history of chemistry

Who we are - What we do

Chemistry has a history that continues to be written every day. The rapid development of the natural sciences, and thus also of chemistry, presents society with new challenges. Only those who know their history can successfully shape the future, because scientific progress is based not only on current research, but also on tradition. From the examples of the past, we learn to moderate leaps in technology and knowledge in such a way that they engage people and provide the best benefit for society.

Shortlink to this page: www.gdch.de/geschichte

tasks and goals

We are a committed community of around 400 chemists, science historians, teachers and students who are interested in the rich history of chemistry .

Our tasks are:

     

  • Arouse and maintain interest and understanding in the historical view of chemistry
  • stimulate chemical history research
  • Promote engagement with the history of chemistry at universities
  • Generate interest in local chemical history
  • Promote the use of historical topics in school lessons
  • Bringing the history of chemistry to the general public
  • Support museums and exhibitions on the history of chemistry
  • Raise awareness of the importance of legacies.

In order to achieve this, we promote contacts and the exchange of experience among members and with foreign colleagues. Every two years we organize a Conference on the history of chemistry at different locations, publish the Mitteilungen as a publication organ for chemistry history treatises and support the work of the GDCh commission "Historic Sites of Chemistry". We work closely with other GDCh Divisions , in particular the German Young Chemists Network, the chemical education Group and the Senior Expert Chemists.

    Board

    The Board consists of the chairman, his deputy and at least one but not more than five assessors. more

    Prizes and honors

    Bettina Haupt-Förderpreis for the history of chemistry

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    Paul Bunge Prize from the Hans R. Jenemann Foundation

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    Publications

       

    • Announcements from the Division of History of Chemistry
    • Newsletter of the Division of History of Chemistry
    • Milestone in chemistry
    • From school year to school year - highlights of chemistry history
    • Contemporary witness reports

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    Ongoing & completed projects

       

    • Lecture offers
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    • Events
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    • Industry Circle (completed)
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    Description of the Divisions logo

    The five-ball apparatus developed by Justus Liebig in 1830 simplified chemical elemental analysis and enabled research-based laboratory teaching. The instrument, also known as the potash apparatus, soon became an international symbol of the chemical profession's self-image. Anyone interested in the workings and performance of the five-ball apparatus should refer to: Melvyn Usselman, Alan Rocke, Christina Reinhart, Kelly Foulser, "Restaging Liebig. A Study in the Replication of Experiments", Annals of Science 62 (2005), 1-55.

    14th International Conference on History of Chemistry 2025 (14ICHC)

    June 11-14, Valencia/Spain
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    Book series "Life's Achievements in Chemistry"

    Homepage
    Flyers

    JCF podcast "Rethinking Chemistry - How did people do research in the past?"

    in cooperation with the Division of History of Chemistry
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    Historical Sites of Chemistry

    GDCh program to honor achievements in chemistry of historical importance since 1999
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    Strong professorships for the history of science

    Explanation of the historical Divisions of the natural scientific societies in Germany
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    Contact

    GDCh Office
    Dipl.-Biol. Nicole Bürger
    Tel .: +49 69 7917-231
    Email: n.buerger@gdch.de

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    last modified: 07.10.2024 13:29 H from Translator