Gregor Lax

Paul J. Crutzen and the path to the Anthropocene

Paul J. Crutzen and the Anthropocene: A New Epoch in Earth’s History, 2021

Presents a comprehensive collection of articles on the Anthropocene Collects unique primary resea... more

Paul J. Crutzen and the Antrhopocene: A New Epoch in Earth's History, 2021

The book outlines the development and perspectives of the Anthopocene concept by Paul J. Crutzen ... more

From Atmospheric Chemistry to Earth System Science. Contributions to the recent history of the Max-Planck-Institute for Chemistry (Otto-Hahn-Institute), 1959-2000

From Atmospheric Chemistry to Earth System Science. Contributions to the recent history of the Max-Planck-Institute for Chemistry (Otto-Hahn-Institute), 1959-2000, 2018

The book leads the reader through the re-orientation process of the institute starting in the lat... more The book leads the reader through the re-orientation process of the institute starting in the late 1950’s until 1968 when Christian Junge was appointed as director of the new department of atmospheric chemistry, which still exists today. Furthermore, it discusses the development of Junge’s department in the context of German research in the 1970’s. There, a new integrative approach of research was established in connection to the collaborative research program 73 “atmospheric trace-gases”, sponsored by the German Research Foundation. The final chapter is subdivided into two parts and deals with the expansion of Earth system science at the MPIC after the era of Christian Junge. Part one deals with the establishment of biogeochemistry in the middle of the 1980’s under the leadership of Meinrat O. Andreae, with a focus on large-scale biomass-burning campaigns, and on feedback-loop mechanisms in the Earth system. Part two is dedicated to Nobel Laureate Paul Crutzen’s studies of the human influence on the Earth system from the early 1970’s until the year 2000, including topics such as supersonic air transport, chlorofluorocarbons, the ozone layer, nuclear winter, and the Anthropocene as a new geological epoch.

Das ‚lineare Modell der Innovation‘ in Westdeutschland. Eine Geschichte der Hierarchisierung von Grundlagen- und Anwendungsforschung nach 1945

Das ‚lineare Modell der Innovation‘ gehört in der interdisziplinären Wissenschaftsforschung zu de... more Das ‚lineare Modell der Innovation‘ gehört in der interdisziplinären Wissenschaftsforschung zu den meist genannten und zugleich umstrittensten Beschreibungen von Forschung und Entwicklung (FuE). Die Analyse des wissenschaftspolitischen Interdiskurses zwischen Politik, Wissenschaft und Wirtschaft in der westdeutschen Wissenschaftslandschaft nach 1945 zeigt, wie sich zwischen ökonomisch geprägten Nützlichkeitserwartungen und humanistisch gefärbten Idealvorstellungen eine tiefgreifende Hierarchisierung von Grundlagen- und Anwendungs-forschung herausbildete. Der ‚reinen‘, ‚freien‘ Grundlagenforschung wurde dabei auf rhetorischer, ideologischer, institutioneller und in Ansätzen auch juristischer Ebene eine bevorzugte Stellung gegenüber Anwendungsbereichen eingeräumt.

Papers by Gregor Lax

Nomos eBooks, 2015

From Anthropogenic Influences to the Anthropocene: A Historical View on Paul Crutzens Research, since the Early 1970's until Today

Springer, 2019

Das 'lineare Modell der Innovation' in Westdeutschland, 2015

Das 'lineare Modell der Innovation' in Westdeutschland, 2015

8. Lineare Modelle

Das 'lineare Modell der Innovation' in Westdeutschland, 2015

Das 'lineare Modell der Innovation' in Westdeutschland, 2015

Das lineare Modell der Innovation in Westdeutschland. Eine Geschichte der Hierarchisierung von Grundlagen- und Anwendungsforschung, nach 1945. (The 'linear model of innovation' in Western Germany. A history of the hierarchy between basic sciences and applied sciences after 1945

