Adsorption - Happy 80th Birthday to Prof. Jörg Kärger
3 October 2023
On this occasion, dear Jörg, we wish you a joyous 80th birthday filled with happiness and good health. May this milestone celebration reflect the immense respect and admiration we hold for your lifelong dedication to the field of diffusion and your exceptional contributions as an accomplished physicist. Your pioneering research, paradigm-shifting insights, and tireless efforts to organize and nurture the diffusion research community have left an indelible mark on the scientific world.
As we celebrate your birthday, we also recognize the remarkable historical coincidence of your birth on October 3rd, the same date that would later witness Germany's reunification. It is a testament to the synchronicity of life that a scientist who has dedicated his career to studying the physics of spreading out was born on a day that symbolizes a nation coming together. Your unwavering commitment to expanding knowledge and understanding resonates beyond scientific realms, embodying the spirit of unity and collaboration.
Your journey began with your pioneering doctoral thesis, where you revolutionized the understanding of transport within porous materials using the Pulsed Field Gradient (PFG) NMR technique. Since then, your outstanding contributions have been acknowledged through numerous prestigious awards, including the Otto Stern Award and the Eni Award, further solidifying your status as a luminary in the field. In the footsteps of the great Max von Laue, you have established yourself as a brilliant scientist with an uncanny ability to successfully straddle the realms of both experimental and theoretical physics.
Moreover, your passion for teaching and mentoring has inspired countless students and researchers. Your engaging lectures, such as the world-record-setting "Physics of the Bicycle" lecture, have left a lasting impact on those fortunate enough to attend.
We cannot overlook your invaluable role in disseminating knowledge and fostering collaborations through initiatives like the online journal Diffusion Fundamentals (this opens in a new tab), the international conference series of the same name (this opens in a new tab), and the award-winning Springer book, "Diffusive Spreading in Nature, Technology, and Society (this opens in a new tab)." These platforms have provided researchers worldwide with opportunities to exchange ideas, drive innovation, and advance the field of diffusion.
Jörg, your lifelong achievements and tireless dedication serve as an inspiration to us all. As we celebrate your 80th birthday, we extend our heartfelt wishes for continued success, fulfillment, and many more years of scientific excellence. Thank you for your invaluable contributions, which have enriched the world of diffusion and beyond.
With our dearest and fondest wishes,
Your friends, colleagues, and everyone at Springer