Making women visible in science: Information Stele for Dr. Clara Immerwahr

In November 2024, an information stele in honor of Dr. Clara Haber, née Immerwahr, was erected on the grounds of the Fritz Haber Institute Berlin. Located at the corner of Hittorfstraße and Faradayweg, this stele is the first in Steglitz-Zehlendorf to honor a woman, marking a significant step towards gender equality. UniSysCat is very pleased about this form of making women in science visible, especially as we feel very connected to the career of Dr. Clara Haber née Immerwahr: In her honor, UniSysCat annually bestows the Clara Immerwahr Award to a young female scientist for outstanding achievements in catalysis research.

Clara Immerwahr (1870 - 1915) had a fabulous career for women around 1900, inspiring and motivating female scientists to this day: Quick-witted and thirsting for knowledge Clara became the first woman to earn a doctoral degree in physical chemistry at a German university on December 12, 1900. After completing her doctorate she became assistant to Professor Abegg, at that time the highest attainable academic position for a woman. She was the first wife of Fritz Haber, head of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute of physical chemistry and electrochemistry, which was the forerunner of the Fritz Haber Institute. Clara Haber committed suicide in 1915, the reasons for which are still unclear today.

At the ceremonial unveiling of the stele, the deputy district mayor and district councillor for education, culture and sport, Cerstin Richter-Kotowski, spoke about the significance of the red information steles in Steglitz-Zehlendorf. She emphasized that this is the 30th stele and the first to be dedicated to a woman, while the others mainly focus on events. Prof. Dr. Beatriz Roldán Cuenya, Managing Director of the Fritz Haber Institute, emphasized the importance of gender equality work for the Institute and the Max Planck Society. She emphasized the need to make women in science more visible, as this is an important component in creating role models for the younger generation. Science historian Prof. Dr. Annette Vogt, the author of the stele's text, gave a lecture on the historical figure Clara Immerwahr. She discussed her challenges in obtaining a doctorate, her brief research period, and her marriage to chemist Fritz Haber.

Press release of the FHI Berlin: www.fhi.mpg.de/1634765/2024-11-19-Stele