The American Society of Plant Taxonomists (ASPT) has awarded Hans Walter Lack the 2017 Peter Raven Award. Dr. Lack was based at the Botanical Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem and served in the role as the Director of the Botanical Museum until his retirement in 2015. There Dr. Lack worked tirelessly in research and outreach. The award is named for Peter Raven, eminent botanist and President Emeritus of the Missouri Botanical Garden, and is awarded annually by the American Society of Plant Taxonomists to a plant systematist who has made exceptional efforts at outreach to non-scientists.