On 4 May 1976, the History of Chemistry Working Group of the Chemical Society of the GDR (CG) was founded. It organised a series of events. The information compiled here is based on reports from the newsletter of the Chemical Society and personal documents of some former members.
The event formats mentioned include section programmes at the annual Chemistry Lecturers' Conferences, parallel events to the main annual conferences, separate working conferences and seminars on the history of chemistry. The exchange and discussion within these formats contributed to the promotion and deepening of research into the history of chemistry.The main annual meetings of the CG provided a platform for chemists to exchange views on important topics in the history of chemistry. The Arbeitsgemeinschaft Geschichte der Chemie actively participated in order to highlight the connection between chemical research and its historical development.
Annual Meetings Year Location Topics/Focus AG-Participation Annual General Meeting 1977 Dresden History of Caffeine & Van 't Hoff, co-founder of physical chemistry PDFHauptjahrestagung
1983 Berlin Topics such as Marx, Schorlemmer and chemistry, Lavoisier's priority problems, E. Mitscherlich and the developments in large-scale chemical industry PDFMain Annual Conference
1984 Dresden Topics on W. Steinkopf, E. Fischer's contribution to the chemistry of carbohydrates and the influence of chemical industry in the 19th century PDFThese Chemistry Lecturers' Conferences were and are aimed at academic chemists and lecturers and focus on historical, methodological and didactic aspects of chemistry. Through their lectures, the members of the working group contributed to scientific reflection on the history of chemistry and its influence on teaching.
Chemistry Lecturers' Conferences Year Location Topics/Focus AG-Participation Chemiedozententagung 1978 Mühlhausen History of woad indigo, Reduction-oxidation processes and man-made fibre production PDFChemiedozententagung
1979 Freiberg Corrosion research, inorganic chemistry, development history of polyamide 6 PDFChemiedozententagung
1980 Berlin J. W. Döbereiner, organic chemistry, development of the first synthetic fibre PDFChemiedozententagung
1982 Potsdam Wirken F. Wöhler, Strukturaufklärung biologischer Stoffgruppen, Chemieausbildung im 19. Jahrhundert PDFChemiedozententagung
1989 Halle (Saale) History of biochemistry, chemical education in the 19th century, influence of Walter Rathenau. Jahrhundert, influence of Walter Rathenau PDFChemistry Lecturers' Conference
1990 Mühlhausen Chemical weapons development, life of Max Volmer, chemical textbooks in historical context PDFThe working conferences of the AG Geschichte der Chemie were regular events held since 1980 to promote an interdisciplinary exchange on topics related to the history of chemistry. Numerous lectures were given at these conferences, dealing with various aspects of the history of chemistry, its methodology and its relevance for modern science. The conferences provided a platform for scientists to present research results, hold discussions and reflect on the development of the chemical discipline in a historical context. They not only helped to deepen historical understanding, but also addressed relevant topics that are important for today's knowledge of chemistry.
Workshop Date Location Topics/Focus Presentations/Speakers 1.21.-24 April 1980
Reinhardsbrunn Presentations on various areas of the history of chemistry; discussion of methodological and substantive foci of researchTopics on the history of chemistry in the 18th century and the development of chemical nouns
The history of chemistry in the 18th century. Century and the development of chemical nomenclature; excursions to historical sites
PDF 6. 21-22.09.1989 Jena Celebrations for the 350th anniversary of the first chemical university laboratory; lectures on chemical education and research history. PDFThe history of chemistry seminars organised by the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Geschichte der Chemie were events that promoted interdisciplinary exchange on historical and methodological aspects of chemistry from 1983 onwards. They dealt with topics such as the interaction between theory and experiment, the evaluation of historical chemical facts in a cultural context and the development of chemical nomenclature. These seminars contributed to the deepening of knowledge and the promotion of research in the history of chemistry.
Seminar Date Location Topic/Focus Presenters 1 12.05.1983 MagedburgDedication to the 180th birthday and 110th death anniversary of Liebig
Lesser-known intentions of Liebig on historical investigations
Engineering School "Justus v. Liebig"
Horst Remane (Halle)
3 06.06.1985 Berlin Assessment of chemical-historical facts with consideration of the cultural-historical environmentAlois Nowak (Berlin), Wolfgang Girnus (Berlin)
4 20.10.1987 Berlin Communicative function of scientific languages; especially in connection with the 200-year history of chemical nomenclatureJochen Neels (Berlin), Wolfgang Liebscher (Berlin)
5 20.01.1988 Halle (Saale) Theory and experiment in chemical researchHubert Laitko (Berlin), Horst Remane (Halle)
6 - - No information available 7 09.11.1989 - unconfirmed whether taken place