Ute Frevert Awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany

Great Honour

Prof. Dr. Ute Frevert, Director of the Center for the History of Emotions at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, was awarded The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. The Federal President, Joachim Gauck, presented the award.

The Federal President, Joachim Gauck, handed out the award to Professor Dr. Ute Frevert at Schloss Bellevue on 4th October 2016. The honour is the highest tribute the Federal Republic of Germany can pay to individuals for services to the nation. Professor Frevert was bestowed the award for the strong impact of her scientific contribution on modern social, cultural, and political history at a European and international level.

Ute Frevert taught History at the University of Konstanz, University of Bielefeld and the Free University in Berlin. Between 2003 and 2007 she was professor of German history at Yale University. Since 2008 she has been Scientific Member of the Max Planck Society and Director of the Center for the History of Emotions at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development. Her research interests include the history of the emotions, social and cultural history of modern times, gender history and political history.

Ute Frevert is honorary professor at the Free University in Berlin andmember of numerous academic advisory boards, such as the German-Israeli Foundation for Scientific Research and Development, the Academic Advisory Board of the German Historical Institute in Washington DC and the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna. She is member of The Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, and the British Academy. Ute Frevert is the Chair of Scientific Council of the Max Planck Society and member of the Körber Foundation Board of Trustees and the University of Konstanz Council. She served on the Advisory Board (1995–2007) and the Board of Trustees of the German History Competition, the largest competition for young people on history, founded by former Federal President Gustav Heinemann. She was awarded the prestigious Leibniz Prize in 1998.

The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
The Order of Merit may be awarded to Germans as well as foreigners for achievements in the political, economic, social or intellectual realm and for all kinds of outstanding services to the nation in the field of social, charitable or philanthropic work. It is the only honour that may be awarded in all fields of endeavour and is the highest tribute the Federal Republic of Germany can pay to individuals for services to the nation. No pecuniary reward is attached. Further information can be found here.