The Leopoldina in the GDR: Interviews with contemporary witnesses

As part of the project, contemporary witnesses' memories of the Academy in the GDR will be recorded, with the focus on the opportunities for establishing inner-German and international scientific contacts that the Leopoldina opened up to its members. In addition, other aspects of the Academy's life and activities will also be considered.

The reflections of former members as well as closely associated scientists and staff who were involved in the activities of the Leopoldina during the GDR provide a qualitative picture of the Academy during this period. The aim is not only to document individual memories, but also to reconstruct the institutional functioning, networks and spheres of action of the Leopoldina and its members in a politically and scientifically restrictive context.

At the heart of the project are semi-structured, guided interviews with contemporary witnesses. The method makes it possible to focus on specific topics and at the same time leaves enough room for individual narratives and for the interviewees to contribute their own perspectives. The interviews are recorded, transcribed, archived and made available for later in-depth analysis.

The project opens up an important source for further research into the institutional history of the Leopoldina in the GDR. It provides a compact picture of the Academy's function and significance during this period - from the perspective of its members and staff. At the same time, the project makes a contribution to the more recent history of science in East Germany, in particular to the question of how inner-German and international scientific networking and communication could be organised and lived under the conditions of an authoritarian system. The interviews will be incorporated into the Leopoldina archive and form a starting point for further work on science and politics in the GDR.