Milestones

On July 1, 2021, CeNak was merged with the Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig (ZFMK) into the newly founded Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB). This is intended to ensure that the valuable scientific collections continue to be adequately housed and researched and to pave the way for the establishment of a new natural history museum in Hamburg.

On March 9, 2021, the Senate of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg announced its approval of the funding and the state treaty between Hamburg and North Rhine-Westphalia. This means that the first political hurdle for the strategic development of a joint Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB) and the establishment of a new natural history museum in Hamburg has been overcome.

On June 26, 2020, the Joint Science Conference of the Federal Government and the Länder (GWK ) decided to include the Center for Natural History (CeNak) in the funding of the Leibniz Association. Together with the Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig (ZFMK) - Leibniz Institute for Animal Biodiversity (Museum Koenig) in Bonn, it is to be merged into a new Leibniz Institute (LIB) with two locations. The merger is planned for the beginning of 2021.

• Press release of the GWK
• Joint press release CeNak/ZFMK
• Press release of the University of Hamburg
• Interview with Matthias Glaubrecht in the newsroom of Universität Hamburg

In the Hamburg coalition negotiations on May 8, 2020, the SPD and the Greens explicitly support the establishment of a modern natural history museum in which the collections are to be adequately housed and appropriate modern exhibition space created. Senator Katharina Fegebank: "We have made a clear commitment that we want to create a modern natural history museum."

The Berlin office of the internationally renowned exhibition company Ralph Appelbaum Associates (RAA) is working together with CeNak to develop the scenographic concept for a new natural history museum in Hamburg called "Evolutioneum". Ralph Appelbaum Associates are known as planners and designers of award-winning museums, exhibitions and visitor centers worldwide (www.raai.com).

Together with the responsible ministry of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, the Hamburg Senate submitted an application for CeNak to join the renowned Leibniz Association at the beginning of September. The Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig (ZFMK) in Bonn, together with CeNak, is applying for the establishment of a new Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB).

In November 2017, an operational basis for a new natural history museum in the Hanseatic city was laid with the establishment of the Hamburg Natural History Foundation under the umbrella of the University of Hamburg as trustee. The founders of the trust foundation are the Society of Friends and Sponsors of the Hamburg Zoological Museum and the Natural History Society in Hamburg. In addition to promoting the establishment, expansion and maintenance of places of natural history research and education, the foundation's statutory objective is in particular the construction and operation of a new natural history museum in the Hanseatic city.

Further information

Opening of a newly designed museum foyer: With the newly designed entrance area completed on the Bundesstraße in April 2017, the former Zoological Museum is opening up to the city as a first step. In the new foyer, CeNak takes a first look at the future of an "Evolutioneum". The Anthropocene themes outlined here highlight the key role of humans as the greatest force of nature and an important factor in evolution. The exhibition concept for an "Evolutioneum" also focuses on the evolution of everything that exists: from the Big Bang and the development of the universe and life to the driving role of humans in changing the environment.

The structural preparatory work for a comprehensive, innovative exhibition concept is being intensified with the involvement of various municipal and civic initiatives. Preliminary studies are being carried out together with the University of Hamburg to further develop the content as well as urban planning and architectural considerations.

CeNak submits a financing concept to the City of Hamburg for a new building in a prominent location such as HafenCity and for the running costs of a natural history museum.

On the initiative of the University of Hamburg, the aac Academy for Architectural Culture is looking at designs for an "Evolutioneum" as a natural history museum of the 21st century in its 2015 fall workshop. The aim is to create designs that deal decidedly with the character of two possible locations. The major challenge here is to bring together the areas of exhibition, research and collection, to support interaction, to create transparency and to provide the public with access, insight and sensory experience.

The studies are intended to formulate an appropriate architectural expression for the "Vision Evolutioneum", which should be useful for further, real implementation. The results of the workshop have been on display in the permanent exhibition of the Museum der Natur Hamburg - Zoology since April 2017.

Further information

aac-workshop: Designs for a Natural History Museum: Evolutioneum Hamburg

Part IPart II

Foundation of the Center for Natural History (CeNak). The research areas of zoology, mineralogy and paleontology-geology are brought together under one management. Prof. Dr. Matthias Glaubrecht becomes founding director of CeNak, which reports directly to the Executive Board of the University of Hamburg as a central operating unit. Expansion of the research infrastructure in the field of international biodiversity and evolutionary research and staffing of important key positions. Restructuring and expansion of the scientific collections.

The Science Council's report reveals the desolate situation of Hamburg's three natural science museums (Zoological Museum, Mineralogical Museum, Geological-Paleontological Museum) for the responsible science authority of the City of Hamburg. The state of the buildings, which is in need of renovation, is clearly pointed out. The Science Council also emphasizes the great importance of the scientific collections and the urgency of adequately housing and preserving them.