| Abstract: | The article begins with a few remarks on the general organization of the structure of German science, which proceeding from a great deal of constitutional autonomy and independence, is essentially one of distributed power and great institutional differentiation. Next, the Max‐Planck‐Gesellschaft is briefly described. It is one of the four or five pillars in this differentiated organizational landscape of the sciences in Germany. The article concludes with a discussion of age and general dynamics in science and their significance for an academy of the future. Future‐oriented academies have a special responsibility to sponsor programmes for the young rather than the mature and established. This task should be undertaken in a manner that creates a fine balance between the generations that make up at any given point in time the population of living and active scientists. |
