The Young Academy (Die Junge Akademie)

In the summer of 2000, the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities (Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften) and the Leopoldina founded the Young Academy (Die Junge Akademie) as a joint project. This is the only project in Germany for the institutional support of junior scientists with a record of academic excellence. The future of science and research inside and outside universities is highly relevant for the members of the Young Academy and affects them directly. Accordingly, members of the Young Academy have in recent years addressed topics relating to universities and colleges, such as the situation of women in German research or the different career pathways of scientists in European countries. After interviews with newly appointed junior professors, the Young Academy also produced a statement concerning “junior professorship”. The legal reform of the higher education framework still is a major issue for the Young Academy. It publishes a magazine with reports on its activities twice a year.

The Young Academy has 50 members. Membership is limited to five years and, annually, ten new members are elected either by the parent academies or by the members of the Young Academy. During the first five years, the Young Academy received financial support from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung) and the Volkswagen Foundation (VolkswagenStiftung). After a positive evaluation in 2005, the Ministry promised further funds for the next few years, for the time being until 2010.