Bernd Rech elected to the BR50 Board of Directors
The new Board of Directors at BR50: (from the left) Anja Sommerfeld (Head of the office), Bernd Rech (HZB), Noa K. Ha (DeZIM), Michael Hintermüller (WIAS), Uta Bielfeldt (DRFZ), not on the picture Volker Haucke. © Berlin Research 50
The Scientific Director at Helmholt-Zentrum Berlin is the new face behind the "Natural Sciences" unit at Berlin Research 50 (BR50). Following the election in December 2025, the constituent meeting of the new BR50 Board of Directors took place on 22 January 2026.
Its members are Michael Hintermüller (Weierstrass Institute, WIAS), Noa K. Ha (German Centre for Integration and Migration Research, DeZIM), Volker Haucke (Leibniz Research Institute for Molecular Pharmacology, FMP), Uta Bielfeldt (German Rheumatism Research Centre Berlin, DRFZ) and Bernd Rech (HZB).
Each board member coordinates a specific subject area: social sciences and humanities, life sciences, technology and engineering, and natural sciences. Bernd Rech, who has been Scientific Director of HZB since 2017 and is highly regarded internationally as an expert in renewable energies and technology transfer, will coordinate the Natural Sciences Unit.
First goals for the new year
At the constituent meeting, important priorities for the new year were set. Among other things, a visit to State Secretary Henry Marx (Berlin Senate Department for Science, Health and Care) and the expansion of strategic cooperation with the Berlin University Alliance (BUA) are planned. The aim is to jointly shape science policy framework conditions for a competitive location. In addition, the board aims to strengthen networking among members and integrate them more closely into the alliance. Berlin Research 50 includes almost all non-university institutes and centres in the Berlin area. Together, they want to be a central point of contact for cooperation with Berlin's universities and facilitate exchange with society and politics. Similar to the BUA, the alliance of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, BR50 also aims to provide a dialogue platform for the participating institutions.
HZB involvement in advisory bodies
Twenty-five scientists from HZB are currently involved in scientific advisory boards, supervisory boards or similar advisory bodies. There, they contribute their latest expertise and advise on strategic direction.
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Berlin Research 50 Website
Members of the BR50 Board of Directors and their responsibilities:
*Prof. Dr. Michael Hintermüller (BR50 Executive Board Spokesperson and Coordinator of the Technology and Engineering Sciences Unit, WIAS)
* Dr Noa K. Ha (Deputy Spokesperson for the Executive Board and Coordinator of the Social Sciences Unit, DeZIM)
* Prof. Dr. Volker Haucke (Coordinator of the Life Sciences Unit, FMP)
* Prof. Dr Bernd Rech (Coordinator of the Natural Sciences Unit, HZB)
* Uta Bielfeldt (Coordinator of Administrative Management, DRFZ)
- BESSY II: How intrinsic oxygen shortens the lifespan of solid-state batteriesAlthough solid-state batteries (SSBs) demonstrate high performance and are intrinsically safe, their capacity currently declines rapidly. A team from the TU Wien, Humboldt-University Berlin and HZB has now analysed a TiS₂|Li₃YCl₆ solid-state half-cell in operando at BESSY II using a special sample environment that allows for non-destructive investigation under real operating conditions. Data obtained by combination of soft and hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS and HAXPES) revealed a new degradation mechanism that had not previously been identified in solid-state batteries. They have gained some surprising insights, particularly regarding the harmful role played by intrinsic oxygen. This study provides valuable information for improving design and handling of such batteries.
- Too old for research at 60? From nuclear physics to papyrus researchA career in science can be personally fulfilling. However, this also means accepting the unpredictable: research topics may no longer receive funding, and laboratories may close. Heinz-Eberhard Mahnke experienced this first-hand when he had to seek new challenges in his early 60s. Today, the 81-year-old is still active in research, using non-destructive measurement methods to examine ancient artefacts of inestimable cultural value. Antonia Rötger spoke with this extraordinary researcher, whose curiosity and drive are truly inspiring.
- Spintronics at BESSY II: Real-time analysis of magnetic bilayer systemsSpintronic devices enable data processing with significantly lower energy consumption. They are based on the interaction between ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic layers. Now, a team from Freie Universität Berlin, HZB and Uppsala University has succeeded in tracking, for each layer separately, how the magnetic order changes after a short laser pulse has excited the system. They were also able to identify the main cause of the loss of antiferromagnetic order in the oxide layer: the excitation is transported from the hot electrons in the ferromagnetic metal to the spins in the antiferromagnet.