Participation is by invitation only.
The German-American Frontiers of Humanities Symposia (GAFOH) are a series of interdisciplinary transatlantic conferences which are co-organized by the American Philosophical Society (APS) and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. They bring together 60 outstanding young postdoctoral scholars (up to the age of 45) from a wide range of humanistic disciplines (30 each from Germany and the U.S.). The conference format allows for the exchange of ideas across disciplinary as well as national boundaries and, at the same time, provides opportunities for future transatlantic collaborations and networking. The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation will support such collaborations between German and U.S. participants with its special follow-up program CONNECT. Conferences take place once a year alternately in the USA and in Germany.
With the start of this special type of conference in 2004 for scholars from the humanities the Humboldt Foundation extends its successful program of German-American Frontiers of Research Symposia which are also carried out for outstanding young German and American natural scientists (GAFOS) [1] as well as for German and American engineers (GAFOE) [2].
The American Philosophical Society, founded in Philadelphia in 1743 by Benjamin Franklin for 'the promotion of useful knowledge', is an honorary learned society of 720 American and 135 foreign members who are elected in recognition of their outstanding achievements in the arts and sciences or their distinguished public service. Past members include the first four presidents of the United States, Alexander von Humboldt, Charles Darwin, and Albert Einstein. Present members include more than 100 Nobel laureates. The Society holds biannual meetings for its members in April and November. It also
- supports a major library of books and manuscripts specializing in the history of modern science and in American history to 1840.
- publishes a dozen scholarly books annually, and maintains an exhibition program displaying treasures from the Society's collections.
- awards up to 70 grants annually to scholars in all fields for summer research travel, field work, or laboratory expenses.
- awards 20 sabbatical fellowships annually to mid-career scholars in the humanities and social sciences.
- awards several two-year fellowships annually to young clinical investigators in medical research.
- awards up to 25 fellowships annually, mainly to graduate students, in Native American ethnohistory and linguistics.
- awards up to 20 resident fellowships annually, mainly to graduate students, for research in the APS library.
- awards 7 prizes annually for distinguished academic achievement, scholarship, and public service.