Heinrich Mecking brought extraordinary life and professional experience to the field of materials science. Born in Klein-Reken in 1930, he first trained as a miner in the coal mines of his Westphalian homeland before embarking on a university career. This was followed by studies in physics, a doctorate and habilitation at RWTH Aachen University, and research stays at institutions including Argonne National Laboratory in the USA. This path – from a practical underground profession to basic research – shaped his understanding of technology, responsibility and science throughout his life.

Heinrich Mecking quickly made a name for himself as one of Germany's leading materials physicists. His scientific work revolves around the plastic deformation, hardening, and crystal plasticity of metallic materials — topics to which he has remained faithful since the late 1960s. He made fundamental contributions to the description of yield strength in metals, the formation of dislocation arrangements after plastic deformation, and recrystallization processes and texture formation. Later, he also turned his attention to intermetallic phases. In 1978, he was awarded the Tammann Medal by the DGM for his work on thermally activated dislocation motion, followed later by the Heyn Commemorative Medal.

He always sought and cultivated scientific exchange. He worked closely with influential metal physicists such as Günther Gottstein, Yuriy Estrin, and Alfred Seeger. He had a particularly close relationship with Fred Kocks for decades; this partnership resulted in several highly cited papers. Their joint publication in 2003 in “Progress in Materials Science” has been cited more than 2,000 times — a recognition that only a few papers in the field of plasticity receive and which impressively underscores the significance of his scientific work.

In 1980, Heinrich Mecking accepted a position at the newly founded Technical University of Hamburg-Harburg. There, he represented materials physics and technology in research and teaching and made a decisive contribution to developing materials science into an internationally visible focus area. Between 1987 and 1993, he was the first elected president of the TUHH and shaped the development of the university at a time when structures, profiles, and collaborations still had to be established. For this work, he was later appointed honorary senator of the TU Hamburg.

Heinrich Mecking also took on responsibility and provided impetus in the DGM for many years. He was chairman of the Metal Physics Working Group (1983–1986), headed the Advisory Board (1987/88), and served as chairman of our society in 1993/94 — at a time when the materials community was realigning itself with Europe after reunification. In his welcoming address on the occasion of the 75^th anniversary of the DGM, he emphasized the role of our society as a moderator between disciplines, between basic research and technical application, between science and industrial practice — a self-image that continues to guide us today.
The picture shown, which depicts him together with FEMS founding president Robert Lallement, symbolizes his thinking beyond national borders and his commitment to a European network of materials science and materials engineering. He never saw the DGM and European cooperation as an end in themselves, but as a necessary structure for bringing together knowledge, people, and ideas.

Those who had the privilege of working with Heinrich Mecking remember him as a precise thinker and an honest discussion partner. In discussions, he combined calmness with analytical acuity, was uncompromising in his arguments, but always respectful in his tone. Many younger scientists experienced him as a supportive mentor who recognized talent, encouraged it, and gave it room to flourish. Characterized by Westphalian serenity and miners' “Glück auf” (good luck), he helped reduce complex situations to their essentials and resolve them.

The DGM bows in gratitude to the life's work of Prof. Dr.-Ing. Heinrich Mecking. We have lost an outstanding scientist, a bridge builder between basic research and application, and a shaper of our society.

Our deepest sympathy goes out to his family and all those who were close to him. His scientific work, his contributions to the DGM, and his example as a person will live on in our community.