In 2004, the federal state of Hamburg founded the Academy of Sciences and Humanities with the aims of promoting interdisciplinary research in Northern Germany, creating networks of universities and non-university research establishments, and facilitating dialogue between science and the public. The Hamburg Academy is the youngest academy among the state academies united in the Union of German Academies of Science and Humanities. Fellows of the Hamburg Academy include outstanding scholars from Northern Germany (most importantly from Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein, and Mecklenburg Western-Pomerania). The Academy is a working academy without the traditional academic “classes” whose fellows collaborate in interdisciplinary working groups to design and carry out research projects on basic scientific problems and issues relevant for the future of society. Research topics range from scientific modeling, peace and conflict studies, climate change, challenges and opportunities regarding the use of nanotechnology, and infection research to current issues in Chinese studies. The first long-term project is dedicated to developing a corpus-based electronic dictionary of German sign language (DGS) – German. Every other year, the Academy awards the Hamburg Science Award, endowed with 100,000 euros by the “Hamburg Foundation for Science, Development, and Culture Helmut and Hannelore Greve”. To promote junior researchers, the Academy initiated the “Young Science Forum” programme, which provides funding for conferences for junior scholars. Furthermore, the Academy is dedicated to promoting dialogue between science and the public by means of lecture series, panel discussions, and events for high school students. Prof. Dr. Heimo Reinitzer has been the Hamburg Academy’s President since its foundation.