©Oliver Dietze

©Oliver Dietze

©Oliver Dietze

The celebration was a lively tribute to his contributions to materials research, full of charm and professional depth. Greetings were given by the State Secretary for Science, the President of the University, the President of the Saarland Chamber of Industry and Commerce, and ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer. Colleagues, friends, and former doctoral students shared personal insights and scientific tributes, such as those regarding Mücklich's pioneering work in laser interference technology and his role as a driving force for new approaches in materials development inspired by biological role models. Mücklich's ability to think interdisciplinarily, combine technical visions with practical implementation, and inspire people was at the heart of all the contributions.

Mücklich himself took on the role of moderator, leading the program with his typical humor and focusing on his team, his scientific family, and his supporters. His credo, "The structure knows everything — you just have to find the causalities," exemplifies his research approach of understanding and making usable the complex relationships of material structures.

The German Society for Materials Science (DGM) looks back with great respect on Prof. Frank Mücklich's many years of commitment and professional achievements. He has been an active member of the DGM for 40 years, a commitment that goes far beyond mere membership. He has served as chairman of several working groups, training officer, and member of scientific committees. He was also the co-founder of the DGM-Hub Saar and served as president of the society from 2019 to 2020. In recognition of his exceptional scientific contributions and extraordinary dedication to the professional community, he received the Heyn Memorial Medal in 2023, one of the DGM's most prestigious awards.

His long-standing connection to the DGM is a fourth dimension of the anniversary — a temporal constant that has accompanied all of Mücklich's scientific, technological, and entrepreneurial achievements over the decades. It symbolizes what the DGM stands for as a professional society: a continuous chain of innovation supported by scientific excellence, strategic perseverance, and active transfer — from idea to application and from laboratory to industry.

Frank Mücklich's professional career has been characterized by a deep sense of responsibility towards young scientists, a passion for innovation and a clear commitment to the social relevance of materials science research. The fact that he has turned down numerous offers of appointment from other universities over the years in order to build something long-term in Saarland speaks for his creative drive and deep regional roots. At the same time, his influence can be felt globally - in numerous collaborations, patents, start-ups and not least in the scientific community.

The DGM would like to congratulate Prof. Frank Mücklich on 30 years as Chair, 15 years at MECS, 5 years at SurFunction and 40 years of inspiring commitment to the DGM – and would like to thank him for his extraordinary work for materials science and engineering.