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We celebrate the Alexander von Humboldt Year!

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Alexander von Humboldt was born in Berlin 250 years ago on 14 September - a good reason to explore the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin in the footsteps of the scientist on 14 & 15 September 2019 with free admission under the motto "Humboldt for all!". The complete program you find here. As a global research infrastructure, the research collection of the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin is a unique scientific and cultural treasure trove of knowledge that is researched by its own and international experts and made accessible worldwide. These include the collections that Alexander von Humboldt has collected on his travels or received through a global network. More than 1100 objects, primarily minerals and rocks, were brought to the museum by the researcher. To celebrate its 250th birthday, the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin is publishing an extensive, richly illustrated work presenting these minerals and rocks. Accompanying this, a "Humboldt Intervention" in the historic Mineral Hall until February 2020 shows selected original objects.

Alexander von Humboldt was a Berliner. He was the first cosmopolitically thinking and acting scientist in Germany with an international research network that knew no boundaries between the humanities and natural sciences. As a globetrotter and thinker of globality, he has shown how science can penetrate from the ivory tower into the consciousness of society. With its work as an opening, integrated, globally acting research institute, as a place of lifelong learning and as a dialogue partner for nature, science and education, the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin acts in his spirit. Alexander von Humboldt was willing to take risks, he was politically thinking, acting and responsible. His view of nature paved the way for ecological and sustainable awareness and responsible use of natural resources. In his sense, the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin is increasingly involved as a mediator and advisor in current social debates, e.g. on the issues of resource scarcity, climate change and biodiversity loss. Alexander von Humboldt's life's work and the work of the Research Museum form a symbiosis: enthusiasm, fascination, research, mediation and education, social commitment - for nature. This is why Alexander von Humboldt's handwriting is integrated into the logo of the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin.

 

Alexander von Humboldt: Minerale und Gesteine im Museum für Naturkunde Berlin

Hg. von Ferdinand Damaschun und Ralf Thomas Schmitt

424 S., 504 farb. Abb., Klappenbroschur, 34,90 € (D); 35,90 € (A)

ISBN 978-3-8353-3582-0

 

More information to the Humboldt Year 2019 here.