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In the guest blog, geologist and librarian Thomas Hofmann looks at ceremonial addresses and speeches in retrospect.
Every year, usually in May, the keynote lecture takes place as part of the ceremonial meeting of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW). "Science in Austria" was the topic of this year's speech on May 12th by Anton Zeilinger. Prominent speakers have been a regular feature since the middle of the 19th century, as has the presence of the Federal President, who also gives a speech. Never before has a real member of the ÖAW, who was also a former president and Nobel Prize winner, spoken in person. While speeches were previously published in printed form, they are now available to the general public as videos.
Before Zeilinger spoke, Federal Minister Martin Polaschek and Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen came to the podium. Once again, Van der Bellen made people sit up and take notice: "Ladies and gentlemen, I will stick strictly to the text in front of me for a few minutes and then explain to you why." What followed was a speech generated using ChatGPT, based on artificial intelligence. The Federal President's PR team needed "10 to 15 minutes" to give the program the necessary keywords. “The text was there in four seconds,” said the visibly fascinated head of state. Admittedly, the speech was rather mediocre. Names like those of Academy President Faßmann or keynote speaker Zeilinger were missing. "I hope this program learns!" Van der Bellen left no doubt that there is no way around these new developments and concluded: "I think we still have a lot to learn, thank you for your attention!"
Zeilinger's speech, supported by a PowerPoint presentation, was close to a lecture. But it was 100 percent real and authentic. ChatGPT would also have had a hard time delivering a speech about "Science in Austria" based on Zeilinger's career ("a personal journey"). The Nobel Prize winner took the approach, "If I reflect a little on what opportunities I had, I automatically come up with statements about how science can be done in Austria." The new possibilities of computers were also a topic. He and his team used it to design new quantum mechanical experiments. Zeilinger was appreciative of the fact that the computer suggested solutions “that we would never have found.”
But he emphasizes once again: "Doing absolutely new and creative things, I think we are still making progress and I hope for a long time." Throughout Zeilinger's career there were always people who believed in him, gave him a free hand, gave him the necessary research resources, without having any certainty about what would come of it. He specifically mentioned Wilhelm Fleischhacker, dean at the University of Vienna in the 1990s. It was he who set up laboratories for him at the University of Vienna ("I trust you!"). The grateful Zeilinger added: “That’s also part of it, the courageous decision made by individuals!”
The first long-term president of the Imperial Academy of Sciences, founded in 1847, was the physicist Andreas Freiherr von Baumgartner (1793 to 1865). He was a university professor, rector (1849), and also minister of trade and finance from 1851 to 1855 and headed the learned society for 14 years, from 1851 to 1865.
On May 30, 1853, he spoke about "The sciences of the mind and their relationship to the sciences of nature" and summarized: "The natural scientist tames the destructive power of lightning, the philosopher teaches how to tame the wild passion of the soul, astronomy opens up the immeasurable space for us, morality and religion open the gates of eternity to us; natural science heals the diseases of the body, the science of the spirit aims at salvation of the soul; but both have the well-being, happiness and refinement of the entire human race as their great task. Who wants to decide who deserves the palm tree?"
Due to the lack of audio recordings, there is no final proof as to whether he actually expressed himself in this chosen way in front of the lofty auditorium. But since speeches in the 19th century had a different linguistic culture than today, he probably chose these words. Baumgartner often spoke at the ceremonial meetings. We know speeches from the years 1854 (Chance in the Natural Sciences), 1857 (The Precious Metals and their Ranking as Monetary Materials) or 1860 (On the Basic Laws of Natural Science and Their Validity in Practical Life).
At universities, a rectorate begins with a ceremonial inauguration speech; professorships begin with inaugural speeches. Current speeches, such as the inauguration speech by Rector Sebastian Schütze (University of Vienna) on October 3, 2022 or Rector Veronika Sexl (University of Innsbruck) on March 24, 2023, are available via YouTube. Older speeches are available in printed form. For example, that of the geologist Eduard Suess (1831 to 1914): he was also President of the Academy of Sciences from 1898 to 1911. With a term from October 1888 to March 1889, he was only a short-term rector at the University of Vienna, as he resigned from his position at his own request. At his inauguration speech on October 16, 1888, he spoke “On the Progress of the Human Race.” Suess' speech, in which he struck a unifying tone, met with a positive response. "But let no one forget that the present state of human culture is the common fruit of the labor of many nations, that there is a common treasure of knowledge, and that there is a large and bright zone of intellectual activity into which the strife of the day does not reach."
The surgeon Theodor Billroth (1829 to 1894), who worked in Vienna, was enthusiastic. He wrote to his friend, the musician Johannes Brahms, on the same day: "I am sending you today's speech by Sueß under cruciate ribbon (= printed matter). (...), you have to read from page 21. How clever and fine everything, how gripping the examples chosen, how moderate everything that is rejected between the lines."
Inaugural speeches at the beginning of a professorship are usually subject-specific. When Suess took up his associate professorship in paleontology on October 9, 1857, the topic was “On the nature and benefits of paleontological studies.” He also knew how to derive something that was generally valid: "As the Earth's past becomes clearer to your eyes, you will also learn to look at the current creation from a new point of view."
Ernst Koken, paleontologist and geologist (1860 to 1912), spoke about the Ice Age on November 21, 1895, when he took up his full professorship in Tübingen (Germany). At that time it was known that there were ice advances (glacial period) and ice retreats (interglacial), but it was only Albrecht Penck and Eduard Brückner at the beginning of the 20th century who introduced the common terms Günz, Mindel, Riß and Würm for four ice ages. Koken summarized the state of research at the time: "I admit that the observed facts cannot be grouped so unambiguously that one could calmly say: That's how it is."
When buildings, institutes or research centers open, the list of speakers is usually long and prominent. During the time of the monarchy, this was usually a top priority for Emperor Franz Joseph. His speeches were more in the nature of greetings. They were always short, sometimes quite personal and always full of good wishes. As a representative of the numerous openings by the emperor, the observatory in Vienna Währing on June 5, 1883 should be mentioned. Three sentences were enough for the monarch: "I have heard with satisfaction that the observatory has been completed in its construction and equipment and that it can now take up and continue its effectiveness in a manner that meets all requirements. I am convinced that the sublime science to which this institution is dedicated and in which, like my ancestors, I have a keen interest, will find a worthy place of care here. May the work and research that emerge from this institution be used to promote science and... honor the Austrian name." (The Press, June 6, 1883).
Scientists and representatives of the respective institutions also spoke at these events. For example, on October 28, 1910, at the opening of the Radium Institute, the first independent institute of the Academy of Sciences. The president of the academy at the time was Eduard Suess. During his speech he gave a brief historical overview of the then newly discovered radium. He thanked Karl Kupelwieser, who had financed the institute as a patron, and looked forward with hope: "This house should not be a school, but a workshop for serious work. (…) We hope that it will be possible to expand human knowledge through successful work and thereby meet the expectations of the generous donor. (Long-lasting applause.)" (Neue Freie Presse, October 28, 1910). This speech by Suess was not recorded; but his voice can be heard in a historical recording from the 13th century. December 1905 when he spoke about globalization. (Thomas Hofmann, June 12, 2023)