The DMG awards the 2026 Doris Schachner Medal to PD Dr. habil. Melanie Kaliwoda in recognition of her outstanding contributions to enhancing the visibility of mineralogy among the public in German-speaking countries. As Deputy Head of the Mineralogical State Collection Munich and Privatdozentin at LMU Munich, she combines scientific excellence, collection-based research, and science communication in an exemplary manner.
After completing her diploma in mineralogy in Heidelberg in 2000, she focused her doctoral and postdoctoral research on processes in the Earth’s mantle. She continued this work at the University of Tübingen and the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, applying modern spectroscopic techniques, particularly Raman spectroscopy. Since 2007, she has played a key role at the Mineralogical State Collection Munich, where she shares responsibility for one of Europe’s most important mineralogical collections and has established a high-performance Raman laboratory that is now a central component of geomaterials research in Munich.
Her research ranges from mantle xenoliths and ophiolites to meteorites and impact rocks, light elements, and the application of Raman spectroscopy to minerals, glasses, and organic materials. Her continuous supervision of Bachelor’s and Master’s theses, as well as a growing number of doctoral projects, reflects her strong commitment to supporting early-career scientists. In 2020, she completed her habilitation at LMU Munich with research on peridotites from ophiolites and xenoliths as archives of processes in the Earth’s mantle.
Her publication record includes contributions on the geochemical signatures of intrusions, the role of light elements in the Earth’s mantle, the characterisation of meteorites, and the application of Raman methods in archaeometry, construction materials research, and environmental geochemistry. Her work thus demonstrates the relevance of mineralogical expertise across a wide range of related disciplines.
Her museum-based science communication is particularly representative of the spirit of the Doris Schachner Medal. As Senior Curator and Deputy Director of the Museum Mineralogia München, she develops and curates special exhibitions such as “MoonImpact” and “GeoArt”, combining scientific content with aesthetic design, storytelling, and clear educational concepts to engage a broad audience.
Another defining aspect of her work is her ability to connect mineralogy with art, design, and space exploration. Collaborations with artists, including Prof. Stephen Bottomley, have resulted in exhibitions that use the interplay between mineralogy and design to create new approaches to geomaterials research. At the same time, Melanie Kaliwoda contributes to ESA projects such as CAVES & PANGAEA, supports the development of mineralogical databases for astronaut training, and analyses rocks from asteroid missions. These activities illustrate the close connections between mineralogy, planetary geology, exploration, and future technologies.
Her involvement in scientific societies further demonstrates the breadth of her commitment. She is active in national and international committees, including the advisory boards of the DMG and DVGeo, as well as within the International Mineralogical Association (IMA) and its Commission on Museums, which she chairs. She is also a co-founder of the MUC-Labs and the ArchaeoBioCenter, represents Germany within the IMA, and serves as Treasurer of the German Federal Association of Student Labs, supporting the development of extracurricular learning environments.
At career events, science fairs, and major public events such as the Munich Show and GeoErlebnistage, she regularly promotes mineralogy and strengthens the visibility of the discipline in public discourse. Melanie Kaliwoda represents a rare combination of scientific excellence, institutional responsibility, and exceptional commitment to public engagement, positioning mineralogy as a connecting discipline between Earth system research, materials science, cultural heritage, and education.
Fabio Joseph ∙ München
