“With its support for excellent academic projects and young scholars, for almost 50 years now the Gerda Henkel Foundation has been actively committed to promoting forward-looking research. The funding it provides makes a significant contribution to historical and cultural understanding. Since the Foundation was set up, it has made around 265 million Euros available as support for more than 8,000 research projects worldwide.
In the form of the Gerda Henkel Prize, we honour outstanding scholarly achievements made in the historical humanities or in the area of the Gerda Henkel Foundation’s current funding initiatives and seek in this way to give them even greater visibility.”
Julia Schulz-Dornburg, Chair of the Board of Trustees
Gerda Henkel Prize
Gerda Henkel Prize
The Gerda Henkel Prize was set up in 2006 and is awarded every two years to excellent and internationally acclaimed researchers who have demonstrated outstanding scholarly achievement in the disciplines and funding areas supported by the Foundation and can be expected to continue to do so. The Gerda Henkel Prize is worth 100,000 euros. The prize money may be used at the winner’s discretion. The ceremonial address is expected to be published within six months at the latest.
The Foundation invites scholars of universities worldwide, as well as renowned cultural and academic institutions, and calls on scholars in these institutions to nominate suitable candidates. The prize is open to scholars from all countries.
Individuals as well as teams of several researchers can be nominated. Self-nominations or nominations of organizations cannot be accepted. Neither members of the jury or Foundation Committees nor employees of the Gerda Henkel Foundation are eligible to participate in the nomination process or be nominated for the prize.
Deadline
The next round of nominations for the Gerda Henkel Prize will take place in the autumn of 2025.
Gerda Henkel Foundation
The Gerda Henkel Foundation was established in June 1976 by Lisa Maskell (1914—1998) in memory of her mother Gerda Henkel (1888–1966). Lisa Maskell was a granddaughter of factory owner Fritz Henkel, who had set up the company Henkel & Cie in Aachen in 1876. In 1878 the corporation relocated to Düsseldorf, where Henkel AG & Co. KGaA is now headquartered. The Foundation’s office is domiciled to this day in the home of the founder’s parents on Malkastenstrasse 15 in Düsseldorf.
The Gerda Henkel Foundation is an incorporated foundation under civil law (§ 1 StiftG NW). Support is primarily provided for the historical humanities, in particular to support research projects in the following fields:
- Archaeology
- History
- Historical Islamic Studies
- Art History
- History of Law
- Prehistory and Early History
- History of Science
Research projects that explore current issues in a larger historical context or consciously focus on topics of relevance to the present or the future receive support from programmes of a limited duration such as the the special programme “Forced Migration”, or the “Democracy” and “Lost Cities” funding programmes. As part of the Lisa Maskell Fellowship programme, the Foundation supports young scholars in the humanities in Africa. With its “Patrimonies” funding initiative, it promotes the preservation of the cultural heritage, specifically in regions experiencing crisis.
Support through these programmes also extends to research projects from the following disciplines:
- Heritage Studies
- Historical Building Research
- Cultural Studies
- Political Science
- Law
- Restoration and conservation
- Social Sciences
Board of Trustees
Julia Schulz-Dornburg, Barcelona/Spain, Chair
Prof. Andreas Beyer, Basel/Switzerland, Deputy Chair
Dr Kaspar von Braun, Pasadena/USA
Dr Carolin Emcke, Berlin
Martin Kobler, Berlin
Prof. Jens Südekum, Düsseldorf
Academic Advisory Council
Prof. Peter Geimer, Paris/France, Chair
Prof. Birgit Emich, Frankfurt am Main
Prof. Christian Mann, Mannheim
Prof. Ute Schneider, Duisburg-Essen
Nomination Process
The Foundation invites scholars of universities worldwide, as well as renowned cultural and academic institutions, and calls on scholars in these institutions to nominate suitable candidates. The prize is open to scholars from all countries. Individuals as well as teams of several researchers can be nominated. Self-nominations or nominations of organizations cannot be accepted. Neither members of the jury or Foundation Committees nor employees of the Gerda Henkel Foundation are eligible to participate in the nomination process or be nominated for the prize.
Each institution or individual may only nominate one candidate. Incomplete nominations or any documents that arrive after the deadline cannot be considered.
A complete nomination consists of the following documents:
- Nomination form
- Supporting statement duly signed by the person nominating the candidate(s) (no statement by the nominee(s))
- Academic curriculum/curricula vitae for the nominee(s)
- List of the most important academic publications by the nominee(s) from the last five years.
Selection Process and Jury
The Gerda Henkel Foundation's Board of Trustees makes the final decision as to who should receive the prize based on a recommendation submitted by the jury. The jury consists of members of the Foundation's Academic Advisory Council and independent persons.
Jury in 2024
Chair
Prof. Barbara Stollberg-Rilinger, Berlin
Members
Prof. Hartmut Dorgerloh, Berlin
Prof. Peter Geimer, Paris/France
Prof. Joël Glasman, Bayreuth
Dr Julia Gonnella, Doha/Qatar
Prof. Dr Birgit Emich, Frankfurt/Main
Prof. Stephan Lessenich, Frankfurt/Main
Prof. Christian Mann, Mannheim
Prof. Ute Schneider, Duisburg-Essen
Contact Person
Dr Sybille Springer
Head of Press Relations and Event Management
springer@gerda-henkel-stiftung.de