Helmut Metzner
Encyclopedia
Helmut Metzner was an eminent plant physiologist
, Professor of Biochemical Plant Physiology at Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen
, the founder of the European Academy of Environmental Affairs
and a co-founder of the Weikersheim Think Tank.
, physics
and physical chemistry
at the University of Münster
and the University of Göttingen. He completed his studies in 1950 with a dissertation on the subject of "Elektrochemische Messungen an ungereizten Pflanzenzellen" (Electro-chemical measurements of unstimulated plant cells).
He received his doctorate in 1952 from the University of California, Berkeley
, having worked under the direction of the pioneering plant biochemist, Melvin Calvin
. He subsequently worked as an "Assistent" (postdoctoral fellow
) at the Botanical
Institute of the University of Münster, where he researched in the field of chloroplasts. After completing his training at the University of Göttingen, he qualified to become a professor with an investigation about "Veränderung der Blattproteine bei photoperiodischer Induktion" (Changes of leaf proteins by photo-periodic induction). He specialised in the biochemistry
of photosynthesis
.
In 1961, Metzner was offered a professorship at the University of Tübingen, where he became the founding director of the new Institute for Chemical Plant Physiology. In addition to the standard academic program, he also organised adult education courses in Baden-Württemberg
as of 1981 in Ecology and its biological basis, which were attended by more than 6,000 people. This led to the founding of the European Academy of Environmental Affairs at Tübingen, of which Metzner remained President until his death in 1999.
Together with Hans Karl Filbinger, Günter Rohrmoser, Heinz Karst and Erich Baumann, Metzner founded the Weikersheim Think Tank in 1979, and he remained a director until 1995. In 1995 he organised a conference in Leipzig, Germany, which produced the Leipzig Declaration
on global climate change.
He was editor-in-chief of the journal Photobiochemistry and Photophysics, and co-editor of the journal Photosynthetica.
Metzner became professor emeritus in 1993. He died in 1999 in Tübingen.
Plant physiology
Plant physiology is a subdiscipline of botany concerned with the functioning, or physiology, of plants. Closely related fields include plant morphology , plant ecology , phytochemistry , cell biology, and molecular biology.Fundamental processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, plant nutrition,...
, Professor of Biochemical Plant Physiology at Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen
Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen
Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen is a public university located in the city of Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is one of Germany's oldest universities, internationally noted in medicine, natural sciences and the humanities. In the area of German Studies it has been ranked first among...
, the founder of the European Academy of Environmental Affairs
European Academy of Environmental Affairs
The European Academy for Environmental Affairs The European Academy for Environmental Affairs The European Academy for Environmental Affairs (also known as: European Academy of Environmental Affairs, is a private organization which gave its label for the Leipzig Declaration on Global Climate...
and a co-founder of the Weikersheim Think Tank.
Life and Works
Metzner studied biologyBiology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
, physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
and physical chemistry
Physical chemistry
Physical chemistry is the study of macroscopic, atomic, subatomic, and particulate phenomena in chemical systems in terms of physical laws and concepts...
at the University of Münster
University of Münster
The University of Münster is a public university located in the city of Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. The WWU is part of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, a society of Germany's leading research universities...
and the University of Göttingen. He completed his studies in 1950 with a dissertation on the subject of "Elektrochemische Messungen an ungereizten Pflanzenzellen" (Electro-chemical measurements of unstimulated plant cells).
He received his doctorate in 1952 from the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, having worked under the direction of the pioneering plant biochemist, Melvin Calvin
Melvin Calvin
Melvin Ellis Calvin was an American chemist most famed for discovering the Calvin cycle along with Andrew Benson and James Bassham, for which he was awarded the 1961 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. He spent most of his five-decade career at the University of California, Berkeley.- Life :Calvin was born...
. He subsequently worked as an "Assistent" (postdoctoral fellow
Postdoctoral researcher
Postdoctoral research is scholarly research conducted by a person who has recently completed doctoral studies, normally within the previous five years. It is intended to further deepen expertise in a specialist subject, including acquiring novel skills and methods...
) at the Botanical
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
Institute of the University of Münster, where he researched in the field of chloroplasts. After completing his training at the University of Göttingen, he qualified to become a professor with an investigation about "Veränderung der Blattproteine bei photoperiodischer Induktion" (Changes of leaf proteins by photo-periodic induction). He specialised in the biochemistry
Biochemistry
Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes...
of photosynthesis
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is a chemical process that converts carbon dioxide into organic compounds, especially sugars, using the energy from sunlight. Photosynthesis occurs in plants, algae, and many species of bacteria, but not in archaea. Photosynthetic organisms are called photoautotrophs, since they can...
.
In 1961, Metzner was offered a professorship at the University of Tübingen, where he became the founding director of the new Institute for Chemical Plant Physiology. In addition to the standard academic program, he also organised adult education courses in Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg is one of the 16 states of Germany. Baden-Württemberg is in the southwestern part of the country to the east of the Upper Rhine, and is the third largest in both area and population of Germany's sixteen states, with an area of and 10.7 million inhabitants...
as of 1981 in Ecology and its biological basis, which were attended by more than 6,000 people. This led to the founding of the European Academy of Environmental Affairs at Tübingen, of which Metzner remained President until his death in 1999.
Together with Hans Karl Filbinger, Günter Rohrmoser, Heinz Karst and Erich Baumann, Metzner founded the Weikersheim Think Tank in 1979, and he remained a director until 1995. In 1995 he organised a conference in Leipzig, Germany, which produced the Leipzig Declaration
Leipzig Declaration
The Leipzig Declaration on Global Climate Change is a statement made in 1995, seeking to refute the claim there is a scientific consensus on the global warming issue...
on global climate change.
He was editor-in-chief of the journal Photobiochemistry and Photophysics, and co-editor of the journal Photosynthetica.
Metzner became professor emeritus in 1993. He died in 1999 in Tübingen.
Honors
- 1977 Honorary Doctorate of the Ghent UniversityGhent UniversityGhent University is a Dutch-speaking public university located in Ghent, Belgium. It is one of the larger Flemish universities, consisting of 32,000 students and 7,100 staff members. The current rector is Paul Van Cauwenberge.It was established in 1817 by King William I of the Netherlands...
- 1985 BundesverdienstkreuzBundesverdienstkreuzThe Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany is the only general state decoration of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has existed since 7 September 1951, and between 3,000 and 5,200 awards are given every year across all classes...
- 1992 Named as a corresponding member of the Collegium Europaeum Jenense
- 1992 Josef Hlávka Medal of the Czechoslovak Academy of SciencesCzechoslovak Academy of SciencesThe Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences was established in 1953 to be the scientific center for Czechoslovakia. It was succeeded by the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic in 1992.-History:...