Academy Friends' Circle
Welcome to the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina
The Leopoldina is the world’s oldest continuously existing academy for medicine and natural sciences with a tradition of over 355 years and more than 1300 members all over the world. Since 2008 it has been Germany's National Academy of Sciences. In this role, the Leopoldina has the duty to provide science-based advice to both politics and society and to carry out a representative function in international academy organizations and bodies.
The Leopoldina maintains a network with scientific institutions of other European and non-European countries, organises a large number of national and international meetings and symposia, and issues statements and recommendations.
Counselling national and international parliaments and bodies on scientific matters and the support and promotion of young scientists are the most important tasks of the Leopoldina at the beginning of the 21st century.
“To Explore Nature to the Benefit of the Human Being.”
Preambel of the Academy since 1652
Topical news
The life support systems that are provided by the environment (ecosystem services) are undervalued by Europeans and must be protected by new legislation, EASAC writes in its new report published on 17 February 2009. The report identifies and assesses the essential and often irreplaceable benefits that Europeans get from their environment and shows that biodiversity is fundamental to sustaining them. Current threats to biodiversity, for example from climate change, intensive agriculture and urbanisation, will lead to loss of essential services, crucial to Europe's economy and society. Despite this, the full range of these services is currently not fully acknowledged, objectively valued or protected.
EASAC statement Ecosystem services and biodiversity in Europe
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Federal President Horst Köhler takes over the patronage of the National Academy Leopoldina
Ceremony on 14 July 2008
The German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina is now Germany's first National Academy of Sciences. This was unanimously confirmed by the Joint Science Conference of Germany's Federal and Länder Governments (Gemeinsame Wissenschaftskonferenz von Bund und Ländern, GWK) on February 18, 2008. This decision is based on an initiative of the Federal Science Minister Dr Annette Schavan from November 2007. Germany’s Federal President Dr Horst Köhler took over the patronage of the Leopoldina as the National Academy.
The official appointment was celebrated on 14 July 2008 in Halle. In its new role, the Leopoldina will represent the German scientists in international academy commissions. Moreover, the Leopoldina will advise the government, the parliament, and the public about socially relevant scientific issues. The Leopoldina will cooperate with other academies, especially with the German Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech) and with the Länder Academies.
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Contact
Sekretariat
Tel.: +49 - 345 - 4 72 39 - 0
Fax: +49 - 345 - 4 72 39 - 19
leopoldina@leopoldina-halle.de
