Our Patron - Hermann von Helmholtz

There are good reasons why the Helmholtz Association bears the name of Hermann von Helmholtz, one of the greatest natural scientists of the 19th century.

Hermann von Helmholtz stands for the whole diversity of scientific research with an orientation towards technological practice. He was one of the last true universal scholars. Helmholtz reflected a natural science which spanned the fields of medicine, physics and chemistry. His groundbreaking research work and developments combined theory, experiment and practical application. Helmholtz founded the Physikalisch-Technische Reichsanstalt (PTR) and served as its first president. The PTR was the world's first scientific research centre outside the university sector and so counts as a predecessor to the Helmholtz Association.

Learn more about Hermann von Helmholtz on the site of the Helmholtz Association