For his commitment as a communicator and ambassador of science. In his public appearances – including as part of the ‘Highlights of Physics’ programme – he regularly inspires his audience and achieves a broad social impact and media attention.

The physicist Metin Tolan has made an impressive career as a science communicator alongside his main profession as a researcher and university lecturer. There are not many scientists who perform together with a symphony orchestra in front of a large audience. The musicians play well-known James Bond film scores and Tolan explains whether a spectacular 007 film scene is compatible with the laws of physics or not. This is entertaining, it imparts knowledge and at the same time it is an advert for physics and the scientific view of the world. This is excellent science communication.

In addition to live appearances, Metin Tolan has a far-reaching impact on society through his popular science books. The titles include ‘Shaken, not stirred: James Bond and Physics’ or “How to Become World Champions: The Physics of Football”. One of Tolan’s trademarks is his clarity. Even laypeople can follow his often humorous explanations and be inspired by science.

Born in 1965 in Oldenburg (Holstein), Tolan studied physics and mathematics at the University of Kiel, completed his doctorate in 1993 with a thesis on the scattering of X-ray light and became a physics professor at TU Dortmund University in 2001. On 1 April 2021, Tolan took over as President of the University of Göttingen. In 2003, he was appointed to the Academy of Science and the Arts of North Rhine-Westphalia. Tolan is regularly involved as a science communicator at the ‘Highlights of Physics’, a major annual event organised by the German Physical Society.

In addition to his particular fondness for James Bond films, Metin Tolan is also a self-confessed Trekkie, i.e. a fan of the series ‘Star Trek’ aka Starship Enterprise. The physics of Star Trek is therefore just as much on Tolan’s programme list as the more historical topic ‘Titanic: with physics into the sinking’.

The fees that Tolan receives for his highly publicised activities go to a foundation he set up to support destitute students.

The Eduard Rhein Foundation is awarding physicist Metin Tolan the 2024 Culture Prize for his diverse, extremely popular and outstanding activities as an ambassador for science and his great social commitment.