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Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities

Coordinates:52°30′50″N13°23′39″E/ 52.51389°N 13.39417°E/52.51389; 13.39417
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Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften
AbbreviationBBAW
Formation
  • 1700(1700)(founded)
  • 1752 (Royal Society)
  • 1918 (Prussian Academy)
  • 1992 (modern charter)
Legal statustreaty
HeadquartersJägerstrasse 22/23
D-10117Berlin,Germany
Coordinates52°30′50″N13°23′39″E/ 52.51389°N 13.39417°E/52.51389; 13.39417
Official language
German
President
Christoph Markschies
Vice-Presidents
  • Julia Fischer
  • Ulrike Kuhlmann
Main organ
Board of Directors
Parent organization
German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina
Staff450
Websitewww.bbaw.de/en

TheBerlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities(German:Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften), abbreviatedBBAW,is the official academic society for thenatural sciencesandhumanitiesfor theGerman statesofBerlinandBrandenburg.Housed in three locations in and aroundBerlin,Germany,the BBAW is the largest non-university humanitiesresearch institutein the region.[1]

The BBAW was constituted in 1992 by formal treaty between the governments of Berlin and Brandenburg on the basis of several older academies, including the historicPrussian Academy of Sciencesfrom 1700 andEast Germany'sAcademy of Sciences of the German Democratic Republicfrom 1946. By this tradition, past members include theBrothers Grimm,WilhelmandAlexander von Humboldt,Lise Meitner,Theodor Mommsen,Albert Einstein,andMax Planck.[2]Today the BBAW operates as a public law corporation under the auspices of theGerman National Academy of Sciences,and has over 300 fellows and 250 additional staff members.[3]Its elected scientific membership has included 78Nobel laureates.[4][5]

The BBAW operates several subsidiary research centers. Projects include compiling large dictionaries; editing texts from ancient, medieval, and modern history; and editing theclassical literaturefrom diverse fields. Notable examples includeInscriptiones Graecae,theCorpus Inscriptionum Latinarum,theGerman Dictionary(German:Deutsches Wörterbuch), theAncient Egyptian Dictionary(Altägyptisches Wörterbuch), the bibliography of works byAlexander von Humboldt,and a scholarly edition of the works ofLudwig Feuerbach.[6]

History

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Entrance to the oldPrussian Academy of SciencesonUnter den Linden8. Today the building hosts some BBAW projects
The Academy of Sciences of theDDR,theAdW(1950)
The modern BBAW headquarters at Jägerstrasse 22/23 (2006)

Society of Sciences (1700–52)

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The roots of the BBAW can be traced to the Society of Sciences of the Elector of Brandenburg (German:Kurfürstlich Brandenburgische Sozietät der Wissenschaften), founded in 1700 byGottfried Wilhelm Leibnizunder the patronage ofFrederick I of Prussia.The institution was created on the principle of uniting the natural sciences and the humanities, making it a prototype for other academies across Europe.[2]The rise of the field ofphysicscan be genealogically traced to this period of the Academy,[7]as well as modern European mathematics.[8]

Royal Academy (1752–1918)

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UnderFrederick the Great,an enthusiastic patron, the Academy rose to even wider significance. In 1752 it merged with theNouvelle Société Littéraireto form the Royal Academy of Sciences (German:Königliche Akademie der Wissenschaften). The new Academy attracted prominent scientists and philosophers, includingImmanuel Kant,who were able publish writings which would have been censored elsewhere in Europe.[9]While it was an important center in theAge of Enlightenment,due to its royal patronage the Academy did not enjoy complete freedom. Political writings in itsProceedingsthroughout the 18th century argued the merits of monarchies over republics, warned against theFrench Revolution,and defendedPrussiaagainst accusations that it wasdespotic.In the 19th century thevon Humboldt brothersreorganized the Academy along more open lines. Prominent critical thinkers such asTheodor Mommsen,Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling,Friedrich Schleiermacherwere all active members for many decades.[10]

Prussian Academy (1918–33)

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Main article:Prussian Academy of Sciences

