Barbara Mez-Starck

Barbara Mez-Starck dedicated her life to science. The chemist, who was born in Berlin in 1924, was the daughter of Hermann C. Starck, who, in 1920, had set up a company dealing in metals, ores, chemicals, greases and oils, which later developed into the famous H. C. Starck company. Barbara did not enter her father´s company, but opted for an academic career instead. She became head of the „Section for the Documentation of Spectra and Structures“ at the University of Ulm. In the mid-1970s, she established MOGADOC, a database for capturing information on substances in the gas-phase determined with the help of electron diffraction, microwave spectroscopy or molecular radio-astronomy. Her father´s legacy enabled her to establish the Dr. Barbara Mez-Starck-Foundation, the aim of which is to promote research in chemistry and physics. Barbara Mez-Starck´s mother was of Jewish descent. However, Hermann C. Starck´s important position largely protected the family from persecution by the Nazi regime. This book includes a chapter on this difficult time.