Festschrift in honor of Gerhard Hummer: Molecular Machines, Membranes, and Mechanisms: The Physics of Life at Work

The Festschrift honoring Gerhard Hummer’s 60th birthday highlights his pioneering contributions to theoretical and computational biophysics. His work has advanced our understanding of protein folding landscapes, molecular motors, ion channels, and nanopore transport, while establishing hallmark methodologies such as diffusion models of folding and theoretical frameworks for single molecule force spectroscopy. Invited contributions may address statistical mechanics of non-equilibrium fluctuations, multiscale simulations, enhanced sampling, or the integration of machine learning with biomolecular modelling. Both experimental and theoretical studies are welcome, particularly those that exemplify Prof. Hummer’s vision of bridging theory, computation, and experiment. An inspiring mentor and generous collaborator, he has fostered a vibrant international community across physics, chemistry, and biology. This issue celebrates his enduring impact on molecular science.