German Academy of Sciences at Berlin

German Academy of Sciences at Berlin
Name	German Academy of Sciences at Berlin
Native name	Deutsche Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin
Founded	11 July 1700
Founder	Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz
Headquarters	Berlin
Dissolution	0 1972
Successor	Academy of Sciences of the GDR

German Academy of Sciences at Berlin. The German Academy of Sciences at Berlin, originally founded as the Prussian Academy of Sciences, was one of the most prestigious learned societies in Europe. Established in the Age of Enlightenment, it served as a central hub for scientific research and scholarly exchange for centuries. Its history reflects the profound political transformations of Germany, from the Kingdom of Prussia through the German Empire, the Weimar Republic, the Nazi era, and into the German Democratic Republic.

History

The academy was formally inaugurated on 11 July 1700 by Elector Frederick III of Brandenburg, following a plan developed by the polymath Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, who became its first president. Modeled on institutions like the Royal Society and the French Academy of Sciences, it quickly became a center for the Scientific Revolution. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, it attracted luminaries such as Leonhard Euler, the Bernoulli family, and later Alexander von Humboldt. It survived the upheavals of the Napoleonic Wars and was renamed the Royal Prussian Academy of Sciences in 1812. The academy continued its work through the unification of Germany and the turmoil of World War I and the subsequent Weimar Republic.

Organization and structure

The academy was traditionally divided into two main classes: a mathematical-physical class and a philosophical-historical class, a structure common to many European academies like the Austrian Academy of Sciences. Membership was highly selective, with scholars elected as ordinary, corresponding, or foreign members. Key administrative bodies included a presiding president, a secretary, and a senate. After World War II, during the Cold War, its structure was reformed under the auspices of the Soviet Military Administration in Germany, leading to a greater focus on research institutes and a more centralized organization aligned with the needs of the German Democratic Republic.

Notable members and achievements

Over its long history, the academy's membership roster constituted a who's who of European intellectual life. Early members included philosophers like Immanuel Kant and scientists such as Joseph-Louis Lagrange. In the 19th century, figures like the brothers Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm, Theodor Mommsen, and Rudolf Virchow were members. The 20th century saw the election of Albert Einstein, Max Planck, and Lise Meitner, among others. Its achievements include the publication of critical editions like the Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum and groundbreaking research presented in its proceedings, the Monatsberichte.

Research and scientific contributions

The academy was instrumental in coordinating and publishing large-scale, long-term research projects. These included fundamental works in classical studies, comprehensive dictionaries of ancient languages, and major scientific surveys. It managed numerous research institutes, particularly after 1945, focusing on fields from nuclear physics and cosmology to geodesy and Slavic studies. Projects like the Berliner Akademie-Grammatik of ancient Egyptian and the critical edition of the works of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe were typical of its encyclopedic scholarly mission.

Relationship with the state and political context

The academy's relationship with political authority was complex and often direct. As a state institution of Prussia, it received funding and patronage from the monarchy. During the Nazi period, it was subjected to Gleichschaltung (coordination), with many Jewish members, including Einstein, expelled. After 1945, located in the Soviet occupation zone, it was re-established as the German Academy of Sciences at Berlin and became the primary scientific academy of the GDR. It was expected to serve the state's economic and ideological goals, closely aligned with the ruling Socialist Unity Party of Germany and the principles of Marxism-Leninism.

Legacy and successor institutions

The academy was dissolved in 1972 and directly transformed into the Academy of Sciences of the GDR. Following German reunification in 1990, this successor academy was itself dissolved. Its substantial assets, including numerous research institutes and the historic headquarters on Unter den Linden, were evaluated by the German Science Council. Many of its institutes were integrated into new research structures, primarily the Leibniz Association, while others became part of the Max Planck Society or Helmholtz Association. The academy's historical legacy and scholarly traditions are today maintained by the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, refounded in 1992.

Category:Scientific organizations based in Germany Category:Learned societies of Germany Category:Organizations established in 1700 Category:Organizations disestablished in 1972