With the collapse of the German monarchy in 1918, the Royal Academy was renamed thePrussian Academy of Sciences(German:Preußische Akademie der Wissenschaften). During this period it rose to international fame[11]and its members included top academics in their fields such asAlbert Einstein,Max Planck,Hermann Diels,andErnst Bloch.[10]

Nazi Germany (1933–45)

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During theNazi period,as with all institutions across Germany, the Academy became subject to the "Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service."As a result,Jewishemployees and political opponents were expelled. Albert Einstein resigned in 1933 before he could be expelled andMax Planck,the Academy's president, was coerced to publicly supportnationalist socialism.However, despite initial resistance, over time the Academy and many of its scientists became willing tools of the Nazis. New statutes in 1938 reorganized the Academy according to theFührer principle,causing Planck to resign his presidency in protest.[12]The mathematicianTheodor Vahlen,proponent of the anti-SemiticDeutsche Mathematikmovement, became its president.[13]By war's end the Academy's reputation was destroyed and many of its prominent scientists were stigmatized. Planck died in 1947.[12]

Modern history (1946–present)

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AfterWorld War II,what remained of the Academy wound up in theSoviet Zone of Occupation.Re-opened by the Russians in 1946 as theGerman Academy of Sciences at Berlin(German:Deutsche Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin), it moved to the former Prussian Maritime Trade Company building on theGendarmenmarktin 1949. The Academy was renamed theAcademy of Sciences of the German Democratic Republic(German:Akademie der Wissenschaften der DDR) orAdWin 1972, by which time it had over 400 members and 24,000 employees.[11]AfterGerman reunificationthe AdW was dissolved in December 1991 due to its controversial role in support of theEast Germanregime. In August 1992, the BBAW was reconstituted by interstate treaty between thelandtagsof Berlin and Brandenburg using the original model of the old Prussian Academy.[12]Today its headquarters are located at the former AdW building, with special projects conducted at the old Prussian Academy on theUnter den Linden.It also has a third office inPotsdam.[11]

Research

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Research projects

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The academy sponsors a variety of interdisciplinary, long-term and externally funded projects. These include large German and foreign-language dictionaries; historical-critical publications of ancient, medieval, and modern texts; and editing and interpreting theclassical literatureby scholars from diverse academic fields. In 2012 the BBAW was home to 47 major projects, the most notable include:[6]

Research centers

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The Academy has established a number of research centres over time, including centres forbasic research,language and history. Each seeks to pool expertise from various fields with the goal of improving cooperation between university and non-university institutions and stimulating regional and international research innovation. In 2012 the BBAW operated three such centers:[20]

  • Zentrum Grundlagenforschung Alte Welt:a centre for research of primary sources of the ancient world[21]
  • Zentrum "Preußen-Berlin":The "Prussia-Berlin" Research Centre, an amalgamation of projects on the history and culture Prussia and Berlin
  • Zentrum Sprache:The Language Research Centre

Facilities and funding

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The BBAW operates at three locations in and around Berlin:[1]

  • Headquarters
    Jägerstrasse 22/23
    10117Berlin
  • Former Prussian Academy of Sciences building
    Unter den Linden 8
    10117 Berlin
  • New building
    Am Neuen Markt 8
    14467Potsdam

Funding for the Academy comes primarily from the states of Berlin and Brandenburg, with a significant portion of its research supported by the federal and state governments of Germany.[2]

Salon Sophie Charlotte

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The Salon Sophie Charlotte is a public evening event organized by the BBAW bringing together leading academics and the general public. Being selected as an academic panelist or speaker is considered highly prestigious. The number of visitors increased over the years to up to 3000 visitors (2017) including academics, public intellectuals and politicians such as ChancellorAngela Merkel.[22]

Eponym of the salon isSophia Charlotte of Hanover(1668–1705), Queen consort in Prussia as wife of KingFrederick I.,who initiated, together withGottfried Wilhelm Leibniz,the founding of the scientific academy in Berlin in 1700. On her estateLietzow (Charlottenburg)near Berlin maintained Sophie Charlotte, who had a great passion for philosophy, free-spirited salons, which formed a counter-world to strict Prussia etiquette as a social meeting place for discussions, readings or musical events.

