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The distinguished title of Honored Citizen of Bremen was bestowed today on Prof. Dr. Reimar Lüst.
[
Nov
29, 2001]
The award, presented by the City of Bremen, honors him for his services in establishing Bremen as a center of the aeronautical and space industries, as well as for his commitment to the establishment of internationally significant scientific institutions in the State of Bremen.
Former German Bundespräsident Richard von Weizsäcker lauded Lüst as a man of courage, competence and wisdom. Von Weizsäcker quoted Lüst, whom he had first met fifty years ago: "Original ideas will not be realized by the majority, it takes the engagement of individuals to make them happen."
It was von Weizsäcker's older brother, Karl-Friedrich, who convinced Lüst to do his PhD in astrophysics. Lüst, touched by the warm and personal speech of Richard von Weizsäcker , joked, "It was your brother's fault that I became fascinated with space science." He continued, "I am grateful to receive this honor, which proves that Bremen has vision and is open to innovative ideas."
Reimar Lüst, as a member and director of the German Science Council (1969-1972) and as president of the Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science (1972-1984), played a decisive role in the founding of the University of Bremen and the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Oceanic Research (AWI) in Bremerhaven.
From its very inception, Reimar Lüst promoted the idea of an International University Bremen to the science community. Since its founding in 1999, Prof. Dr. Reimar Lüst, as Chairman of the Board of Governors, has continued to support and lead IUB’s development.
This honor is shared by only one other living person in Bremen. International University Bremen is pleased to see Prof. Dr. Lüst recognized for his distinguished services to IUB and Bremen.
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