Dear DMG members,

as the newly elected vice-chairperson, I would like to address you with a few words. First of all, I would like to sincerely thank you for the trust you have placed in me. The election has made me very happy, and at the same time, I am aware of the responsibility that comes with it.
We are in a time of great uncertainties. In addition to the concrete challenges posed by climate change, the energy crisis, or the scarcity of raw materials, we are facing profound geopolitical changes. This development can seem frightening, but it can also be understood as an opportunity to actively shape the future.
I studied at the University of Würzburg, and in an office, there was a sign that read: "Mineralogy is the mother of all natural sciences." As students, we initially found the saying amusing – but it has stayed with me to this day. I often quoted it in conversations with friends from other natural sciences. Whoever briefly breaks away from the routine, takes a look beyond the horizon, and then looks back at mineralogy, realizes what this statement truly means: mineralogy is much more than just the study of minerals and rocks. It forms a bridge between many other natural sciences, such as geology, chemistry, physics, or materials science. It is an extremely broad yet also extremely precise science – one that provides the foundations for many scientific discoveries. At the annual joint section meeting of the "Applied Mineralogy" and "Crystallography" sections in Bad Windsheim, our scientific relevance and strength became evident once again. The student contributions reflected the central role of mineralogy in sustainable technologies: from refractory materials to bioceramics to innovative solutions in battery recycling and the development of efficient solar cell materials. I can only say that the event was incredibly fun and showed how diverse mineralogy is. And at GeoMinBochum 2026, numerous symposia on cutting-edge topics from our field will again be organized, such as: spectroscopic methods in modern geosciences, mineral physics, minerals as advanced materials, advanced analytical methods: insights into challenging and dynamic (geo)material processes, mineralogy and innovation: solutions for sustainable and climate-neutral building materials, applied mineralogy and geochemistry of secondary raw materials along the cradle-to-grave pathway. We can also look forward to this program again, and I invite everyone to participate in large numbers.
So, we see that modern mineralogy is not a backward-looking science. It stands at the intersection of fundamental research and societal relevance. With her precise knowledge of the formation and transformation of minerals and rocks on and within the Earth, she makes a crucial contribution to the central issues of our time. Topics such as the analysis of natural resources and the development of sustainable recycling strategies for rare earths and metals are among the central issues of sustainability. In times of increasing raw material scarcity, it is crucial to fundamentally understand material cycles, and mineralogy makes essential contributions in this regard. The development of intelligent new materials, inspired by nature, shows that mineralogy as a discipline is at the forefront of the action. Why do we leave topics like energy storage and conversion exclusively to other natural sciences? We don't: many of us are already working on researching new electrode materials for batteries, thermal storage systems, or the use of geomaterial-based solutions – with a direct connection to the energy and climate transition. Mineralogical processes in the carbon cycle, such as the carbonatization of minerals or rocks, offer solutions for CO₂ removal from the atmosphere and thus directly contribute to questions surrounding climate change.
It is of great concern to me that the locations where mineralogical research is conducted in all its breadth and depth are preserved in research and teaching. I see no other discipline that can replace the knowledge of us mineralogists, from the interdisciplinary theoretical foundations, the diverse analytical methods, to the technical, industrial applications. Education is extremely important. Without well-trained scientific talent, mineralogical research will no longer be possible in the future. The specialized input that explains the connection from the atomic structure of a mineral to the large-scale formation processes of mineral structures will be missing. Without mineralogy, there is a risk of losing industrial mines and highly specialized professionals who, through their methodologically diverse training in areas such as building materials, raw material processing, or materials science, already make a crucial contribution to sustainability and innovation today. That would be a loss of knowledge that has been built up over long periods. A knowledge that cannot simply be replaced.
The future of mineralogy lies not only in our successful work in the laboratory and in the field but also in societal engagement. I hope that many of the colleagues who are members of the DMG will continue or newly become actively involved in our society – with their expertise, creativity, and new ideas. Only together can we preserve and further develop mineralogy as a vibrant, forward-looking, and socially relevant field.

Yours
Claudia Weidententhaler