The event takes place in BBAW's academy building at Berlin'sGendarmenmarkt.Every year it is organized with a different thematic focus.

  • 2006: Kick-off (Auftaktveranstaltung)
  • 2007: Europe in the Middle East – The Middle East in Europe (Europa im Nahen Osten – Der Nahe Osten in Europa)
  • 2008: Do you know Prussia – really? (Kennen Sie Preußen – wirklich?)
  • 2009: The evolution welcomes your children (Die Evolution empfängt Ihre Kinder)
  • 2010: Escape from the amazement? (Flucht vor dem Staunen?)
  • 2011: Reciprocity. Patrons and donors of the sciences and the arts (Gegenliebe. Gönner und Geber der Wissenschaften und der Künste)
  • 2012: Artifacts. Knowledge is art – art is knowledge (Artefakte. Wissen ist Kunst – Kunst ist Wissen)
  • 2013: The science and the love (Die Wissenschaft und die Liebe)
  • 2014: Europe – a place of the future (Europa – ein Zukunftsort)
  • 2015: Put in the light (Ins Licht gerückt)
  • 2016: Do we live in the best of all possible worlds? (Leben wir in der besten aller möglichen Welten?)
  • 2017: Rebellions, revolutions or reforms? (Rebellionen, Revolutionen oder Reformen?)
  • 2018: Language (Sprache)[23]

Medals, prizes and lectures

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The Academy bestows a number of scientific medals and awards and is host to prestigious lectures:[24]

Medals

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  • Helmholtz Medal:Awarded biennially to individuals who have made significant academic contributions to the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, or medicine. It was first awarded on 2 June 1892 to the physiologistEmil Du Bois-Reymond,physicistLord Kelvin,and mathematicianKarl Weierstraß.[25]
  • Leibniz Medal:Awarded to individuals or groups for special services in support of scientific research. It was first awarded to the Berlin art collectorJames Simon,patron of archeological excavations and museums.[25]

Prizes

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  • Academy Prize:An annual prize awarded for outstanding scientific achievement in any disciplinary field. It is awarded at the Academy's Leibniz Day celebration in the summer and includes 50,000 Euros.
  • Prize of the Academy(endowed by the Commerzbank Foundation): Awarded biennially for outstanding scientific achievement in the area of research in legal and economic principles. It includes 30,000 Euros is conferred at a joint ceremonial session of the Academy and the Commerzbank Foundation.
  • Eva and Klaus Grohe Prize of the Academy:Awarded biennially for outstanding scientific achievement by German scientists with a doctorate in the area of infectious diseases. The prize includes 20,000 Euros and is conferred at the Academy's annual Einstein Day celebration.
  • Prize of the Academy(endowed by the Monika Kutzner Foundation): Awarded annually for outstanding scientific achievement in the area of cancer research. It includes 10,000 Euros and is conferred at the Academy's annual Einstein Day celebration.
  • Prize of the Academy(endowed by the Peregrinus Foundation): Awarded biennially for outstanding achievements by scholars from eastern and southeastern Europe. It includes 5,100 Euros and is conferred at the Academy's annual Einstein Day celebration.
  • Technical Scientific Prize:Awarded for outstanding achievement in the engineering sciences by young engineers and scientists in research or industry. It includes 10,000 Euros and is awarded at the Academy's annual Day of Engineering.
  • Walter de Gruyter-Prize:Awarded biennially for outstanding achievement in a subject area covered by the publishing houseWalter de Gruyter.It includes 7,500 Euros and is preferably awarded to those who are young, relative to their achievements.
  • Liselotte Richter-Prize of the Leibniz-Edition Potsdam:Awarded biennially to senior school students in the province of Brandenburg and includes 1,000 Euros.

