The Prof. Hans-Joachim Hildebrand Prize 2017 was awarded by the Rector, Prof. Friedrich Albrecht, during the evening event of the 1st Upper Lusatian Energy Symposium at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences.

The award was presented to Dr.-Ing. Matthias Kunick from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering for his outstanding scientific achievements in his dissertation on "Fast calculation of thermophysical state variables in complex process simulations using the spline-based table look-up method (SBTL)". His dissertation includes the development of very accurate and at the same time extremely fast material value calculation algorithms and their application in complex energy-related process simulations. The dissertation was part of a project of the International Association for the Properties of Water and Steam (IAPWS).

Dr. Matthias Kunick had only recently completed his dissertation, which was part of a cooperative doctoral procedure between the Department of Technical Thermodynamics at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Hans-Joachim Kretzschmar, and the Institute of Energy Technology at TU Dresden, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Uwe Gampe, was defended with the grade "summa cum laude", the highest grade awarded for a German doctoral examination. It was a special honor for him to be awarded this science prize.

The founder of this prize, the founding rector of the Zittau University of Engineering, Professor Hans-Joachim Hildebrand, stipulated that this prize should recognize and reward scientific achievements in the fields of energy technology and energy economics that demonstrate novel theoretical and practical findings, or in which significant technical and/or economic effects are achieved through the application of known or modified laws, or which have led to the development of a scientific school.

With his scientific work, Dr. Matthias Kunick fulfilled the criteria of the award regulations in an outstanding manner. Overall, his large number of publications - five of which are in English - and his lectures at international conferences, including in the USA, Canada and England, should also be acknowledged.

This outstanding scientific achievement by Dr. Kunick has gained national and international recognition beyond the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences and thus contributed to the reputation of our university.

Since 1993, the Department of Technical Thermodynamics in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences has been conducting extensive research papers in the field of "Provision of thermophysical material data for working fluids in energy technology" under the direction of Prof. Kretzschmar. This involves both basic research and practical research and development tasks for industry.