Jean-Marie Lehn, a leading figure in scientific excellence
Among the great scientists who have left their mark onthe University of Strasbourg, Jean-Marie Lehn is one of the most distinguished. After training in Strasbourg, where he spent most of his academic career, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1987, he is one of the founders of supramolecular chemistry and a pioneer in the concepts of molecular recognition and self-organization. His work has led to numerous applications, including the development of next-generation heart valves that grow along with children’s hearts.
In recognition of his academic excellence and his fundamental research, which has led to numerous applications for society, the Foundation was named after him in 2022, with his approval. Thomas Ebbesen emphasizes the strong symbolic significance of this rebranding and what it represents: “The Foundation takes immense pride in upholding the values of humanism, openness, and innovation embodied by Jean-Marie Lehn.”
Jean-Marie Lehn's laboratory: 60 years of research and knowledge sharing
Founded in 1965 in Strasbourg, Jean-Marie Lehn’s laboratory has hosted more than 460 researchers of all nationalities and played a key role in the emergence of supramolecular chemistry. Its research later expanded to include catalysis and supramolecular transport, self-organization, and “constitutional dynamic chemistry,” before evolving into the Institute of Supramolecular Science and Engineering (ISIS), founded by Jean-Marie Lehn in 2002. This demanding, international research environment has nurtured many talented scientists, including Jean-Pierre Sauvage, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2016. Jean-Marie Lehn has always made a point of maintaining close, direct contact with his students, without intermediaries, and likes to remind them that mistakes made in the course of rigorous research can sometimes lead to discoveries. True to this spirit of commitment and curiosity, he sums up his dedication as follows: “As long as I can, I will carry on!”
