Astrid Lambrecht Elected to the National Academy of Sciences
22 March 2024
Prof. Dr. Astrid Lambrecht becomes a new member of Leopoldina
The renowned quantum physicist and Chair of the Board of Directors of Forschungszentrum Jülich, Prof. Dr. Astrid Lambrecht, has been elected to the German National Academy of Sciences (Leopoldina).
Lambrecht primarily conducted research on quantum fluctuations and the phenomena they cause, for example the Casimir effect and its role in various scientific fields such as nanophysics, biology, and chemistry. Lambrecht’s research spanned from basic research to application.
“Being accepted into Leopoldina is a great personal honour for me. I am really looking forward to contributing my experience to the work at Leopoldina,” says Lambrecht. Leopoldina’s interdisciplinary approach is key to solving the complex issues of our time, she adds. Research benefits from a variety of approaches, as this allows creative solutions to emerge, Lambrecht says.
Personal background
Astrid Lambrecht, who was born in Mülheim an der Ruhr in 1967, studied physics in Essen and London, and completed her doctoral degree at the Laboratoire Kastler Brossel (LKB) research institute in Paris in 1995. In 2002, Prof. Lambrecht obtained her habilitation from the Pierre and Marie Curie University (today Sorbonne University) in Paris. Before joining Forschungszentrum Jülich, she was director of the Institute of Physics at the headquarters of the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS).
Lambrecht was and is active in numerous national and international scientific bodies and committees, such as the supervisory board of the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) and the French Parliamentary Office for Scientific and Technological Assessment (OPECST). Lambrecht’s most significant awards include the 2005 Aimé Cotton Award from the Société Française de Physique (SFP), the 2013 CNRS silver medal, and the 2016 Gentner-Kastler-Prize, which is awarded jointly by SFP and the German Physical Society (DPG). In 2019, she was also awarded the French Legion of Honour order of merit and in 2023 the CNRS “Médaille d'honneur”.
Leopoldina
Leopoldina is the oldest continuously existing academy of natural sciences and medicine in the world. In 2008, it was designated as the German National Academy of Sciences. Leopoldina selects its members among scientists who have distinguished themselves through their outstanding scientific achievements. As the National Academy of Sciences, Leopoldina provides science-based, interdisciplinary, and independent policy advice on socially relevant issues.
