New HZB magazine lichtblick is out
The new HZB magazine lichtblick is out! Topics are: green hydrogen, construction projects and green construction for Ukraine, ... We invite you to browse through the online edition.
> Link to the English online edition
> Link to the German online edition
Excellent job: Michelle Browne was recently honoured with two awards: the Curios Mind Award from Manager Magazine and 3rd place in the Academic Young Talent Award. The lively Irishwoman is working hard towards her dream of producing inexpensive green hydrogen. Michael O. R. Kröher from Manager Magazin portrays the HZB researcher in the cover story of lichtblick.
The green reconstruction of Ukraine: As a candidate for EU accession, Ukraine must initiate a series of reforms and develop a reconstruction plan, all in the midst of the Russian war of aggression. A German-Ukrainian-Polish project aims to help make Ukraine's climate and energy policy fit for EU accession.
There is a lot to do: HZB's first detailed greenhouse gas balance sheet is now available. Climate and Energy Manager Carina Hanke explains in an interview which are the biggest CO2 emitters and what we need to do now to achieve our goal of becoming greenhouse gas neutral by 2035.
Many construction sites: a lot of building work will start in 2024, especially at the Adlershof site. The construction department provides a brief insight into new building projects.
Here’s to good collaboration: How can we work well together at HZB and advance our work culture? The Diversity Officers invited people to discuss these questions. Many employees contributed great ideas.
"We still have to keep banging away at it" This is what our new Equal Opportunities Officer says in an interview. " A lot of people shut their eyes and act as though everything’s just fine. Equality has not been achieved yet, despite all our efforts."
We hope you enjoy reading the latest lichtblick issue!
As always, we are very happy to receive topics, suggestions, and feedback!
- Magnetic field during catalyst synthesis triples ammonia yieldApplying an external magnetic field during the synthesis of CoFe₂O₄ electrocatalysts triples the ammonia yield during electrocatalytic conversion. The magnetic field alters the surface states of the spinel oxide thin films, making catalytically active sites more accessible. In the journal 'Advanced Functional Materials', a team led by Marcel Risch at HZB and Sanjay Mathur at University of Cologne demonstrates a scalable strategy for developing next-generation electrocatalysts for efficient and sustainable chemical production.
- Shaping diversity together19 May is German Diversity Day, a nationwide day of action that highlights diversity in the workplace. Silvia Zerbe and Ana Anselmo have been appointed as Diversity Officers at HZB. How do they view their role and what are their plans? A conversation about what we all stand to gain by embracing and actively promoting greater diversity. And why it is particularly important to stand up for this in times like these.
- Cool vaccines in rural Kenya: solar solution has been awarded by UNIn May 2026, Tabitha Awuor Amollo is spending some weeks as a guest scientist at HZB, analysing perovskite thin films at BESSY II. The Kenyan physicist from Egerton University, Nairobi, was recently recognised for her achievements in research and teaching. For the development of a solar-powered refrigeration system for use in rural health centres, she has been awarded the 2026 Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD)-Elsevier Foundation Award. An interview on exceptional projects and daily struggles of a scientist. Questions were asked by Antonia Rötger.