Werner Kutzelnigg – full of ideas

Abstract

From the 30th of June until the 5th of July 2019, the 9th Molecular Quantum Mechanics conference (MQM 2019) took place in the ‘Kongresshaus Stadthalle’ in Heidelberg, Germany. The conference had been organised to celebrate the ‘German School’ of quantum chemistry by honouring four quantum chemists that had pioneered the field in Germany. In particular, the 9th MQM conference was held to the memory of Reinhart Ahlrichs and in honour of Werner Kutzelnigg, Wilfried Meyer, and Sigrid Peyerimhoff. The authors of this article are very thankful to have had the opportunity to chair the historical session, respectively, to deliver the laudation for Werner Kutzelnigg. In what follows, we would like to give a few biographical notes on the life of Werner, say a few words about his personality, and highlight his most important and pioneering contributions to the field of quantum chemistry.