Paul Crutzen on the Ozone Hole, Nitrogen Oxides, and the Nobel Prize

Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2012

Carsten Reinhardt: How did you become involved in meteorology? Paul Crutzen: I had studied civil ... more Carsten Reinhardt: How did you become involved in meteorology? Paul Crutzen: I had studied civil engineering. I wanted to be a scientist really. One day I saw an advertisement in a newspaper for a programmer, and I applied for it. I didnt know what a programmer was, but I found out soon enough and got a position at a meteorological institute at the University of Stockholm. At the time it was a Mecca for meteorological research. I applied, and was chosen from 80 applicants-I was lucky. And the best thing was that I was at the university, so apart from the programming I could occasionally go to lectures. That is how I entered the world of academia. Work that I particularly liked was on ozone. […] I began to gain the freedom to carry out science, not just programming, but also thinking about what was going on in the atmosphere. As I was already working on the ozone problem, I expanded on that, and then I discovered the significance of the nitrogen oxides. Nitrogen oxide in the troposphere generates ozone, whereas it destroys ozone in the stratosphere. Bullseye. Furthermore, at the time the supersonic jets were being built that emit NO x , nitrogen oxide. My interest in atmospheric chemistry, and how it takes place in nature, thus took on major significance. I came in as I was successful, and then one has a taste for blood and cant turn back… Reinhardt: When was the first moment for you when you realized, on an atmospheric scale, that climate change exists that is caused by mankind? Was it a surprise for you to discover this? Crutzen: No, I could see the relevance of the nitrogen oxides directly. And I also knew then of the significance for humankind, that dangerous radiation is filtered by ozone. At the time I dedicated my first publication on nitrogen oxides to my wife. I wrote "Lets hope that it doesnt disturb our future too much." Gregor Lax: How was the situation as you moved to the MPI of Chemistry? Crutzen: We were interested in returning to Europe, my wife and I. We had spent six years in the USA, and one day I received a call. That was in 1979, and I was asked whether I would be interested in coming to the Max Planck Society. Reinhardt: How did you find it in Mainz? How was the institute, what was it like? Crutzen: As I came to Mainz, programming and descriptions of models were my interests. You applied for resources, and you got them. I had my first students here at the institute. And many colleagues, and students from Holland, came over, and returned as professors to Holland or became professors here. One of them, Jos Lelieveld, was made my successor, that is, scientific Head of Department. In the meantime there is no longer one section, but rather three, which are involved with atmospheric chemistry, physics, and biogeochemistry. That is how it has developed.

Zum Aufbau der Atmosphärenwissenschaften in der BRD seit 1968

NTM Zeitschrift für Geschichte der Wissenschaften, Technik und Medizin, 2016

On the formation-process of the Atmospheric Sciences in the FRG since 1968 This article examines ... more On the formation-process of the Atmospheric Sciences in the FRG since 1968 This article examines the formation-process of the atmospheric sciences in the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) with a particular focus on the 1970's, when atmospheric research expanded massively on an institutional, methodological and conceptual level. Up until now this episode is just rudimental studied historically or sociologically, especially for the FRG. The formation of the atmospheric sciences will be illustrated by two case studies: the foundation and development since 1968 of the first department of atmospheric chemistry in the Max Planck Society (Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, MPG) and the collaborative research program ''atmospheric tracegases'' initiated in 1970 by the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG).

Wissenschaft zwischen Planung, Aufgabenteilung und Kooperation. Zum Aufstieg der Erdsystemforschung in der MPG, 1968–2000.

Paul J. Crutzen and the Anthropocene: A New Epoch in Earth’s History

Ergebnisse des Forschungsprogramms Geschichte der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, 2020

https://gmpg.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/media/cms_page_media/221/12final_5UaaQCV.pdf

Von der Atmosphärenchemie zur Erforschung des Erdsystems. Beiträge zur jüngeren Geschichte des Max-Planck-Instituts für Chemie (Otto-Hahn-Institut), 1959-2000

Die Wissenschaftlichen Mitglieder des Kaiser-Wilhelm-/Max-Planck-Instituts für Chemie (Kurzbiographien)

ABSTRACT Short biographies of all scientific members of the KWI-/MPI for Chemistry, 1911-2012

Wissenschaft zwischen Planung, Aufgabenteilung und Kooperation. Zum Aufstieg der Erdsystemforschung in der MPG, 1968–2000

Federführend ist bei der Entwicklung des Clusterkonzepts Carsten Reinhardt. Wesentlich beteiligt ... more

Paul J. Crutzen and the path to the Anthropocene

Paul J. Crutzen and the Anthropocene: A New Epoch in Earth’s History, 2021

Presents a comprehensive collection of articles on the Anthropocene Collects unique primary resea... more

Paul J. Crutzen and the Antrhopocene: A New Epoch in Earth's History, 2021

The book outlines the development and perspectives of the Anthopocene concept by Paul J. Crutzen ... more

From Atmospheric Chemistry to Earth System Science. Contributions to the recent history of the Max-Planck-Institute for Chemistry (Otto-Hahn-Institute), 1959-2000

