Göttingen University
time: 2017-06-13

http://www.uni-goettingen.de/

     The founding of Göttingen University took place at the instance of the local ruler Elector George Augustus of Hanover (who was at the same time the King of Great Britain as George II due to the personal union with Great Britain and Ireland from 1714), after whom the University was named. The actual spiritus rector (guiding spirit) of this new foundation was Hanover Minister Gerlach Adolph Baron of Münchhausen who created a new type of university: the Georgia Augusta served the goals of enlightenment even more consistently than Halle University, which was only a few decades older. Accordingly, scientific research was freed from censorship by the church (Münchhausen as the representative of the Elector however reserved for himself the right of censorship), and at the same time academic teaching was given high priority. The library, which was systematically sponsored and developed, was open to the students as well – which was a shocking innovation at the time; for emerging and seminal scientific disciplines, Münchhausen created new professorships to which he systematically appointed outstanding representatives of their subjects. Lectures at the University commenced in 1734, and the official inauguration took place in the presence of Münchhausen in 1737.

     Göttingen past and present is characterised by the quest for excellence in science, scholarship and education. Its success is reflected by the long list of Nobel Prize laureates associated with Göttingen, including the Max Planck researchers Manfred Eigen and Erwin Neher who continue their work here today. Göttingen stands for exceptional progress in science and scholarship and for an exchange of ideas, impulses constantly sent out from this city into society at large.