Welcome ...

... to the website of the Wilhelm and Else Heraeus Foundation. Most of the content is in German, but you find some important information in English here.

The Wilhelm and Else Heraeus Foundation is a private institution that supports scientific research and education with an emphasis on physics. The foundation is best known for organizing and funding a variety of events dedicated to the discussion of research results and the training of young scientists.

Organizing WE-Heraeus Seminars is the most important and oldest funding activity of the foundation. The topics cover cutting-edge research in both physics and neighboring fields. Trademark of these meetings is an informal atmosphere with plenty of opportunity for personal contacts. The conference venue is usually the physics centre („Physikzentrum“) in Bad Honnef.

The aim of binational WE-Heraeus Seminars is in particular to strengthen existing cooperation between a partner country worldwide and Germany or to initiate new ones. An application must be submitted by at least one scientist from Germany and the partner country. The seminars can take place in the partner country or in Germany.

If you are interested in participating in one of our seminars and you don't know the direct link to the corresponding webpage you can scroll through all upcoming seminars here or through upcoming binational seminars here. If you are interested in organizing a seminar you find the corresponding guidelines for applications in the right column.

Another major activity of the foundation is organizing and funding WE-Heraeus Physics Schools and Bad Honnef Physics Schools. They in general cover recent areas of research, for which there are not yet any textbooks. You can scroll through all upcoming physics schools here. If you are interested in organizing a school you find the corresponding guidelines for applications also in the right column.

WE-Heraeus Group Retreats in a mountain hut, for example, allow for intensive scientific discussion without time pressure, embedded in joint social activities. Here are the upcoming retreats.

The aim of the WE-Heraeus Fast Track Workshops is to discuss a particular hot and controversial topic in a small group and on a short time scale.

In addition, the Foundation also supports workshops and symposia on selected topics that do not fit into the series of established WE-Heraeus events described above.

With the exception of the Fast Track Workshops, applications for these different types of events can be submitted to the biannual board meetings.

The foundation was established in 1963 by Dr. Wilhelm Heinrich Heraeus (1900–1985) and his wife Else Heraeus (1903–1987). Wilhelm Heraeus was a grandson of the founder of the W. C. Heraeus GmbH in Hanau near Frankfurt/Main (today: Heraeus Holding GmbH). After gaining his PhD in physics at Frankfurt University in 1923, Wilhelm Heraeus entered the family business and was appointed R&D manager. Later on he became the managing director and a member of the board of directors. Since the 1970s, the foundation has been working closely with the German Physical Society (DPG). The Wilhelm and Else Heraeus Foundation is Germany’s most important private institution funding physics.

You can download a flyer about the scientific events (pdf), and if you want to get into contact with the Foundation you find the contact details here.