The expedition of Alexander von Humboldt in the Russian Empire took him in 1829 from St Petersburg to the Ural and Altai Mountains, to the border with China, to Central Asia, to the Caspian Sea and along the river Volga. The scientific findings of this journey led to the book “Asie Centrale”, published in 1844 and which set the pace for the further exploration of Eurasia and Central Asia. Humboldt’s discoveries in geology contributed to the identification of the raw materials in the southern Urals, which served as the basis for the industrialisation of the region. Tsar Nicholas I of Russia found words of appraisal for Humboldt’s undertaking: “Your arrival in Russia caused an unprecedented rise throughout the country; you bring life to every place you visit”. Humboldt received membership of the most important scholarly societies of his time, including the membership of the Leopoldina and the honorary membership of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

The event seeks to build a bridge between the historic and contemporary exploration of Eurasia and Central Asia. Various lectures will highlight current research topics along the historical route Humboldt’s Russian Expedition. Subsequently, experts will discuss the situation and perspectives for the science systems of Germany, Russia and Central Asia: Can we find a heritage of Humboldt’s Esprit in today’s science? How does science convey its expertise to the public? How can higher education, research and innovation shape the development of a country or region? What factual and soft power does science have?

We cordially invite you to the festive event!

Image: Postal stamps of the Soviet Union Post and the German Federal Post on Alexander von Humboldt (Source: Wikimedia Commons / Notafly / NobbiP)