Wolfgang-Ostwald-Prize (27.5.1883 - 22.11.1943, Leipzig)
Wolfgang Ostwald, a German chemist, was one of the founders of colloid chemistry. He defined colloids as disperse systems that contain small particles between 1 nanometer and 0,1 micrometer in size. Wolfgang Ostwald investigated systematically different types of colloidal systems, such as gels, rubbers, suspensions, paper, clay minerals, foods, emulsions and foams. During his experiments he discovered the rule of coloured dispersion, explained non-linear rheological properties and turbulence and developed a theory of osmosis and pH-indicators. Wolfgang Ostwald published more than 260 papers and several books as the famous standard textbook: "The world of neglected dimensions (Die Welt der vernachlässigten Dimensionen" (1914)). Wolfgang Ostwald edited (from 1909) "Kolloidchemische Beihefte" and besides these activities he was also the first president of the German Colloid Society (1922-1943).
Nowadays, the German Colloid Society can honor outstanding scientific research in the area of pure or applied colloid science by the Wolfgang-Ostwald-Prize. The scientific life-performance of outstanding experts should primarily be appreciated by this award. Younger scientists are not excluded from obtaining this prize. The price consists of a document and a memorial-coin.
Laureates 1961 – 2007
1961 Otto Kratky (1902 - 1995), Chemiker, Graz (Österreich)
1963 F. Horst Müller (1907 - 1986), Chemiker, Marburg
1965 Ulrich Hofmann (1903 - 1986), Chemiker, Heidelberg
1971 Walter Noll (1907 - 1987), Chemiker, Leverkusen
1973 Günther Rehage (1920 - 1984), Chemiker, Clausthal-Zellerfeld
1975 Bun-ichi-Tamamushi (1898 - 1983), Chemiker, Tokio (Japan)
1979 Ron H. Ottewill (geb. 1927), Chemiker, Bristol (England)
1981 Ervin Wolfram (1923 - 1985), Chemiker, Budapest (Ungarn)
1989 Jan Theodor Gerad Overbeek (geb. 1911), Chemiker, Utrecht (Niederlande)
1991 Pierre-Gilles de Gennes (geb. 1932-2007), Physiker, Paris (Frankreich)
1993 Wolfgang Helfrich (geb. 1932), Physiker, Berlin
1995 Hans Sonntag (1932 - 1997), Chemiker, Berlin
1997 Stig Friberg (geb. 1932), Chemiker; Potsdam, N. Y. (USA)
1998 Gerhard Findenegg, Chemiker, Berlin
1999 A. W. Neumann, Chemiker, Toronto (Kanada)
2001 Erich Sackmann, Physiker, München
2004 Gerhard Lagaly, Chemiker, Kiel
2005 Barry William Ninham, Physiker, Florenz (Italien) / Australien
2007 Martien Cohen-Stuart, Chemiker, Wageningen (NL)
2009 Helmuth Möhwald, Physiker, Potsdam
