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| The idea of URANIA was born in the 19th century when scientists and industrialists were searching for ways to impart knowledge to the people in a popular manner. URANIA societies were founded in Berlin, Budapest, Vienna and other large towns in Germany and outside. Among the most famous speakers were Heinrich Hertz, Max Planck and Albert Einstein. After the German URANIA societies were forced into line and into a miserable existence following the Nazi seizure of power in 1933, the URANIA idea was revived in West-Berlin in 1953 and in the GDR in 1954; in the former place as an association and in the latter as a "Society For the Proliferation of Scientific Knowledge" which rediscovered its traditional name URANIA only in 1966. Although URANIA was tied in into the political system of the GDR like all other groups of people sharing interests, it offered enough room for speakers and listeners to pursue their own interests in knowledge. Based thereupon, URANIA members have come together again after the political changes in the GDR so as to continue their popular scientific work under that traditional name. |