CG-AG History Events
On 4 May 1976, the Working Group history of chemistry of the Chemical Society of the GDR (CG) was founded. It held a series of events. The information compiled here is based on reports from the membership magazine of the Chemical Society and personal documents belonging to some former members.
The event formats mentioned include section programmes at the annual chemistry lecturers’ conferences, parallel events accompanying the main annual conferences, its own working conferences, and seminars on the history of chemistry. The exchange and discussion within these formats contributed to promoting and deepening research into the history of chemistry.
The CG’s main annual conferences provided a platform for chemists to exchange views on significant historical topics in chemistry. The Working Group history of chemistry actively participated in highlighting the link between chemical research and its historical development.
| Main annual conferences | Year | Location | Topics/Focus | Working Group participation |
| Main annual conference | 1977 | Dresden | History of caffeine & Van 't Hoff, co-founder of physical chemistry | |
| Main annual conference | 1983 | Berlin | Topics such as Marx, Schorlemmer and chemistry, Lavoisier’s priority disputes, E. Mitscherlich and the development of the chemical industry on a large scale | |
| Main annual conference | 1984 | Dresden | Topics relating to W. Steinkopf, E. Fischer’s contribution to carbohydrate chemistry and the influence of the chemical industry in the 19th century |
These Chemiedozententagungen were and are aimed at academic chemists and lecturers and focus on historical, methodological and didactic aspects of chemistry. The members of the Working Group contributed through their presentations to scholarly reflection on the history of chemistry and its influence on teaching.
| Chemiedozententagungen | Year | Location | Topics/focus areas | Working Group participation |
| Chemiedozententagung | 1978 | Mühlhausen | History of woad indigo, reduction–oxidation processes and chemical fibre production | |
| Chemiedozententagung | 1979 | Freiberg | Corrosion research, inorganic chemistry, development history of polyamide 6 | |
| Chemiedozententagung | 1980 | Berlin | J. W. Döbereiner, organic chemistry, development of the first synthetic fibre | |
| Chemiedozententagung | 1981 | Greifswald | Natural science schools, chemical development in the 19th and early 20th centuries | |
| Chemiedozententagung | 1982 | Potsdam | F. Wöhler’s work, elucidation of the structure of biological substance groups, chemistry education in the 19th century | |
| Chemiedozententagung | 1989 | Halle (Saale) | History of biochemistry, chemistry education in the 19th century, influence of Walter Rathenau | |
| Chemiedozententagung | 1990 | Mühlhausen | Development of chemical weapons, life of Max Volmer, chemistry textbooks in their historical context |
The working conferences of the AG history of chemistry were regular events held since 1980 to promote interdisciplinary exchange on historical topics relating to chemistry. These conferences featured numerous presentations addressing various aspects of the history of chemistry, its methodology and its relevance to modern science. The conferences provided a platform for scientists to present research findings, hold discussions and reflect on the development of the chemical discipline in its historical context. They not only contributed to deepening historical understanding but also addressed relevant topics that are significant to present-day knowledge of chemistry.
| Working conference | Date | Location | Topics/Focus | Presentations/Speakers |
| 1. | 21–24.04.1980 | Reinhardsbrunn | Presentations on various areas of the history of chemistry; discussion of methodological and substantive focuses of research | |
| 2. | 14–16.12.1982 | Maxen/Osterzgebirge | Contributions on historical topics relating to chemistry, including developments in organic chemistry and scientific concepts | |
| 3. | 24–26.04.1985 | Stolpen | Discussion of IUPAC nomenclature; topics relating to the history of alchemy and the development of chemical concepts | |
| 4. | 23–25.09.1986 | Garzau Castle | Round-table discussion on "Empiricism and science in chemical-technical processes"; various historical aspects of chemistry | |
| 5. | 18–20.11.1987 | Georgenthal | Topics relating to the history of chemistry in the eighteenth century and the development of chemical nomenclature; excursions to historical sites | |
| 6. | 21–22.09.1989 | Jena | Celebrations marking the 350th anniversary of the first university laboratory of chemistry; presentations on chemical education and the history of research. |
The history of chemistry seminars organised by the Working Group history of chemistry were events that, from 1983 onwards, promoted interdisciplinary exchange on historical and methodological aspects of chemistry. They addressed topics such as the interactions between theory and experiment, the assessment of historical facts about chemistry in their cultural context, and the development of chemical nomenclature. These seminars contributed to deepening knowledge and promoting research in the history of chemistry.
| Seminar | Date | Location | Topic/Focus | Speakers |
| 1 | 12.05.1983 | Magedburg | Dedication to the 180th birthday and 110th anniversary of Liebig’s death Liebig’s lesser-known intentions regarding historical investigations | |
| 2 | 19.10.1984 | Leipzig | Reflections on theory and experiment in organic chemistry during the time of Hermann Kolbe (1818–1884) | Horst Remane (Halle) |
| 3 | 06.06.1985 | Berlin | Assessment of historical facts about chemistry taking the cultural-historical context into account | Alois Nowak (Berlin), Wolfgang Girnus (Berlin) |
| 4 | 20.10.1987 | Berlin | Communicative function of scientific languages; specifically in connection with the 200-year history of chemical nomenclature | Jochen Neels (Berlin), Wolfgang Liebscher (Berlin) |
| 5 | 20.01.1988 | Halle (Saale) | Theory and experiment in chemical research “The interaction between theory and experiment as an essential mechanism of the development of modern science and the problem of its analysis in the history of science” “Are there ‘great’, epoch-making experiments in chemistry, and what distinguishes them from everyday laboratory work?” | Hubert Laitko (Berlin), Horst Remane (Halle) |
| 6 | - | - | no information available | |
| 7 | 09.11.1989 | - | unconfirmed whether it took place |