Gotha welcomes international young scientists: A festival of ideas!

Gotha welcomes international young scientists: A festival of ideas!

The Gotha research campus of the University of Erfurt ceremoniously welcomed eight new scholarship holders on May 6, 2025. This event took place in the lecture hall of the Gotha Research Center and marks an important moment for international scientists working to research the extensive collections in Gotha. Among those present was Peter Leisner, Councilor for Finance and Education, who spoke on behalf of Mayor Knut Kreuch and emphasized the role of the scholarship holders in the city's global networking.

Dr. Kathrin Paasch, director of the Gotha Research Library, took the opportunity to encourage the newly accepted scholarship holders to use the diverse holdings for new discoveries. The research library refers to an important collection on cultural history, which is managed by the Ducal Library at Friedenstein Castle and is one of the most important collections of old prints and manuscripts in Germany.

Interdisciplinary scholarship programs

The ceremony was also a recognition of the tradition of international scientific exchange in Gotha, which has its origins in the historical dialogues between scholars. Reference is made to the exchange between Job Ludolf and Abba Gorgoryos, which underlines the importance of this city as a meeting place for scientific communities. The Herzog Ernst scholarship program, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2024, is interdisciplinary and is supported by the Ernst Abbe Foundation and other sponsors, including Dr. phil. Fritz Wiedemann Foundation and the Dorothee Wilms Foundation.

The scholarship holders work on a variety of research topics. These include, among other things, the collaboration between artists and astronomers in the 17th century, Protestant Hebraistics, deforestation in Ethiopia in maps of the 19th and 20th centuries, and the study of early modern court dress books. In regular colloquia they have the opportunity to present their research projects and discuss the latest results from the Gotha collections. The holdings of the Thuringia State Archives, Gotha State Archives and the Friedenstein Castle Foundation in Gotha should also be included in the research.

Sustainable science initiative

The University of Erfurt not only offers the Herzog Ernst scholarships, but also Hiob Ludolf fellowships, which enable senior scholars to complete a stay in Gotha. These scholarships will be awarded from February 1, 2024 and include financial support for doctoral students, postdoctoral researchers and experienced scientists. To apply, complete documentation is required by September 30, 2023. These must be written in German and English and include, among other things, an application form, a CV and a project outline.

All scholarship holders are required to live in Gotha during their stay and to give a public colloquium lecture. This not only promotes scientific exchange, but also strengthens the visibility of research in the region.

The Gotha Research Library at Friedenstein Castle also houses one of the most important collections on early modern and modern cultural history in Germany. With around 700,000 printed works, including 350,000 prints from the 16th to 18th centuries and around 11,500 manuscripts, it is an indispensable part of the University of Erfurt's research facilities and a center for new scientific discoveries.

Further details about the scholarship programs can be found in the official announcements and on the platforms of the University of Erfurt. Appropriate contact options are available for specific inquiries.