Colleagues honour InterCat co-founder Harold Linnartz with commemorative Festschrift
In memory of Harold Linnartz (1966–2023), co-founder and principal investigator of InterCat, and Professor of Laboratory Astrophysics at Leiden University, an extensive Festschrift has been published bringing together contributions from colleagues across the global astrochemistry community.
The volume, published by the American Chemical Society, reflects the breadth and impact of Harold’s scientific work and offers a vivid testament to his lasting influence on laboratory astrophysics and astrochemistry. His pioneering experiments on the chemistry of interstellar molecules under extreme conditions helped shape the field and contributed to establishing Leiden as a leading centre for laboratory astrophysics.
For InterCat, Harold Linnartz played a foundational role. As one of the center’s four founders and a principal investigator, he was instrumental in shaping its interdisciplinary vision and fostering collaboration at the interface of chemistry and astronomy - an approach that defined both his research and his leadership.
The Festschrift also highlights the strong international network he built throughout his career. According to the editors, the remarkable number of contributions from leading scientists reflects how highly Harold was regarded and how central he was to the global astrochemistry community.
The first copy of the volume was presented to Helga Linnartz on 4th June 2026 during the second edition of the Harold Linnartz Prize Lecture. This prize, awarded to early-career researchers working at the interface of astronomy and chemistry, honours Harold’s enduring commitment to interdisciplinary science and the next generation of researchers.
This commemorative volume stands as a fitting tribute to a scientist whose work, vision, and collaborative spirit continue to inspire colleagues within InterCat and across the international astrochemistry community.