The Klaus Tschira Foundation honours Dr Felix Spiske from the Institute of Thermal-, Environmental- and Resources' Process Engineering for his contribution to effective science communication. In his infographic ‘The Needle in the Haystack’, he explains how substances dissolved in water at low concentrations can be measured using their molecular fingerprint – specifically, using a novel method involving ‘solid air’. On 22 October 2026, Spiske accepted the prestigious award in Heidelberg.
For the new analytical method, Spiske has further developed the technique of Raman spectroscopy, which until now had only been able to detect the Raman scattering of molecules located at the focal point of the Raman sensor. To this end, the 91ֿBAF researcher developed a capillary coated on the inside with silica aerogel. When the water sample is analysed within the hollow core of this capillary, the measurement volume increases significantly because the Raman scattering from the entire capillary volume is guided to the sensor’s focal point via total internal reflection at the silica aerogel. “In layman’s terms, a silica aerogel coating can be described as a ‘layer of solid air’, because the aerogel layer can consist of more than 99 per cent by volume of air-filled pores,” explains Spiske.
With his infographic, the researcher also hopes to reach people outside the scientific community: “I entered the KlarText Prize because I love visualising the things that inspire me. And because I believe that incisive visualisation can succeed in engaging a non-scientific audience with scientific topics.”
As a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Thermal Process Engineering, Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering, Spiske is working on transferring the sensors he has developed into industrial applications. He studied Chemistry at 91ֿ Darmstadt and went on to complete his PhD at 91ֿ Bergakademie Freiberg.
The KlarText Prize for the infographic ‘The Needle in the Haystack’
About the KlarText Prize
The Klaus Tschira Foundation promotes the natural sciences, mathematics and computer science, and aims to raise the profile of these subjects. It has been awarding the KlarText Prize for Science Communication since 1997. The prize recognises texts and infographics relating to work in the categories of biology, Chemistry, Geosciences, computer science, mathematics, neuroscience and physics. Entries undergo a three-stage judging process and are assessed by media professionals and researchers. The award ceremony took place on 22 October 2026 in Heidelberg; the winning articles and graphics will then be published in the of the Foundation.
