TUM School of Natural Sciences

The TUM School of Natural Sciences (NAT) is a school of the Technical University of Munich, established in 2022 by the merger of various former departments. As of 2022, it is structured into the Department of Biosciences, the Department of Chemistry, and the Department of Physics. The school is located at the Garching campus.

TypePublic
Established2021
DeanJohannes Barth
Location, ,
AffiliationsTUM
Websitena.tum.de

Department of Chemistry

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History

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Lecture hall in the former Institute of Chemistry in 1909. An early version of the periodic table can be seen on the wall.

[1]

Chairs

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As of 2020, the department consists of 24 chairs and institutes:

Department of Physics

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History

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The Technical University of Munich has operated two research reactors on its Garching campus, the egg-shaped FRM I from 1957 to 2000 and the FRM II (with the curved roof) since 2004.

Physics was one of the founding disciplines of the Polytechnische Schule München in 1868, with the establishment of the Physikalisches Cabinet, later called the Physikalisches Institut. In 1902, the Laboratorium für Technische Physik (technical physics) was founded, spearheaded by Carl von Linde. In 1943, another institute, the Institut für Theoretische Physik (theoretical physics) was founded. In 1965, the three physics institutes were finally combined into the Department of Physics, as it exists today.[2]

The TUM Department of Physics is notable for its operation of research reactors on the Garching campus, the Forschungsreaktor München [de] from 1957 to 2000 and the newer Forschungsreaktor München II since 2004.

Research groups

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As of 2020, the main research areas the TUM Department of Physics are biophysics, nuclei, particles, astrophysics, and condensed matter. The following research groups currently exist:[3]

Rankings

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University rankings
By subject – Global & National
QS Chemistry 2023[4] 22 1
THE Physical Sciences 2023[5] 23 1
ARWU Chemistry 2022[6] 51-75 1
QS Chemical Engineering 2023[7] =51 4
THE [citation needed]
ARWU Chemical Engineering 2022[6] 201-300 4-5
QS Physics & Astronomy 2023[8] =15 1
THE [citation needed]
ARWU Physics 2022[9] 76-100 6-7
QS Materials Science 2023[10] 31 4
THE [citation needed]
ARWU [citation needed]
CHE Ranking 2020 – National
Chemistry[11]
Overall study situation  2.2
Research orientation
Study organisation
Support in studies
Support in the study entry phase
Coursed offered
Teacher support
Exam preparation
Laboratory internships
Teaching of scientific competence  10/10 pts.
Scientific-artistical orientation
Graduations in appropriate time  Median 6.0
International orientation
Contact with work environment
Job market preparation
Citations per publication
Doctorates per professor
Publications per professor
Research reputation
Third party funds per professor
Third party funds per academic
Physics (undergraduate)[12]
Overall study situation
Research orientation
Study organisation
Support in studies  2.2
Support in the study entry phase
Coursed offered  2.3
Teacher support
Exam preparation
Laboratory internships
Teaching of scientific competence
Scientific-artistical orientation
Graduations in appropriate time  90.2%
International orientation
Contact with work environment
Job market preparation
Citations per publication
Doctorates per professor
Publications per professor
Research reputation
Third party funds per professor
Third party funds per academic

The Department of Chemistry is regarded as one of the best chemistry departments in Germany. According to the QS rankings, it is ranked No. 22 in the world and No. 1 in Germany,[4] and in the ARWU rankings, it is ranked within No. 51–75 in the world and No. 1 in Germany.[6] In the national 2020 CHE University Ranking, the department is rated in the top group for the majority of criteria, including teaching, study organization, and overall study situation.[11]

The Department of Physics is ranked 1st in Germany and 15th in the world in the QS World University Rankings.[8] According to ARWU, the department is ranked within No. 6–7 in Germany and No. 76–100 in the world.[9]

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings does not provide individual subject rankings, but TUM generally ranks 23rd globally and 1st nationally in the physical sciences.[5]

Notable people

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7 laureates of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry have studied, taught or researched at TUM:

6 laureates of the Nobel Prize in Physics have studied, taught or researched at TUM:

Laureates of the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize include Gerhard Abstreiter, Martin Beneke, Franz Pfeiffer and Hendrik Dietz.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "History of the Department of Chemistry". TUM Department of Chemistry. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  2. ^ a b "About Us - The Physics Department of the TU Munich". TUM Department of Physics. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  3. ^ "Research". TUM Department of Physics. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  4. ^ a b "QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023: Chemistry". QS World University Rankings. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  5. ^ a b "World University Rankings". Times Higher Education World University Rankings. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  6. ^ a b c "ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2022". Academic Ranking of World Universities. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  7. ^ "QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023: Engineering - Chemical". QS World University Rankings. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  8. ^ a b "QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023: Physics & Astronomy". QS World University Rankings. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  9. ^ a b "ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2022". Academic Ranking of World Universities. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  10. ^ "QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023: Engineering - Materials Science". QS World University Rankings. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  11. ^ a b "Studying Chemistry in Germany". CHE University Ranking. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  12. ^ "Studying Physics in Germany". CHE University Ranking. Retrieved 31 December 2020.