image: Award winners Lanzendorf (from left to right): Enrico Schleiff, Tarek Al-Wazir, Martin Lanzendorf and Gunther Ruppel (Alfons und Gertrud Kassel-Stiftung)
Credit: Uwe Dettmar/Goethe University Frankfurt
FRANKFURT. Prizes serve different purposes, Goethe University President Prof. Enrico Schleiff emphasized in his welcoming address: On the one hand, they motivate university employees by recognizing their achievements or commitment, while on the other, they focus attention on certain topics. The names of the two prizes awarded – “Public Service Fellowship” and “New Horizon” – are emblematic for Goethe University Frankfurt: “We develop knowledge for the benefit of society and work continuously to reach new horizons.” Schleiff expressly thanked the sponsors – the Alfons und Gertrud Kassel-Stiftung and Dr. Christian Zschocke – as well as the two laudators, Tarek Al-Wazir and Dr. Christian Schenk.
This year's “Public Service Fellowship Prize” of Alfons und Gertrud-Kassel Stiftung goes to Prof. Dr. Martin Lanzendorf. Lanzendorf has been professor of mobility research at Goethe University’s Institute of Human Geography since 2008. The professorship was established with an endowment from the Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund (RMV, Rhine/Main Regional Transport Association) and ivm (Integrated Traffic and Mobility Management Region Frankfurt RheinMain). His research interests include various aspects of mobility in metropolitan regions, especially changes in traffic behavior, spatial aspects of traffic generation, and mobility management to shape a more sustainable mobility development. Outlining the reasons behind his nomination, the funders highlighted Martin Lanzendorf’s outstanding commitment and his ability to communicate the results of his research on particularly relevant sustainable mobility development issues to an audience that extends far beyond the scientific community. The laudatory speech for Martin Lanzendorf was held by Tarek Al-Wazir, legal policy spokesman for the Bündnis 90/Die Grünen parliamentary group in the Hessian state parliament. Al-Wazir emphasized that by ensuring that people perceive change as an opportunity rather than a threat, Lanzendorf inspires others with his work.
The "Public Service Fellowship Prize”, endowed with €10,000, is awarded every two years by Alfons und Gertrud Kassel-Stiftung to Goethe University researchers who play an active role in important scientific or science policy committees. The prize money is intended to enable projects that could not be continued due to the special commitment they require. Martin Lanzendorf is the fifth prize winner. Previous winners include legal scholar Indra Spiecker genannt Döhmann, educational scientist Sabine Andresen, financial scientist and former “wise man of economics” Prof. Volker Wieland, as well as medical scientist and long-standing chairman of the Federal Government's Expert Council on Health, Prof. Dr. Ferdinand Gerlach.
This year's winner of the President's New Horizon Prize is not an individual, but a team: that of the Science Garden. The award recognizes the team led by landscape architect and technical director Robert Anton for its curiosity, drive, creativity and very high level of commitment to the sustainable development of natural resources and areas as well as the protection of biodiversity. The outstandingly dedicated team is active on behalf of the Science Garden, Goethe University’s grounds and the public, and deeply committed to raising the profile of biodiversity and sustainable development. The laudator of this year’s New Horizon Prize was Dr. Christoph Schenk, managing director of Frankfurt Zoological Society. His laudatory speech emphasized the exemplary manner in which the Science Garden addresses major issues of our time and transmits them to society. The Science Garden on Riedberg Campus was opened on June 1, 2014 as part of the university's centenary celebrations. It is used for scientific teaching and research, and comprises a large greenhouse, a 300 square meter experimental greenhouse, eight climate chambers (under construction) and an outdoor area that currently covers around three hectares. The Science Garden is the university's third garden in its 100-year history and dates back to the garden established by Johann Christian Senckenberg and his foundation in 1763.
The President’s "New Horizon” Prize, endowed with €5,000, honors a person or team at Goethe University who, in their academic work or other commitment to the university, are breaking new ground in their thinking and demonstrating curiosity, optimism, courage and openness. The New Horizon Prize was awarded to business education specialist Dr. Christin Siegfried in 2022 and to inclusion researcher Lukas Gerhard in 2023. Lawyer Dr. Christian Zschocke launched the New Horizon project in 2016 to encourage people with initiative and optimism.
The Alfons und Gertrud Kassel-Stiftung was established in 2007 with the aim of promoting science, research and teaching at Goethe University. It is based on an endowment bequeathed by its founder, Gertrud Kassel. The foundation supports numerous university projects.