Stephanie Spahr at the awards ceremony by Prof. Thomas Thernes. | Photo: Nina Hermes
Dr Stephanie Spahr heads the “Organic Contaminants” research group at IGB. She receives the award for her extensive work on chemical pollution in urban water bodies and on the treatment of stormwater for use as a water resource.
Her research focuses on the fate of trace organic contaminants such as pharmaceuticals, biocides, and flame retardants in water bodies and the urban water cycle. A scientific focus of her work is on the evaluation of technical and nature-based water treatment systems for contaminant removal.
For example, she studies which persistent, mobile, and potentially toxic substances are present in contaminated stormwater runoff and how these chemicals can be removed from water using biochar filters. In addition, she investigates oxidative water treatment processes for pollutant removal. Her work demonstrates the importance of a detailed understanding of the complex processes involved in contaminant removal using biochar and peroxydisulfate for the targeted optimization of water treatment. This also impressed the jury, as highlighted in their laudatory statement.
The award also recognizes her exceptional commitment to the Society of Water Chemistry. Stephanie Spahr has been a member of the Board since 2024, chairs the "Oxidative Processes" Expert Committee, and enriches the annual "Wasser" conferences with presentations, posters and by organizing the Science Slam.
“Receiving the Divison Award of the Society of Water Chemistry is a great honour for me. I would like to express my sincere thanks to the award committee, the board members, and the Walter Kölle Foundation for this special recognition of my scientific work”, says Stephanie Spahr. “Water protection, water treatment, and water supply face major challenges worldwide. Increasingly complex contaminant mixtures, as well as the effects of climate change on water availability and water quality, require innovative, sustainable solutions. The Water Chemistry Society provides an important platform for this, promoting exchange between science and practice. For early-career researchers in particular, it is far more than a professional network: it creates a space where ideas and interdisciplinary collaborations can flourish and where forward-looking solutions are developed together to protect our water resources.”
About the Society of Water Chemistry (Deutsch: Wasserchemische Gesellschaft):
The Society of Water Chemistry is a division of the German Chemical Society (GDCh) and was founded in 1926. With approximately 850 members, it is dedicated to the protection, use, treatment, and analysis of water. The Society promotes scientific exchange and continuing education in the field of water chemistry.
Congratulations to Stephie on this honor!
Also read the interview with Stephanie Spahr about her work >
