Gender equality in the German Geophysical Society

The German Geophysical Society (Deutsche Geophysikalische Gesellschaft, DGG) was founded in 1922 in Leipzig, Germany, on the initiative of the famous German seismologist Emil Wiechert (1861–1928), known for his fundamental work to record earthquake waves to study the earth's interior. Facing the German historical background of the early 20th century, the 24 founding members wanted to lead German geophysicists out of isolation and toward outreaching activities. DGG always understood and defined geophysics as a discipline beyond political borders, religious belief, or race, and promoted the scientific exchange between geophysicists in the Federal Republic of Germany, the former German Democratic Republic, and internationally.