It is an honor and a privilege to introduce this special issue in order to pay tribute to and send greetings to Professor Dr Dr h. c. mult. Rudi van Eldik on the occasion of his 70th birthday. We are taking the liberty of using Rudi’s forename henceforth, as he has an informal approach to his research co-workers, and all his colleagues, no matter their duties. Rudi’s education and early academic career were undertaken at Potchefstroom University in South Africa, at the State University of New York at Buffalo and at the University of Frankfurt, culminating in his Habilitation in Frankfurt. With the support of Hartwig Kelm in Frankfurt, Rudi and other pioneers began applying high hydrostatic pressure methods to kinetics studies in inorganic chemistry, a practice that had been used by some in organic chemistry for the best part of a century. The resulting improved understanding of reaction mechanisms was further enhanced by adapting fast reaction techniques for application of the pressure variable, and subsequently to nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Professorial calls to the Witten/Herdecke University and about twenty years ago to the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg enabled Rudi to build and establish a very successful, productive, international research team that attracted chemistry scholars from around the world. As a driven enthusiast, who embraces new developments and new research areas, Rudi did not limit his research output to inorganic reactions, and soon the fields of environmental chemistry, organometallic chemistry, bioinorganic chemistry, and computational chemistry became his world too. More recently, the research emphasis has shifted even further within bioinorganic chemistry, analytical chemistry regarding recycling and a considerable effort has been made to understand reaction mechanisms in ionic liquids. A perusal of approximately 900 research publications will amaze and serve as a testament to a prodigious output and dedication. Chemistry is Rudi’s world and his research team is his science family.
But what is Rudi’s secret to form a scientific family that enabled all this success and being together to tackle all challenges that arise? Former students, co-workers and colleagues invariably point to Rudi’s ability to install confidence, such that everyone reaches their full potential. And this is the secret: Rudi promoted and encouraged everyone of his team in their particular duty and recognized each of their individual skills; this included the technical and administrative staff too, as Rudi never separated his approach between the members of his team. All were important. Rudi brought all of them to their personal limits and helped everyone to overcome them. Rudi always believed in the members of his scientific family, even though – or better – just, when they could not quite believe in themselves. At the end, all faced a new horizon and achieved more than they could have imagined at the start. Furthermore, Rudi welded a motley crew of people with various characters and talents together in one team. This is the basis of success for the “work group van Eldik,” as well as for the person “Rudi van Eldik.” Surely, the memories of eventful and emotional times will follow every single person who met Rudi during their lifetime.
Inspiring people through chemistry and bringing chemistry to the wider world are characteristics that were manifest in the development of the Chemistry Magic Show (Zaubervorlesung) that Rudi inherited in Erlangen from Professor Dr Klaus Broderson. This became an annual event held in an auditorium of about 1000 people, from the university and the general public with several performances, including TV shows; charitable donations ensued. Again to organize this performance called “Magic Show” needed the whole van Eldik group, research team, technicians, and administration. It was only possible due to the ethos and the inspiration for each team member to achieve their full potential, through the team spirit generated by Rudi’s enthusiasm.
Recognition has come in the form of many awards, including the Award of the Cross of Merit on the Ribbon of the Federal Republic of Germany (Verdienstkreuz am Bande des Verdienstordens der Bundesrepublik Deutschland), from the Royal Society of Chemistry for Inorganic Research Mechanisms, and several honorary degrees. He is editor of Advances in Inorganic Chemistry and has editorial duties in many other publications including the Journal of Coordination Chemistry. Now, Rudi is an active Emeritus Professor in Erlangen, Professor of Chemistry in the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland, and a visiting Professor at the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Poland. We are sure all his current research group members, former members, and countless research collaborators and colleagues will wish to join us in wishing Rudi continued success in research and birthday greetings. Please enjoy reading the contributions in this special issue.
Colin Hubbard
Ralph Puchta