image: The new headquarters of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina are located in the close neighborhood of the Moritzburg by the river Saale in the center of Halle (Saale), Germany. view more
Credit: Thomas Meinicke
The refurbishment of the new headquarters of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina in Halle is complete. In a symbolic gesture, President Professor Jörg Hacker today received the key to the new headquarters from the architects, in the presence of many guests from politics, science and society. From January 2012, the Leopoldina will work from its new offices at Jägerberg 1. The German Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development provided €15.8 million from the second economic stimulus package for the extensive redevelopment. The State of Saxony-Anhalt contributed just under €1 million, also from the second economic stimulus package, towards the purchase of the property.
At the ceremony, the President of the Leopoldina, Professor Jörg Hacker, emphasised that dialogue and exchange between society, politics and science are key to the success of the academy's work. "The Leopoldina wants its new headquarters in the heart of Halle to become a place for just this kind of dialogue and exchange. Thanks to the architects and planners, we now have the ideal conditions for this vision to become a reality. The new building provides room for our extended staff numbers, and also offers enough space for the Academy's numerous activities, such as scientific symposiums and public events. These were always a firm part of the Leopoldina tradition, and are key to our new role as the German National Academy." The opening addresses at the handover ceremony were given by the State Secretary for the German Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development, Rainer Bomba, and the State Secretary for the Ministry of Science and Economics of the State of Saxony Anhalt, Marco Tullner.
The Leopoldina was appointed the German National Academy of Sciences in 2008. Since then it has fulfilled its role of advising politics and society on prevailing topics of science policy. The Leopoldina also represents the German scientific community in international associations of national science academies. To equip the Leopoldina to successfully take on this new role, the team of staff at the academy was extended. All staff working in the Presidium office, the Secretary General's office, the administration, and the international relations, political consultancy and PR departments will move over Christmas and New Year to the former lodge on the Jägerberg in Halle, where they will continue their work from January 2012. The Leopoldina's library and archive will remain at their current location on August-Bebel-Strasse/Emil-Abderhalden-Strasse.
The Leopoldina is financed by the Federal Ministry for Education and Research (80 percent) and the State of Saxony-Anhalt (20 percent).
Open day on Saturday 17 December 2011, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Next Saturday, the Leopoldina will open the doors of its new main building to the general public. An opportunity for all those interested to come and take a look at the new location.