Nobel Lecture 2025: How evolution enters chemistry

Frances H. Arnold during her Nobel Lecture at the Medical University of Graz

During the Nobel Lecture at BioTechMed-Graz, Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry Frances H. Arnold provided insight into her research on the directed evolution of enzymes.

On December 1, 2025, BioTechMed-Graz, a research collaboration between the University of Graz, Graz University of Technology, and the Medical University of Graz, hosted its annual Nobel Lecture, which took place this year on the campus of the Medical University of Graz. As part of this series of events, Nobel Prize winners take turns at the Medical University of Graz, the University of Graz, and Graz University of Technology to provide insights into their scientific work. The Nobel Lecture took place for the sixth time this year and has now established itself as a fixture in the academic year, attracting thousands of listeners to the lecture halls of Graz's universities.

Directed evolution as a driver of innovation

This year's guest was the 2018 Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry, Frances H. Arnold, who spoke about her groundbreaking research in the field of directed evolution of enzymes, which has fundamentally changed our understanding of biological and chemical processes.

Directed evolution allows enzymes that are tailor-made for specific tasks to be developed quickly. These can be used in medicine, chemistry, energy, and materials science. This targeted development allows processes to be made more sustainable and drugs to be manufactured with even greater precision.

Under the title “Innovation by Evolution: Bringing New Chemistry to Life,” the researcher demonstrated how the principles of natural evolution can be used to create innovative solutions to some of the greatest challenges of our time.

Interest was high: one lecture hall was not enough to accommodate the large number of interested listeners, and over 700 registrations were received within a very short time. Researchers, students, and other friends of science were able to exchange ideas after the Nobel Lecture and learn more about Frances H. Arnold's career in direct conversation.

Gerald Auer

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