Chemical Landmark 2026

Switzerland owes a large part of its prosperity to chemistry, its discoveries and successes in research, as well as the resulting chemical industry. With the "Chemical Landmark," the Academy of Natural Sciences honors places where significant chemistry history has taken place. On January 11, 2026, Arosa will be honored because the Schrödinger equation was developed here: Exactly 100 years ago, during the Christmas holidays of 1925/6, Erwin Schrödinger was a guest of the Herwig family and shortly thereafter published one of the most important scientific articles ever. The Schrödinger equation describes electrons as waves and is one of the central foundations of quantum mechanics and quantum chemistry, which revolutionized science and society. Without it, there would be no computers, solar cells, GPS, or smartphones. In 1933, Schrödinger received the Nobel Prize for this work. The celebration will provide a reflection on the history from 100 years ago and an overview of the application of the Schrödinger equation in chemistry as well as everyday technology. Program 16.00 Welcome: Prof. Dr. Jean-Marc Piveteau (SCNAT President) 16.10 Erwin Schrödinger – A physicist beyond conventions: Dr. Dr. Magdalena Gronau (Leibniz Center for Literature and Cultural Research, Berlin), Martin Gronau (Leibniz Center for Literature and Cultural Research, Berlin) 16.40 Quantum mechanics in everyday life: Prof. Dr. Andrea Hofmann (University of Basel) 17.05 From wave functions to molecules and materials – how Schrödinger changed chemistry: Prof. Dr. Fabian von Rohr (University of Geneva) 17.30 Walk to the memorial plaque, laudation, and unveiling of the memorial plaque: Prof. Dr. Christian Bochet (University of Fribourg), Prof. Dr. Jean-Marc Piveteau (SCNAT), Prof. Dr. Laura Baudis (University of Zurich), Yvonne Altmann (Mayor of Arosa), Ingo Schlösser (Director of Tschuggen Grand Hotel) 18.00 Apéro