Foto: UHH/Denstorf
The Zoological Museum is part of the Center for Natural History and will in future also be part of the new Leibniz Institute for the analysis of biodiversity change.
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An important step for the University of Hamburg: The Hamburg Senate today approved the financing and the State Treaty between Hamburg and North Rhine-Westphalia to merge the Center for Natural History of the University of Hamburg (CeNak) with the Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig – Leibniz Institute for the Biodiversity of Animals (ZFMK) decided in Bonn.
This is a major milestone in the strategic development of the two institutes into a joint “Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change” (LIB), each with a location in Bonn and Hamburg. And to a new natural history museum that is part of the plans.
The history of efforts to create a new natural history museum for Hamburg is long. Loki Schmidt had fought for it for many years and presented the current President of the University of Hamburg, Univ.-Prof. Dr. Dr. hc Dieter Lenzen, who described the genesis when he took office in 2010. As a result, the President has been campaigning for the implementation of such a plan for many years and, for his part, has endeavored both to obtain cofinancing from the federal government and to find patrons.
Because: For the University of Hamburg, the integration of its unique natural history collection with more than ten million objects is a great opportunity to research these objects and present them to the people of Hamburg in an even broader way. The collection items from the University of Hamburg’s CeNak are very popular in the city and are also a place where future generations can meet our natural heritage.
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Dr. hc Dieter Lenzen: “I am pleased that we have come one step closer to the goal of rebuilding a natural history museum with today’s decision by the Senate. I would like to thank everyone who has walked the common path up to this point and I expect that the next steps to achieve the great goal will now be initiated. “
Background to the Leibniz Institute LIB:
The Center for Natural History is expected to become part of the Leibniz Association on July 1, 2021. Together with the Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig in Bonn (ZFMK), CeNak is merging to form the “Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change” (LIB). The LIB will be one of the most important institutions for research into biological diversity in Germany and internationally.
In the summer of 2020, the Joint Science Conference of the Federal Government and the States gave its vote for this merger of two research museums with locations in Hamburg and Bonn. Linked to the decision to go to the LIB is the construction of a new, innovative natural history museum in Hamburg.
The LIB builds a bridge between innovative research and nature conservation as well as between scientific knowledge and public understanding. Scientists here research the globally threatened biodiversity and processes of evolution. They address these central questions of our present time together with employees for knowledge transfer in exhibitions, events and other educational formats for the general public. In addition to research and teaching, cooperation with schools is an important part of the tasks.
Press release as PDF
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