From the laudation: “The Abraham Gottlob Werner Silver Medal was awarded to Professor Dr. Dr. h.c. Heinrich Wänke of Mainz in recognition of his outstanding scientific contributions to geochemistry and cosmochemistry. (...) Through his development of multi-element neutron activation analysis, particularly using radiochemical methods, and his early work on the geochemistry of meteorites, Heinrich Wänke was ideally prepared for the investigation of lunar samples. (...) Heinrich Wänke estimated the chemical compositions of the Earth, the Moon, Vesta, and Mars. The recent spectacular in situ analyses of Martian soil and rocks also originated from his initiative. (...) He had the courage to pursue unconventional approaches and thereby opened up entirely new fields of research. Heinrich Wänke enjoys an international reputation matched by very few geochemists or cosmochemists in Germany.”