Saxon Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Leipzig
Team WissensSpuren und SAW
The Saxon Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Leipzig (SAW) upholds the tradition of the academy concept introduced by Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz around 1700. Its mission is to bring together scientists from various disciplines for regular exchange of ideas, discussing methods and results of specialized research in an interdisciplinary dialogue, conducting long-term research projects, and combining theoriam cum praxi (theory with practice). To achieve this, it brings together nationally and internationally renowned scholars for regular cross-disciplinary discussions.
History
The academy was founded on July 1st, 1846, under the name of Royal Saxon Society of Sciences. It has carried its current name since the establishment of the Free State of Saxony in 1919. Reopened three years after the end of World War II, it remained a scholarly society during the GDR era, and it managed to maintain its independence despite increasing ideological influence from the Academy of Sciences of the GDR in Berlin. Since reunification, the Saxon Academy of Sciences and Humanities has made significant progress. The Free State of Saxony acknowledges its responsibility for the academy in its constitution and has transformed it into a public law institution. It is integrated into a broad network of national and international research institutions and is, among other things, a member of the Union (formerly Conference) of the German Academies of Sciences.
Education and Research
The research projects based at the Academy serve as an international beacon in long-term humanities research. Notable among more than two dozen projects are the Old High German Dictionary, the BACH Research Portal, studies on the cultural heritage of dance in the GDR, and technology impact assessments.
Outreach
The Academy can be visited through public lectures and symposia, and a virtual tour is available on its website that allows visitors to explore the ground floor and the garden of the Academy. Additionally, the Carolingian Herb and Medicinal Plant Garden, which is part of the Old High German Dictionary project, is well worth a visit. It is located in the Academy’s courtyard.