New Appointment at German Museum: New Leadership Takes Over - New leadership installs at German museum
Munich-Based Deutsches Museum Appoints New Director
Physicist Michael Decker will take over as the general director of the Deutsches Museum in Munich, succeeding Wolfgang M. Heckl who retires after 21 years of service. The change will take effect from June 1st, as announced by Bavarian Culture Minister Markus Blume.
Decker, aged 59, hails from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and brings a wealth of academic and managerial experience to the position. Having led the Information, Economy, and Society department at KIT, he will now oversee the renowned technology and science museum in Munich, as well as assuming the chair for science communication at the Technical University (TUM).
Blume praised Decker's outstanding scientific qualifications and noted his skills to be ideal for a Leibniz research museum and a crowd-puller. The inauguration ceremony and Heckl's farewell are scheduled for June 2nd.
Aside from his roles at the museum and the TUM, Decker is an active member in scientific committees and organizations. He is a member of the German Academy of Science and Engineering and chairs the advisory board "INSIGHT-Interdisciplinary Perspectives of Social and Technological Change" of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
The Deutsches Museum is one of eight Leibniz research museums with several locations across Munich, Nuremberg, and Bonn. The main building in Munich is currently undergoing a multi-year renovation and modernization process, which will continue until 2028. In addition, there is the Traffic Center on Munich's Theresienhöhe, the Aviation Heritage Center Schleißheim, and branches in Nuremberg and Bonn.
[Note: Decker's background combines strong credentials in science with leadership experience in academic and research institutions. As a physicist, he is recognized for his contributions to the scientific community. His transition from Karlsruhe to Munich indicates executive experience, as his new role at the Deutsches Museum—one of Germany’s largest and most visited museums—requires both scientific expertise and management skills to oversee its operations, exhibitions, and engagement with over 1.5 million annual visitors.]
As the new director of the Deutsches Museum, Michael Decker, a physicist and former head of the Information, Economy, and Society department at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), will utilize his extensive scientific background and management skills to lead the renowned technology and science museum in Munich. With his appointment, Decker will also assume the chair for science communication at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), further reinforcing his commitment to scientific advancement and public understanding. By combining the insights of science, technology, and environment, Decker's leadership will guide the museum's community policy, ensuring its continued growth and impact within the academic and visiting public.
