Union of German Academies of Sciences and Humanities

Union of German Academies of Sciences and Humanities
Name	Union of German Academies of Sciences and Humanities
Native name	Union der deutschen Akademien der Wissenschaften
Formation	1893
Type	Non-governmental organization
Headquarters	Mainz, Germany
Membership	8 academies
Leader title	President
Leader name	Gerald Haug
Website	https://www.akademienunion.de

Union of German Academies of Sciences and Humanities. The Union of German Academies of Sciences and Humanities is the umbrella organization and coordinating body for eight major scientific academies in Germany. Founded in the late 19th century, it represents the interests of its member institutions at the national and international level, particularly in the promotion of long-term, fundamental research in the humanities and sciences. The Union is a key player in the German and European scientific landscape, managing large-scale, interdisciplinary research projects and fostering scholarly exchange.

History

The organization traces its origins to the 1893 establishment of the Kartell der deutschen Akademien der Wissenschaften in Gotha, initiated by the Göttingen Academy to foster collaboration among regional academies. This early consortium included members like the Prussian Academy of Sciences in Berlin and the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Munich. After the dissolution following World War II, it was re-established in 1949 in Mainz in the Federal Republic of Germany, with academies in the German Democratic Republic forming a separate association. Following German reunification in 1990, the union was reconstituted to include the academies from the former East Germany, such as the Saxon Academy in Leipzig and the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities.

Member Academies

The Union comprises eight independent, regionally based academies, each with a distinguished history. The members are the Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities, the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities, the Saxon Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Leipzig, the Academy of Sciences and Literature Mainz, the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, the Academy of Sciences, Humanities and Literature in Hamburg, and the North Rhine-Westphalian Academy of Sciences, Humanities and the Arts in Düsseldorf. Each academy elects outstanding scholars, such as past members Albert Einstein, Max Planck, and Thomas Mann, to their ranks, upholding traditions established by figures like Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz.

Structure and Governance

The Union is governed by a board presided over by an elected president, a position held by scientists including Gerald Haug and previously Horst Hippler. Key decision-making bodies include the General Assembly, comprising delegates from all member academies, and various specialized committees. The central coordination office is located in Mainz, facilitating the joint initiatives and policy work of the geographically dispersed member institutions. This structure ensures representation of diverse scholarly fields, from mathematics and natural sciences to philosophy and history.

Activities and Research Programs

Its primary activity is the coordination and funding of the Academies' Programme, one of the largest long-term research endeavors in the Federal Republic of Germany, jointly funded by the federal government and the German states (Länder). This program supports over 150 projects, including critical editions of works by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Immanuel Kant, and Friedrich Nietzsche, as well as major reference works like the Inscriptiones Graecae and the Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum. Further initiatives address contemporary issues like climate change, digital humanities, and bioethics.

International Cooperation

The Union maintains extensive global partnerships, acting as the German member of the International Science Council and the European Federation of Academies of Sciences and Humanities (ALLEA). It collaborates closely with other national academy networks, including the Royal Society in the United Kingdom, the French Academy of Sciences, and the National Academy of Sciences of the United States. These collaborations are essential for large-scale European research infrastructure projects and for providing scientific policy advice to bodies like the European Union and the United Nations.

Significance and Impact

The organization is fundamental to preserving and advancing Germany's scholarly heritage, ensuring the continuity of foundational research that often spans decades. Its work underpins academic standards worldwide through definitive editions and dictionaries. By providing a unified voice for German academies, it exerts considerable influence on national science policy, advising institutions like the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The Union's commitment to interdisciplinary and international scholarship solidifies Germany's role as a central hub for the global scientific community.

Category:Scientific organizations based in Germany Category:Academies of sciences Category:Organizations established in 1893