11 June 2012, No. 17/2012

Humboldt Foundation are guests of Federal President Joachim Gauck

On 19 June, the Federal President will address over 600 international scientists and scholars in the park of Schloss Bellevue.

On 19 June, Federal President Joachim Gauck will host a reception in the park of Schloss Bellevue for over 600 international scientists and scholars with their families who are currently visiting Germany on Humboldt Fellowships. Following the President’s welcome address, personal meetings and discussions are planned with the Humboldtians, who come from over 70 countries and a wide range of disciplines. Federal President Gauck will also present the Philipp Franz von Siebold Award, which honours outstanding services in German-Japanese relations.

The reception hosted by the Federal President is the opening event of the Annual Meeting of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, which takes place from 19 – 20 June and is designed to promote exchange and personal encounters within the Foundation’s network. The programme also includes the presentation of the Humboldt Alumni Award, which recognises innovative networking initiatives.

Throughout the meeting, the scientists and scholars will be available for interviews, for example about living and conducting research in Germany and their home countries or their own research project.

Journalists are welcome to attend! Photographs and audio recordings are permitted. Please note that you must obtain accreditation for the reception with the Federal President by Friday, 15 June, and observe the instructions on the response form.

- Reception hosted by the Federal President on Tuesday, 19 June, 5.15 p.m. – 6.15 p.m.
  venue: garden of Schloss Bellevue

- Ceremony on Wednesday, 20 June, 9.30 a.m. – 11 a.m.
  venue: Freie Universität Berlin, Henry-Ford-Bau, Garystr. 35, 14195 Berlin,
  followed by a reception and a Spree cruise

On-site contact on 19 and 20 June: Georg Scholl, tel. 0160/ 97245344

The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation

Every year, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation enables more than 2,000 researchers from all over the world to spend time researching in Germany. The Foundation maintains a network of well over 25,000 Humboldtians from all disciplines in more than 130 countries worldwide – including 48 Nobel Prize winners.