From Atmospheric Chemistry to Earth System Science. Contributions to the recent history of the Max-Planck-Institute for Chemistry (Otto-Hahn-Institute), 1959-2000, 2018

Das ‚lineare Modell der Innovation‘ in Westdeutschland. Eine Geschichte der Hierarchisierung von Grundlagen- und Anwendungsforschung nach 1945

Nomos eBooks, 2015

From Anthropogenic Influences to the Anthropocene: A Historical View on Paul Crutzens Research, since the Early 1970's until Today

Springer, 2019

Das 'lineare Modell der Innovation' in Westdeutschland, 2015

Das 'lineare Modell der Innovation' in Westdeutschland, 2015

8. Lineare Modelle

Das 'lineare Modell der Innovation' in Westdeutschland, 2015

Das 'lineare Modell der Innovation' in Westdeutschland, 2015

Paul Crutzen on the Ozone Hole, Nitrogen Oxides, and the Nobel Prize

Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2012

Zum Aufbau der Atmosphärenwissenschaften in der BRD seit 1968

NTM Zeitschrift für Geschichte der Wissenschaften, Technik und Medizin, 2016

Wissenschaft zwischen Planung, Aufgabenteilung und Kooperation. Zum Aufstieg der Erdsystemforschung in der MPG, 1968–2000.

Paul J. Crutzen and the Anthropocene: A New Epoch in Earth’s History

Ergebnisse des Forschungsprogramms Geschichte der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, 2020

https://gmpg.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/media/cms_page_media/221/12final_5UaaQCV.pdf

Von der Atmosphärenchemie zur Erforschung des Erdsystems. Beiträge zur jüngeren Geschichte des Max-Planck-Instituts für Chemie (Otto-Hahn-Institut), 1959-2000

Die Wissenschaftlichen Mitglieder des Kaiser-Wilhelm-/Max-Planck-Instituts für Chemie (Kurzbiographien)

ABSTRACT Short biographies of all scientific members of the KWI-/MPI for Chemistry, 1911-2012

Wissenschaft zwischen Planung, Aufgabenteilung und Kooperation. Zum Aufstieg der Erdsystemforschung in der MPG, 1968–2000

Federführend ist bei der Entwicklung des Clusterkonzepts Carsten Reinhardt. Wesentlich beteiligt ... more

Anwendungsorientierung in der universitären Forschung. Historische Perspektiven auf eine aktuelle Debatte

Chronik des Kaiser-Wilhelm-/Max.Planck-Instituts für Chemie

23.12.1911 Der Verein Chemische Reichsanstalt und die KWG schließen einen Vertrag über die Errich... more 23.12.1911 Der Verein Chemische Reichsanstalt und die KWG schließen einen Vertrag über die Errichtung eines chemischen Forschungsinstituts, das als „KaiserWilhelm-Institut für Chemie“ gegründet werden soll. Baubeginn für das in Berlin-Dahlem, ielallee 63-67 (damals Faradayweg 4-6) gelegene Institut unter Leitung des Oberho aurates Ernst v. Ihne (1848-1917) und Kgl. Baurat Max Guth (1859-1925) war bereits Ende Oktober 2011. Dem Verwaltungsausschuss für das KWI für Chemie gehören an: Emil Fischer (Vorsitzender), Walther Nernst (1864-1941, NP 1920), Franz Oppenheim (1852-1929), Gustav von Brüning (1864-1913) sowie für die preußische Regierung Ministerialdirektor Friedrich Schmidt(-Ott) (1860-1956) bzw. in dessen Vertretung Hugo Krüß (1879-1945). Den wissenscha lichen Beirat leitet Otto Wallach (1847-1931, NP 1910).

Professional devotion, national needs, fascists claims, and democratic virtues : the language of science policy in Germany

4. Forschungskategorisierende Begriffe in Kontexten der(Re-)Organisation der Wissenschaftslandschaft in denWestzonen

Das 'lineare Modell der Innovation' in Westdeutschland, 2015

Horst Kant, Gregor Lax, Carsten Reinhardt: Die Wissenschaftlichen Mitarbeiter des Kaiser-Wilhelm-/ Max-Planck-Instituts für Chemie, (Kurzbiographien)

Short Biographies of the directors and "Wissenschaftliche Mitglieder" of the Kaiser-Wilhelm-/Max-... more

Horst Kant, Gregor Lax: Chronik des KWI/MPI für Chemie

Chronicle of the Kaiser-Wilhem-/Max-Planck-Institute for Chemistry (Otto-Hahn-Institute).