On September 25th, the official website of Germany's Tagesspiegel reported on Humboldt Center for Transdisciplinary Studies under the title "Bridge Builder Humboldt: Encounters with the Celestial Empire." The article's introduction states, "Romance linguist Ottmar Ette established a research center in Changsha and asked: Could China produce its own Alexander von Humboldt?"

This report not only recounts Alexander von Humboldt's journey to the Xinjiang border in 1829 but also introduces the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences' project "Humboldt on the Move: Travelling Science" (2015-2033), which aims to publish Humboldt's travel manuscripts and launch the "Humboldt Digital Project." It also informs foreign readers about the establishment of Humboldt Center for Transdisciplinary Studies, the first of its kind in China, and its related activities. As Ottmar Ette mentioned in the report, "Connecting Humboldt with China in an academic context creates a worthwhile new research field."

Humboldt Center for Transdisciplinary Studies was founded in 2020. Professor Ottmar Ette, the center's director, is an honorary member of the American Modern Language Association, a member of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences, and a fellow of the European Academy of Sciences. In 2023, he was appointed as a full-time "Xiaoxiang Scholar" at our university. Since its establishment, the center has been highly active and productive, releasing three sets of extensive Humboldt research and related columns. It has also published two sets of Humboldt research articles in Foreign Languages and Cultures. The center has organized various lectures, book clubs, German Academic Festivals, academic exchange events, and cultural exchange activities such as the German Cultural Festival, all of which have received positive feedback.

In early October of this year, the first-ever "Humboldt Day" academic forum will be held at the center, accompanied by a series of academic lectures, further promoting Humboldt research in China and Sino-German academic exchange.

Tagesspiegel is a long-established German newspaper founded in 1945, known for its commitment to "understand the facts and truth" and providing high-quality news. It has received numerous prestigious journalism awards such as the Theodor Wolff Prize, European Newspaper Award, and Reporter Award. In Germany, Tagesspiegel not only boasts exceptional subscription and viewing figures but is also one of the ten most frequently cited newspapers, making it one of the most influential media outlets in Germany.

This report serves as a powerful promotion of the achievements of the early development of the Humboldt Center for Transdisciplinary Studies. It also significantly enhances the international recognition of Hunan Normal University, the School of Foreign Languages, and even the city of Changsha. It will undoubtedly contribute to deeper exchanges and cooperation between the academic communities of China and Germany in the future.

Article link:

https://www.tagesspiegel.de/wissen/bruckenbauer-humboldt-begegnung-mit-dem-himmlischen