The Leibniz Institute for Photonic Technologies (Leibniz IPHT) commemorates the physicist, politician and dedicated minister Dagmar Schipanski, who passed away on September 7, 2022 after a short serious illness.

A native of Thuringia, she taught as a professor of solid-state electronics at Ilmenau Technical University from 1990 before becoming the first woman to chair the German Science Council in 1996. During her tenure as Thuringian Minister for Science, Research and the Arts (1999 – 2004), Dagmar Schipanski accompanied and supported the successful development of the institute (then: Institute for Physical High Technology – IPHT).

Prof. Jürgen Popp, scientific director at the Leibniz IPHT, appreciates the work of the former minister: „In her political function, Dagmar Schipanski set an important course for the Thuringian research location. As a scientist, she was a competent partner and achieved a lot for Jena, the Beutenberg Campus and especially for our institute. Our condolences go to her family and relatives. We will remember Dagmar Schipanski with gratitude“.