Humboldt today – celebrating the anniversary of a discoverer and networker

Videos & Statements

For me, Humboldt today means ...

How modern and how relevant is Alexander von Humboldt today, 250 years after his birth? Personal answers, stories and ideas.

Exhibition

Humboldt lives!

The Hamburg Center of Natural History (CeNak) is joining in the celebrations to mark the anniversary year. In the exhibition "Humboldt lives!", the Zoological Museum and the Botanical Garden of the University of Hamburg cast a light on Humboldt's expedition to South America.

Portrait

The Humboldt Code

He was an obsessive networker, a daredevil and a marketing genius. The reports on his travels and adventures earned him star status. Today, on the 250th anniversary of his birth, the Prussian scholar is still revered. On the secret of an eternal idol.

Quotes

If Humboldt were on Twitter today

He liked to formulate succinct sentences and deliver punch lines. He took a stand against slavery, colonialism and environmental destruction. What stance would Humboldt take on current issues? We present his quotes in a new light.

Expedition

Humboldt’s Travels

Alexander von Humboldt left the shores of Europe for the first time in 1799. His country of embarkation was Spain and his destination the ‘New World’. Insights into Humboldt’s great American voyage from 1799 to 1804.

Picture gallery

Happy Birthday, Alex!

Our network and our staff honour the memory of the man after whom our foundation is named.

Interview

“Everybody’s star”

Whether as a discoverer, Romantic, Atlanticist, climate prophet or working class hero: there isn’t just one Humboldt, but lots of them. Historian of science, Nicolaas A. Rupke, has investigated how the various images of Humboldt have come about.

Best of Content Marketing

BCM Award for Humboldt heute

The website commemorating Humboldt's 250th birthday was singled out for the 2019 Best of Content Market (BCM) Award in Hamburg. Georg Scholl, representing the Humboldt Foundation, and Birgit Metzner, Deputy Managing Director of the Foundation’s partner agency Raufeld Medien, accepted the award in the Specials Digital category.

The last expedition

At the easternmost point of his life

At an age where most scientists would have settled for the odd conference, Alexander von Humboldt was still seeking adventure. In 1829 he set off on an expedition that took him to the court of the Russian Emperor and the border with China.

Kosmos Lecture

Where is the safe space for humanity?

In the winter of 1827/28, Alexander von Humboldt presented his famous Kosmos lectures in Berlin. Berlin's Humboldt University is revisiting the series in the anniversary year. The lecture series features talks by a number of pioneering scientists. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Brazilian environmental physicist Paulo Artaxo spoke at the opening event about Humboldt as an idol and climate change.