Federation of German Scientists-VDW
Encyclopedia
The Federation of German Scientists - VDW (Vereinigung Deutscher Wissenschaftler e. V.) is a German non-governmental organization
in the field of sciences.
Since its founding 1959 by Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker
and further prominent nuclear
scientists, known as Göttinger 18
, who had previously publicly declared their position against the nuclear armament of the German Bundeswehr, the Federation has been committed to the ideal of responsible science.
The Federation of German Scientists comprises around 400 natural scientists, humanists and social scientists, enabling competent coverage of a broad spectrum of topics. The Federation of German Scientists addresses both interested members of the public and decision-makers on all levels of politics and society with its work.
In 2005/2006, the VDW was the patron and main contributor to the Potsdam Manifesto‚ We have to learn to think in a new way’ and the Potsdam Denkschrift
.
and the Nobel-prizewinners Max Born
, Otto Hahn
, Werner Heisenberg
and Max von Laue
. This group of scientists was almost identical to the "Göttinger 18
", who, two years previously, had publicly declared their position against the nuclear armament of the German Bundeswehr
. Both the “Göttinger Erklärung“ and the formation of the VDW were an expression of the new sense of responsibility felt by scientists after the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima
and Nagasaki.
The members of VDW stand in this tradition. They feel committed to taking into consideration the possible military, political and economical implications and possibilities of atomic misuse when carrying out their scientific research and teaching.
It is this sense of responsibility which instigates VDW to state its opinion in its annual meetings and interdisciplinary study groups, in its scientific publications and public statements on questions of scientific orientation and technological developments and peace and security politics. VDW's membership lists also include representatives of the humanities and social sciences, so that a large range of topics can be approached at a high level of competence. With the results of its interdisciplinary work the Vereinigung Deutscher Wissenschaftler not only addresses the general public, but also the decision-makers at all levels of politics and society.
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
in the field of sciences.
Since its founding 1959 by Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker
Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker
Carl Friedrich Freiherr von Weizsäcker was a German physicist and philosopher. He was the longest-living member of the research team which performed nuclear research in Germany during the Second World War, under Werner Heisenberg's leadership...
and further prominent nuclear
Nuclear physics
Nuclear physics is the field of physics that studies the building blocks and interactions of atomic nuclei. The most commonly known applications of nuclear physics are nuclear power generation and nuclear weapons technology, but the research has provided application in many fields, including those...
scientists, known as Göttinger 18
Göttinger 18
The Göttingen Eighteen was a group of eighteen leading nuclear researchers of the newly founded Federal Republic of Germany who wrote the Göttingen Manifesto on April 12, 1957, opposing Chancellor Konrad Adenauer and Defense Secretary Franz-Josef Strauß's move to arm the West German army, the...
, who had previously publicly declared their position against the nuclear armament of the German Bundeswehr, the Federation has been committed to the ideal of responsible science.
The Federation of German Scientists comprises around 400 natural scientists, humanists and social scientists, enabling competent coverage of a broad spectrum of topics. The Federation of German Scientists addresses both interested members of the public and decision-makers on all levels of politics and society with its work.
In 2005/2006, the VDW was the patron and main contributor to the Potsdam Manifesto‚ We have to learn to think in a new way’ and the Potsdam Denkschrift
Potsdam Denkschrift
The Potsdam Denkschrift is a declaration of Hans-Peter Dürr, J. Daniel Dahm and Rudolf zur Lippe under the patronage of the Federation of German Scientists-VDW...
.
History and Aims
The VDW was founded in 1959 in Berlin by a group of well-known nuclear scientists including, among others, Carl Friedrich von WeizsäckerCarl Friedrich von Weizsäcker
Carl Friedrich Freiherr von Weizsäcker was a German physicist and philosopher. He was the longest-living member of the research team which performed nuclear research in Germany during the Second World War, under Werner Heisenberg's leadership...
and the Nobel-prizewinners Max Born
Max Born
Max Born was a German-born physicist and mathematician who was instrumental in the development of quantum mechanics. He also made contributions to solid-state physics and optics and supervised the work of a number of notable physicists in the 1920s and 30s...
, Otto Hahn
Otto Hahn
Otto Hahn FRS was a German chemist and Nobel laureate, a pioneer in the fields of radioactivity and radiochemistry. He is regarded as "the father of nuclear chemistry". Hahn was a courageous opposer of Jewish persecution by the Nazis and after World War II he became a passionate campaigner...
, Werner Heisenberg
Werner Heisenberg
Werner Karl Heisenberg was a German theoretical physicist who made foundational contributions to quantum mechanics and is best known for asserting the uncertainty principle of quantum theory...
and Max von Laue
Max von Laue
Max Theodor Felix von Laue was a German physicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1914 for his discovery of the diffraction of X-rays by crystals...
. This group of scientists was almost identical to the "Göttinger 18
Göttinger 18
The Göttingen Eighteen was a group of eighteen leading nuclear researchers of the newly founded Federal Republic of Germany who wrote the Göttingen Manifesto on April 12, 1957, opposing Chancellor Konrad Adenauer and Defense Secretary Franz-Josef Strauß's move to arm the West German army, the...
", who, two years previously, had publicly declared their position against the nuclear armament of the German Bundeswehr
Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr consists of the unified armed forces of Germany and their civil administration and procurement authorities...
. Both the “Göttinger Erklärung“ and the formation of the VDW were an expression of the new sense of responsibility felt by scientists after the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima
Hiroshima
is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshu, the largest island of Japan. It became best known as the first city in history to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon when the United States Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on it at 8:15 A.M...
and Nagasaki.
The members of VDW stand in this tradition. They feel committed to taking into consideration the possible military, political and economical implications and possibilities of atomic misuse when carrying out their scientific research and teaching.
It is this sense of responsibility which instigates VDW to state its opinion in its annual meetings and interdisciplinary study groups, in its scientific publications and public statements on questions of scientific orientation and technological developments and peace and security politics. VDW's membership lists also include representatives of the humanities and social sciences, so that a large range of topics can be approached at a high level of competence. With the results of its interdisciplinary work the Vereinigung Deutscher Wissenschaftler not only addresses the general public, but also the decision-makers at all levels of politics and society.
Statutes
According to its statutes laid down in 1959, VDW aims to- keep up and deepen the awareness of those working in science for their responsibility for the effects which their work has on society;
- study the problems which result from the continuous development of science and technology;
- assist science and its representatives in making public the questions related to the application of scientific and technical developments;
- provide advice and thus exercise influence on decisions as long as they are accessible and can be dealt with by means of scientific knowledge and methods, and to point out all forms of misuse of scientific and technical results;
- to defend the freedom of scientific research and the free exchange of its results and to expand and strengthen the traditional international cooperation of scientists.