Project background
The archives of the Senckenberg Society for Natural History document over two centuries of scientific practice and represent a significant record of German research and institutional history. A systematic analysis of personnel files, correspondence, collection notes and other sources reveals that women have made a significant contribution to Senckenberg’s progress since its early days, even though their role has scarcely been researched to date.
Examples such as Louise von Bose, whose endowment enabled the Society’s independence and continued existence; Tilly Edinger, who gained international recognition as the founder of palaeoneurology; and Margot Perl, who preserved scientific collections during the Second World War, illustrate the broad spectrum of influence exerted by these long-overlooked women. Their history is being reconstructed, documented and communicated to a wide public in a variety of formats – ranging from biographical reconstructions and curatorial exhibitions to digital platforms.
As an interdisciplinary research and outreach project, Secret Service combines academic analysis with innovative forms of visualisation. It makes an important contribution to the critical reflection on academic historiography and promotes a nuanced understanding of diversity, inclusion and mechanisms of recognition within academia. In doing so, it not only highlights the achievements of women in the natural sciences, but also strengthens their representation in the past, present and future.
