Professor Dr Benno Parthier (✝︎)
XXIV. President of the Leopoldina (1990 - 2003)
- Section Genetics/Molecular Biology and Cell Biology
- Location Halle (Saale), Germany
- Election year 1974
Research
Main research interests: Genetical, molecular-biological and biochemical foundations of biosynthesis and effects of jasmonates, Biosynthesis of nukleic acids and proteins, Cell differentiation in plants
Benno Parthier was a molecular biologist. As XXIV. President of the Leopoldina, he integrated the academy into the German federal system of science and research.
Benno Parthier was a molecular biologist. As XXIV. President of the Leopoldina, he integrated the academy into the German federal system of science and research.
Career
- 1998 Age-related retirement as Director of the Institute of Plant Biochemistry of the Leibniz Association (IPB); Retired professor at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany
- 1993 Appointed Professor (C4) of Cellular Biochemistry at Halle University (joint appointment with the non-university Institute of Plant Biochemistry)
- 1992-1997 Managing Director of the Institute of Plant Biochemistry (IPB) and Head of the Department of Hormone Research, Halle
- 1991 Appointed Founding Director of the Institute of Plant Biochemistry (IPB) in Halle by the Minister of Science and Education of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany
- 1990 Democratically elected as Director of the Institute of the Biochemistry of Plants (IBP) in Halle; approval from the President of the Academy of Sciences of the GDR
- 1975 Appointed Professor of Molecular Biology at the Academy of Sciences of the GDR
- 1968-1975 Lecturer in Molecular Biology, training contract with Halle University, GDR
- 1967-1990 Head of the Department of Molecular Biology at the Institute of the Biochemistry of Plants at the Academy of Sciences of the GDR
- 1967 Habilitation at Halle University, GDR; venia legendi
- 1966 Research assistant at the Institute of the Biochemistry of Plants at the German Academy of Sciences in Halle, GDR
- 1965-1966 Year abroad as scholarship-holder at the Wenner-Gren Institute for Experimental Biology at Stockholm University, Sweden
- 1961-1965 Senior assistant at the Botanical Institute of Halle University, GDR
- 1961 Obtained Ph.D. (in botany) at Halle University, GDR
- 1958-1961 Assistant at the Institute of General Botany at Halle University, GDR
- 1958 Graduated in biology
- 1952-1957 Biology degree studies at Halle University, GDR
Functions
- 1998-2010 Member of the Board of Trustees of the Beckurts Foundation, Munich, Germany
- 1994-1998 Member of the Board of Trustees of the German Botanical Society
- 1994-1996 Chairman of the Scientific Commission of the German Council of Science and Humanities (Wissenschaftsrat), and Chair of the Research Committee
- 1991-1997 Member of the German Council of Science and Humanities
- 1991-1995 Member and Vice President of the Board of Trustees of the German National Academic Foundation
- 1990-2003 President of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, re-elected in 1997 (previously: 1978-1987 Secretary, 1987-1990 Vice President of Natural Sciences)
- 1972-1980 Member of the Board of the Biological Society of the GDR
- 1969-1979 Member of the Board of the Biochemical Society of the GDR
- 1966-1975 Member of the Biochemistry Central Working Group of the Research Council of the GDR, then member of the Biochemistry and Technology Central Working Group until 1985
Honours and Memberships
- 2018 Order of merit of the State of Saxony-Anhalt
- 2007 Hans Olaf Henkel Prize (Award for Science Policy) of the Leibniz Association
- 2007 Honorary member of the German Botanical Society
- 2003 Cothenius Medal of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina
- 2002 Honorary doctorate in natural sciences from the Faculty of Biology at the University of Würzburg
- 2002 Honour goblet from the City of Halle, Germany
- 1998 External member of the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences, Crakow, Poland
- 1997 Federal Cross of Merit, First Class, of the Federal Republic of Germany
- 1994 Associate member of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities
- 1992 External member of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine
- 1992 Member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, Salzburg, Austria
- 1991 External member of the Academy of Public Sciences, Erfurt, Germany
- 1990 Member of the Academia Europaea, London, UK
- 1990 Walter Friedrich Medal of the Academy of Sciences of the GDR
- 1989 Corresponding member of the North Rhine-Westphalian Academy of Sciences and Humanities
- 1988 Corresponding member of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences
- 1982 Corresponding member (full member in 1988) of the Academy of Sciences of the GDR
- 1978 Full member of the Saxonian Academy of Sciences in Leipzig, Germany
- 1974 Member of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina