Overview

The Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities conducts and supports outstanding research across the humanities and natural sciences. Its work is shaped by long-term, interdisciplinary collaboration and a strong commitment to preserving and advancing knowledge. The Academy’s research activities are organised into three core areas: the Academies’ Programme, research commissions, and third-party funded initiatives.

Academies’ Programme

The Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Lower Saxony supervises more than twenty projects within the Academies’ Programme – a joint initiative funded by the federal and state governments to support long-term, multi- and interdisciplinary research in the humanities and social sciences. With its participation in this programme, the Göttingen Academy is the largest non-university institution for foundational research in the humanities in Lower Saxony.

Coordinated by the Union of the German Academies of Sciences and Humanities, the Academies’ Programme is globally unique. Since 1979, it has served the exploration, documentation, and preservation of cultural heritage. The programme supports long-term projects – often lasting up to 25 years – such as scholarly editions, dictionaries, and digital archives of significant material and immaterial cultural assets.
 

Research Commissions

Beyond individual projects, research also takes place within interdisciplinary research commissions, where Academy members from both the humanities and the natural sciences jointly develop new questions and long-term projects. The commissions regularly host symposia, organise public events, and publish academic proceedings. They also offer younger researchers, particularly in the postdoctoral phase, valuable opportunities for scholarly exchange with experienced academics.

Other Research Initiatives

In addition to these long-term projects, the Academy also coordinates externally funded research initiatives, for example supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG) or private foundations. Many of these projects evolve out of or expand upon topics from the Academies’ Programme and are characterised by active collaboration between Academy members, external experts, and dedicated research staff.

A Tradition of Scholarship

Founded in 1751 by George II, King of Great Britain and Elector of Hanover, the Academy has long been committed to cultivating collaboration across all scholarly disciplines. It maintains close ties to the international academic community and actively fosters collaboration with researchers from institutions around the world. The Göttingen Academy adheres to the recommendations of the German Research Foundation to ensure good scientific practice.