The former President of the Nanyang Technological University and biochemist Prof. Dr. Bertil Andersson (CV for download) received the TUM Distinguished Affiliated Professorship (DAP) award on October 7, 21. Since the appointment has been made jointly with the School of Life Science, he became honorary professor both at our Department of Chemistry and at the School of Life Science in Weihenstephan.

The festive ceremony for the award of the appointment certificate has been finally scheduled on the afternoon of October 7th in the club room of the Institute for Advanced Study. Due to the limited number of participants, a live broadcast via zoom was also available.
The event began with introductory words from the two deans, Prof. Dr. Tom Nilges (CH) and Prof. Dr. Ingrid Kögel-Knabner (SoLS), as well as their presentation of the TUM and the two faculties / school. Then the TUM President Prof. Dr. Thonas F. Hofmann gave the laudation on the merits of Prof. Andersson in research, as well as in the organization of the Nanyang Technological University (NTU). The appointment certificate was issued by Prof. Hofmann in the presence of TUM President emeritus Prof. Dr. Wolfgang A. Herrmann to Prof. Dr. Bertil Andersson.
Emotionally touched, Prof. Dr. Bertil Andersson spoke in his entertaining festive lecture entitled "From Cold Sweden to Tropical Singapore - From Doing to Building Science" about the stations of his career. Firstly, he discribed his time as a researcher in the field of biochemistry of plants in Umea, Lund, and as a professor in Stockholm ("doing science"). From there he changed sides from doing to building science from his first presidency at Linköping, followed by the engagement at the European Research Foundation, to his successful reorganization of NTU Singapore as provost and later president. The cooperation between TUM and NTU in the Create program has been described as a good example of global cooperation.

We cordially welcome Prof. Dr. Bertil Andersson in our Department.