Berni Hasenknopf

This passionate researcher at Sorbonne University has built a career that combines academic excellence and institutional commitment. Recently named the advisor for European involvement, Berni Hasenknopf was also recently awarded the Prix de l'Amitié franco-allemande, which recognizes efforts to strengthen ties of friendship, cooperation and understanding between France and Germany in the cultural, educational, economic and social fields. 

As native of Bavaria, Germany, Berni Hasenknopf has followed a remarkable path in the field of chemistry. His interest in science was sparked in large part by a teacher who passed on his passion for the discipline. After two years studying chemistry at the University of Cologne, he decided to go abroad. He studied in France, at the University of Strasbourg. “I already had a certain command of French,” he explains. “When I was 16 year’s old and bored with school, I decided to discover the world. In particular, I went to France, where I spent a year in Béthune and Paris.”

In France, he discovered his vocation for supramolecular chemistry, a field that was to become the common thread running through his career. Under the supervision of Jean-Marie Lehn, winner of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1987, Berni Hasenknopf specialized in this emerging field. His doctorate, followed by a post-doctorate in the USA, consolidated his expertise in the manipulation of these complex molecules. On his return to Europe, he chose to settle in France and obtained a permanent position at Sorbonne University. This choice, motivated by the stable working conditions in France, enabled him to pursue his research in an environment conducive to scientific innovation. “In Germany, the positions were precarious, whereas in France, the permanent positions enabled a stable career”, he confided.

Teaching and research as driving forces 

Parallel to his research career, Berni Hasenknopf has been involved in teaching. Passionate about the transmission of knowledge, he successively held positions of responsibility in various academic chemistry programs. 
At the time, his commitment opened the possibility for a competency-based approach to Sorbonne University's chemistry master's programs. “I've always believed that teaching should have the same approach as research: if a challenge arises, you have to look in the literature and draw inspiration from possible solutions. Teaching has to adapt,” he said.

His innovative vision also applies to practical work, which he has modernized to better meet the expectations of students and developments in the scientific field. A former director of the chemistry master's program, he helped make it one of the largest in the counrty. “We built a master's program with 500 students, which is very large for a chemistry master's program in France,” he explains.

A strong commitment to Franco-German friendship and European cooperation

In parallel with his academic responsibilities, Berni Hasenknopf has developed a strong institutional commitment to international cooperation. As advisor for European involvement at Sorbonne University, he plays a major role in managing the university's relations with European organizations, such as the League of European Research Universities (LERU) and the European University Association (EUA). “I keep abreast of what's going on in Brussels, particularly the Commission's objectives, and try to develop positions for Sorbonne University,” he explains. “International development is not just something the university does for itself, it's also our mission in relation to European society.”

This commitment is part of a personal trajectory marked by Franco-German reconciliation. A resident of France for several decades, Berni Hasenknopf recently obtained dual Franco-German nationality. At the end of October, he was awarded the Prix de l'Amitié franco-allemande (the French-German Friendship Prize) in recognition of his constant efforts to bring the two nations closer together, both in his professional and personal life. “I am deeply honored by this award. It means a great deal to me. It's recognition of my efforts to improve Franco-German relations,” he enthuses. 

A vision committed to fighting all forms of discrimination

Berni Hasenknopf is much more than a renowned researcher and passionate teacher; he is also a fervent defender of humanist values. Marked by his family's history of conflict between France and Germany, he is particularly attentive to issues of discrimination, anti-Semitism and racism. “My grandparents' generation was marked by radically opposed ideologies: some were convinced Nazis, while others, communists, actively resisted Hitler's regime. This past touched me deeply. The story of his in-laws, persecuted by the Nazis, also influenced his worldview and commitment to tolerance. “It really raised my awareness of any form of discrimination. I think it's a trait that defines me.

This awareness is reflected in his approach to international cooperation and teaching. He works actively for a fairer, more inclusive society, where science plays a central role in improving people's lives.