2 / 2025 // LEOPOLDINA / NEWS 3
Editorial
Dear Members and Friends of the Leopoldina,
The Annual Assembly in 2024 was dedicated to the question of how life on Earth first began with microorganisms. These first single-celled organisms were still a long way from intelligent life forms. Around 3.5 billion years later, we are at a point where we attribute intelligence to artificial systems: machines that can perform tasks for us such as seeing, hearing, analysing and making decisions. This opens up enormous opportunities for research, medicine, communication and many other areas – but also brings risks and throws up questions about responsibility and ethics. This year’ s Annual Assembly is therefore dedicated to the topic of“ Artificial Intelligence”( see p. 4f.) in all its facets. I cordially invite all readers to Halle( Saale)/ Germany. The Annual Assembly is certainly also the place to discuss
Image: Anna Kolata | Leopoldina
Professor Dr Bettina Rockenbach, 28th President of the Leopoldina
far-reaching social transformations and the importance of independent, science-based policy and social advice. In the“ Policy Advice” series( see p. 6) I talk about how the Leopoldina can achieve this task in times of multiple global crises and increasing attacks on academic freedom. The Leopoldina is also involved in international events – for example in the science-based consultation process in the run-up to the G7 summit. For example, my first trip abroad as Academy President took me to Ottawa / Canada where, together with my colleagues, I presented the statements that our academies had prepared as part of the Science7 process over the previous months( see p. 7). And last, but not least, several discussion papers and the report on sustainable aquaculture( see p. 10) together with the Brazilian Academy demonstrate the diverse range of activities of our academy.
I wish you a stimulating read.