During the first call (2004–2006), fifteen proposals were submitted, including two PhDs. Following intensive review by the four council members – and confirmation of their opinions through an independent referee (in this call: Elisabeth Bauchhenss) – two young arachnologists were each awarded € 1,000 for their Diploma theses.

Kathrin Stenchly was honoured for her project
‘Untersuchungen zur vertikalen Stratozönose der Spinnen (Arachnida: Araneae) in einem mitteleuropäischen Auwald’

and

Bianca Böttcher for her work on
‘Phylogenie und Phylogeographie von Megabunus lesserti (Opiliones: Phalangiidae)’.

In Halle each were presented with a certificate by the Society President, Peter Jäger, and both then presented a lecture summarising their respective studies. Christoph Muster presented an illustrated tribute to Konrad Thaler (including pictures from his youth in the Alps and drawings of arthropods from his first year schoolbook) in memory of one of the most influential arachnologists of our time.