The Wissenschaftsrat (WR; German Science and Humanities Council) is an advisory body to the German Federal Government and the state (Länder) governments. It makes recommendations on the development of science, research, and the universities, as well as on the competitiveness of German science. These recommendations involve both quantitative and financial considerations, as well as their implementation. Funding is provided by the federal and state governments. The Wissenschaftliche Kommission (Scientific Commission) of the Wissenschaftsrat has 32 members appointed by the Federal President. Twenty-four scientists are jointly proposed by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation), the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften (MPG, Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science), the Hochschulrektorenkonferenz (HRK, German Rector’s Conference), the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft (FhG, Fraunhofer Society), and the Wissenschaftsgemeinschaft Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (WGL, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Scientific Community). Another eight persons of high public standing are jointly proposed by the Federal Government and the state (Länder) governments. Presidents Presidents (Vorsitzender) of the organization: 1958–1961 – Helmut Coing 1961–1965 – Ludwig Raiser 1965–1969 – Hans Leussink 1969–1972 – Reimar Lüst 1972–1976 – Theodor Heidhues 1976–1979 – Wilhelm A. Kewenig 1979–1982 – Andreas Heldrich 1982–1985 – Hans-Jürgen Engell 1985–1987 – Heinz Heckhausen 1987–1989 – Kurt Kochsiek 1989-1993– Dieter Simon 1993–1994 – Gerhard Neuweiler 1994–1996 – Karl-Heinz Hoffmann 1996–1998 – Dagmar Schipanski 1998–2001 – Winfried Schulze 2001–2006 – Karl Max Einhäupl 2006–2011 – Peter Strohschneider 2011–2014 – Wolfgang Marquardt 2014–2017 – Manfred Prenzel 2017–2020 – Martina Brockmeier 2020–present – Dorothea Wagner Notes See also Educational accreditation in Germany Humanities organizations Arts organisations based in Germany Scientific organisations based in Germany Arts organizations established in 1957 Scientific organizations established in 1957 1957 establishments in West Germany