd Rech has become a new member of acatech
The German “National Academy of Science and Engineering – acatech” has admitted Prof. Dr. Bernd Rech, an expert in renewable energies, into its circle of members. Bernd Rech has headed the Institute of Silicon Photovoltaics at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) since 2006 and has been the acting Scientific Director of HZB since May 2017. For many years, and in many capacities, he has been a champion for knowledge transfer. “This appointment is an accolade for his scientific accomplishment, and at the same time involves an honorary mandate,” acatech writes in its press release. The federal- and state-funded academy advises social and political actors on technological matters.
“As a member of acatech, I will weigh in more strongly on debates regarding the issue of our energy supply. Within the academy, I am part of an interdisciplinary team with diverse areas of expertise, which develops recommendations for action for politics and society. It is an exciting and very important set of duties, to which I am very much looking forward,” Bernd Rech says.
Bernd Rech is an internationally renowned expert above all in the fields of photovoltaics and thin-film technology, and has distinguished himself through many successes in technology transfer. He has published more than 300 papers and holds more than ten patents. Rech has also been actively involved for many years in promoting the networking of energy research in Germany. He has been the spokesperson for the “Renewable Energies” research program of the Helmholtz Association since 2008. He is also on the board of the Energy Working Group of the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft. This affords him a complete picture of the scientific and technological challenges involved in converting to a low-carbon energy supply of the future.
acatech welcomes 26 new members
A total of 26 scientists have been newly accepted into acatech. The members of acatech are from the engineering and natural sciences, the humanities, economics and the social sciences, and operate at the interface between science, economics and politics. In interdisciplinary projects, they collaborate with experts from industry and society to develop options and recommendations for action. Subject matters of these projects range from the global energy supply to digitalisation, Industry 4.0 and telecommunications. More information
- Martin Keller elected new president of the Helmholtz AssociationThe Helmholtz Association has appointed internationally respected US-based scientist Martin Keller as its new president. Her has lived in the United States for nearly three decades, during which he has held various scientific leadership roles at prominent institutions. Since 2015, Keller has directed the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado. His term begins on 1.11. 2025.
- Rutger Schlatmann re-elected as ETIP PV ChairThe European Technology and Innovation Platform for Photovoltaics (ETIP PV) was created by the European Commission in order to promote photovoltaic technologies and industries in Europe. Now, the ETIP PV Steering Committee elected a new Chair, as well as two Vice-Chairs for the term 2024 – 2026. Rutger Schlatmann, head of the division Solar Energy at the HZB, and professor at HTW Berlin, was re-elected as the ETIP PV Chair.
- Perovskite solar cells: TEAM PV develops reproducibility and comparabilityTen teams at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin are building a long-term international alliance to converge practices and develop reproducibility and comparability in perovskite materials. The TEAM PV project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Germany.