German Society for Mass Spectrometry

The German Society for Mass Spectrometry (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Massenspektrometrie, DGMS) is a scientific voluntary association dedicated to the advancement of mass spectrometry as a high-precision analytical method. It was founded in 1997 as the successor to the mass spectrometry working group (AGMS), which had been organized under the umbrella of the German Chemical Society (GDCh), the German Physical Society (DPG), and the Bunsen Society for Physical Chemistry. The society's stated purpose is to support mass spectrometry as a method for examining isolated molecules and to enable and improve the exchange of experience among its members. The DGMS serves a community of more than 700 members drawn from universities, industry, research facilities, and government laboratories. Its members share an interest in the development of mass spectrometric techniques and instruments, their application to analytical and fundamental questions, and the detection of substances across chemistry, biosciences, medicine, geology, forensics, and physics. The society organizes conferences and workshops, awards scientific prizes, grants travel support to students, and fosters contacts between university and industry for know-how transfer. Among its flagship activities is the annual DGMS conference, a multi-day meeting that has been held since 1968 (originally under the working group). The 57th annual conference is scheduled for 2026 in Leipzig, with the following year's meeting planned for Mannheim. The society also maintains special interest groups on topics such as affinity mass spectrometry, elemental mass spectrometry, FT-MS, and LC/MS. The DGMS awards several prizes each year, including the Wolfgang-Paul Prize for the best diploma and doctoral theses in mass spectrometry, the Mattauch-Herzog sponsorship prize, and the Life Science Prize for outstanding work applying mass spectrometry in the biosciences. These awards are supported by sponsors from the instrument industry. The society also promotes education and cooperation with domestic and foreign organizations of comparable scientific tasks, while expressly excluding the promotion of the economic interests of industry.

The German Society for Mass Spectrometry (DGMS) traces its origins to the mass spectrometry working group (Arbeitsgruppe Massenspektrometrie, AGMS), which operated under the joint auspices of the German Chemical Society (Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker, GDCh), the German Physical Society (Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft, DPG), and the Bunsen Society for Physical Chemistry. On 1 July 1998, the DGMS emerged from this working group as an independent voluntary association, continuing the traditions of its three parent organizations. The society itself cites 1997 as its founding year, describing its establishment as a successor to the AGMS. From its inception, the DGMS pursued the promotion of science and research, particularly in the field of mass spectrometry. Its objectives included fostering cooperation and the exchange of ideas and experiences among scientists and practitioners, promoting interest in mass spectrometry and related techniques, and transferring knowledge to other specialist circles. To these ends, the society organizes meetings, awards scientific prizes, grants subsidies to students for participation in scientific events, promotes contacts between university and industry for know-how transfer, supports appropriate research projects, and forms special interest groups on specific areas of mass spectrometry. It also cooperates with domestic and foreign organizations with comparable scientific tasks. The promotion of the economic interests of industry is expressly excluded. The society's annual conference has been a central activity since 1968, originally under the AGMS and continuing under the DGMS. These four-day working meetings have been held annually, providing a forum for the mass spectrometry community in Germany. By the 2020s, the conference had reached its 57th edition, scheduled for 2026 in Leipzig, with the 2027 meeting planned for Mannheim. Over the years, the DGMS has grown to more than 700 members from universities, industry, research facilities, and government laboratories. It has established several annual prizes to recognize excellence in the field. The Wolfgang-Paul Prize, sponsored by Bruker-Daltonik GmbH, honors the best diploma and doctoral theses in mass spectrometry. The Mattauch-Herzog Sponsorship Prize, supported by Thermo Fisher Scientific, recognizes extraordinary achievements in mass spectrometry. The Life Science Prize, sponsored by Applied Biosystems, was awarded from 2002 to 2007 for outstanding work in the application of mass spectrometry in biochemistry, medicine, and biotechnology. A prize for mass spectrometry in the life sciences sponsored by Waters also exists. The society maintains interest groups in areas such as affinity mass spectrometry, elemental mass spectrometry, FT-MS, and LC/MS, reflecting the diversity of its members' research. The DGMS continues to serve as a key professional organization for mass spectrometrists in Germany, facilitating scientific exchange, education, and collaboration across academia, industry, and government.

• 2026

  The 57th DGMS Annual Conference is scheduled to take place in Leipzig.

• 2002

  The Life Science Prize, sponsored by Applied Biosystems, is first awarded (until 2007).

• 1998

  On 1 July, the DGMS formally emerges from the AGMS of the GDCh, DPG, and Bunsen Society.

• 1997

  The German Society for Mass Spectrometry (DGMS) is founded as a successor to the AGMS.

• 1968

  The annual four-day working meeting of the mass spectrometry working group (AGMS) begins, a tradition continued by the DGMS.

• The DGMS Annual Conference is planned for Mannheim.

A non-profit scientific society promoting mass spectrometry research, education, and professional networking in Germany and internationally.

1. 1DGMS - Deutsche Gesellschaft für Massenspektrometriedgms.eu
2. 2Deutsche Gesellschaft für Massenspektrometrie - MSdgms.eu
3. 3Ziele der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Massenspektrometriedgms.eu
4. 4Collection of MS Journalsdgms.eu
5. 5Deutsche Gesellschaft für Massenspektrometriewikidata.org
6. 6Deutsche Gesellschaft für Massenspektrometriede.wikipedia.org