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The Wilhelm Ostwald Park is a nature and monument-protected institution of the Gerda and Klaus Tschira Foundation, which honors and makes accessible the life and work of Nobel laureate Wilhelm Ostwald (1853–1932).[2][3][4] Formerly known as the Landsitz „Energie“, the estate served as a summer retreat from 1901 and from 1906 as the year-round residence and research site of the physical chemist, universal scholar and pioneer of color research in Großbothen.[1][4][7] Today it combines a museum, archive, conference center and diverse events to create a vibrant place for scientific and cultural exchange.[1][2]
The facility invites you to immersive experiences where visitors can feel Ostwald's motto "Don't waste energy - use it" up close.[1][4]
The main mission of the park is to bring Ostwald's legacy - from physical chemistry (Nobel Prize 1909) to energetics and monism to color theory - closer to the public and to promote dialogue between science, culture and nature.[1][2][7] Core values are openness, knowledge exchange and monument preservation: From a purely memorial site, the park has developed since 2009 into a dynamic meeting place that brings together academic elites as in Ostwald's time.[1][5]
Sustainability is at the center: The park not only preserves the geological heritage of Saxony, but also integrates environmental education and nature conservation into all programs.[5] Ostwald's energy-efficient thinking shapes modern initiatives such as cooperation with the Geopark Porphyrland – Steinreich in Sachsen (since 2018), which address the sustainable use of regional resources.[5] Other projects include partnerships with the Wilhelm Ostwald Gesellschaft for research, Jugend forscht and the almaLab of the University of Leipzig to promote STEM talents (mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, technology) and to arouse enthusiasm for environmental protection.[5]
After turbulent phases - from wartime use to GDR research facility to the threat of closure in the early 2000s - the Gerda and Klaus Tschira Foundation secured its preservation and further development from 2009.[1][4] Networks with museum and educational institutions strengthen its role as a bridge between the past and the present.[5] The park remains a unique jewel: it inspires, educates and combines tradition with innovative science preservation.[2][9]
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