Lectures

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Publications

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The Academy'sProceedingshave been variously titled throughout history:[10]

  • Miscellanea Berolinensia(1710–43)
  • Histoire de l'académie royale des sciences et belles lettres(1745–69)
  • Nouveaux mémoires de l'académie royal(1770–86)
  • Sammlung der deutschen Abhandlungen(1788–1803)
  • Abhandlungen der Königlich Preußischen Akademie(1804–1917)

Today the BBAW's publications appear in a wide variety of established journals, as well as its own publications such asJahrbuch,Berichte und Abhandlungen,Debattenand the journalGegenworte.[26]

See also

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References

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  1. ^abBBAW Introduction(in English)retrieved 06-21-2012.
  2. ^abcHistory of the BBAW at the Union of German Academies of Sciences and HumanitiesArchived2013-06-27 at theWayback Machine(in English)at www.akademienunion.de, retrieved 06-21-2012.
  3. ^BBAW Membership RosterArchived14 March 2020 at theWayback Machine(in English)retrieved 06-22-2012.
  4. ^Goethe Instituteprofile of the BBWA(in English)retrieved 06-21-2012.
  5. ^berlin-sciences.comprofile of the BBAW, retrieved 06-21-2012.
  6. ^abBBAW ProjectsArchived30 September 2018 at theWayback Machine(in English)retrieved 06-21-2012.
  7. ^Sheilla Jones:The Quantum Ten: A Story of Passion, Tragedy, Ambition and ScienceOxford University Press, 2008,ISBN9780195369090p. 35
  8. ^Eberhard Knobloch: "Mathematics at the Prussian Academy of Sciences 1700–1810" in:Mathematics in Berlin,from: Gordon Brebner, Roger Woods (eds):Field-Programmable Logic and Applications: 11th International Conference,Proceedings Volume 2147, Belfast: Springer 2001,ISBN9783540424994.p. 1online summary
  9. ^Aarsleff, Hans (1989). "The Berlin Academy under Frederick the Great".History of the Human Sciences.2(2): 193–206.doi:10.1177/095269518900200203.S2CID144502234.
  10. ^abcLaursen, John Christian (2005). "The Berlin Academy". In Popkin, Richard H. (ed.).The Columbia History of Western Philosophy.New York: Columbia University Press. p. 493.ISBN0-231-10129-5.
  11. ^abcBBAW HistoryArchived2019-05-14 at theWayback Machine(in English)retrieved 06-21-2012.
  12. ^abcMark Walker: "The Surrender of the Prussian Academy of Sciences" in:Nazi Science,Basic Books, 2008ISBN9780465011889.Ch. 4
  13. ^Klaus and Ann M. Hentschel (eds.):Physics and National Socialism: An Anthology of Primary Sources(Birkhäuser, 1996)ISBN0-8176-5312-0.Appendix F
  14. ^"Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum".Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities.Retrieved18 July2012.
  15. ^Altägyptisches Wörterbuch(in German)retrieved 06-21-2012.
  16. ^Christian Fellbaum (ed.):Idioms and collocations: Corpus-based linguistic and lexicographic studies,London: Continuum, 2007, 224 p.ISBN978-0-82-644473-8
  17. ^"Goethe-Wörterbuch (The Goethe Dictionary)".Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities.Retrieved18 July2012.
  18. ^"Inscriptiones Graecae".Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities.Retrieved18 July2012.
  19. ^"Monumenta Germaniae Historica".Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities.Retrieved18 July2012.
  20. ^BBAW Research Centers(in English)retrieved 06-21-2012.
  21. ^Center for Research of the Ancient World(in German)retrieved 06-21-2012.
  22. ^About the Salon Sophie CharlotteinDer Tagesspiegel
  23. ^Salon Sophie Charlotte at BBAW
  24. ^Union of the German Academies of Sciences and HumanitiesArchivedJanuary 3, 2014, at theWayback Machinelist of BBWA prizes(in English)retrieved 06-21-2012.
  25. ^ab"Medals – Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities".www.bbaw.de.Retrieved4 August2020.
  26. ^BBAW Publicationscurrent listing(in English)retrieved 06-21-2012.
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