Description of the institute

As one of the oldest and largest scientific academies in Germany, the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities (founded in 1759) is not only a traditional learned society, but at the same time an important scientific institution of international importance. In the main it conducts a wide range of basic research in both the humanities and natural science subjects with a particular focus on major long-term research projects. The findings of this research work serve in particular to understand, develop and utilise our cultural heritage, as well as to document the world we live in. Precisely gathered data and series of measurements, critical editions, scientific dictionaries, encyclopaedias and indices form the basis of further research und evaluation, from which we can improve our knowledge and draw conclusions for responsible action. By their very nature, most of these projects are of long duration and consist either of collecting and evaluating material and subsequently processing it, or of many decades of continuous observation.

Amongst the duties of the Academy are also organising scientific events, supporting the coming generations of scientists – above all by awarding prizes – and maintaining contacts to other scientific organisations both in Germany and abroad. It operates the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre, one of the largest supercomputing centres in Germany, serving in particular the universities in Munich; it supports the Walther Meissner Institute for Low Temperature Research, one of the leading research institutes in this field.

The Academy differs radically from universities in that it is devoted purely to research and does not teach. Its special situation compared to other research institutions is characterised on the one hand by its dual function as a learned society and a sponsor of institutes, and on the other hand by the fact that its work is not limited to a specific subject or to a limited range of subjects. The spectrum of subjects represented by the Academy and consequently the range of possible research is limitless and has over the centuries kept up with developments in the entire range of subjects. As an association of outstanding scholars in both the humanities and natural sciences it aims in particular at maintaining an interdisciplinary exchange of experience.