– Start of two celebrations to mark the 325th anniversary
Berlin, 14 June 2025
In its ‘French century’, the 18th century, the Prussian Academy was strongly influenced by the French, by French discourse and the French language, whether in polemical scientific debates or at courtly banquets. The natural and technical sciences in particular experienced breathtaking progress.
This year’s Leibniz Day of the Academy, which was celebrated today at the Konzerthaus am Gendarmenmarkt, was a reminder of this.
The annual festive session held in honour of the polymath and founder of the Academy, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, kicked off two anniversary festival weeks this year to mark the 325th birthday of the Academy.
The diverse programme revolves around the ‘French Academy’, spanning from the Academy’s past to the present and concluding on 28 June with the Long Night of the Sciences.
At Leibniz Day, the focus was less on looking back at the past and more on European traditions of scientific cooperation in the interests of the future viability of the German science system.
The President of the Academy, Christoph Markschies, emphasised in his report entitled ‘Cultural change in science is necessary – or: What can we learn from 325 years for the future viability of German science today?’:
“Throughout history, foreign debates and foreign scientists have repeatedly brought new life and new ideas to the German science system. This can be seen in the French century of academia. New impetus and new ideas are needed again today to make a system that is often shackled by excessive hierarchisation, over-bureaucratisation and fear of change more sustainable”.
In his welcoming address, Kai Wegner, Governing Mayor of Berlin, emphasised that “France and Germany, Berlin and our twin city Paris, maintain a close and good scientific exchange. This exchange, our excellence, must be strengthened and further developed in science and research. Because we are facing major challenges: We must and want to invest more in research, digitalisation and new technologies in order to grow economically and secure our prosperity.”
François Delattre, French Ambassador to Germany, and Stephan Steinlein, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to France and Monaco, also addressed the guests and emphasised the special importance of France for the Academy.
Keynote speaker Cem Özdemir, former Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture as well as for Education and Research, focussed on a central function of science with his lecture ‘Knowledge without borders – how research builds bridges’.
The Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities also honoured the achievements of three individuals on Leibniz Day 2025.
Academy members Detlev Ganten, physician, Honorary Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Stiftung Charité and President of the World Health Summit, and Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard, biologist, Nobel Prize winner and Director Emerita at the MPI for Developmental Biology in Tübingen, were honoured with honorary membership of the BBAW, the highest award available to her.
The Leibniz Medal 2025 was awarded to the Chairman of the Volkswagen Foundation, Georg Schütte, for his services to the advancement of science.
The Gisela Lerch Prize, an award donated by her sponsoring organisation, Collegium pro Academia, for particularly committed employees, was awarded for the first time. The prize went to the team from the Communications Department, headed by Ann-Christin Bolay.
The brass ensemble of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra provided the supporting musical programme.
As part of its committee meetings for Leibniz Day 2025, the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities also inducted three scientists as full members of the Academy:
Frank Bradke, born 1969
Neurosciences
Senior Group Leader at the German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Professor at the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
Biosciences and Medicine Class
Eicke Latz, born 1970
Medicine and Immunology
Professor of Experimental Rheumatology at the Charité, Scientific Director of the German Rheumatism Research Centre Berlin (DRFZ)
Bioscientific-medical class
Alexander Mathys, born 1979
Food Technology
Associate Professor at the Department of Health Sciences and Technology at ETH Zurich
Deputy Head of the Institute of Food Science, Nutrition and Health
Technical Science Class
The Academy has 174 full members, 162 full members who have been discharged, 66 associate members and 4 honorary members. 90 members are women. There are currently 166 members in Berlin and Brandenburg, 191 in other federal states and 45 abroad.
All Photos: Credit AfricaNewsAnalysis