Two new long-term projects by the Academy of Sciences and Literature | Mainz in the Academies Program 2026

The research projects 'Biblia Arabica: Critical Edition and Digital Indexing of Arabic Manuscripts of the Old Testament and Their Paratexts' and 'Religion and Science in Transition: Socinian Correspondence and Inedita Digital' will be included in the 2026 Academies Program funded by the federal and state governments. This was approved by the Joint Science Conference (GWK) on November 28, 2025.

Both research projects, which are inter-academic and based at the Academy of Sciences and Literature | Mainz, combine theological questions with other fields, such as the natural sciences and digitization. "By including these two projects, we are strengthening basic research in religious studies in a variety of ways: on the one hand, through the exciting link to the Enlightenment era, which opens up new perspectives, and on the other hand, through the digital edition of texts, which makes our cultural heritage accessible and researchable. In this way, we are combining tradition and innovation in religious studies research", says Prof. Dr. Roland Kehrein, Head of Science Management and Research Coordination at the Mainz Academy.

Short summaries of the new research projects:

'Biblia Arabica': Researching and preserving Arabic translations of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament 
For the first time, this project is dedicated to the comprehensive study of Arabic translations of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament—a central testimony to the shared cultural heritage of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim communities in the Middle East. These translations document centuries of religious and linguistic interconnection, but are now in danger of being forgotten. Using state-of-the-art methods from the digital humanities, around 8,200 manuscripts are being identified, described, and made digitally accessible in a selection based on editions and English translations. Historical contexts, translators, and traditions of use are also being researched. The aim is to preserve this unique heritage, make it visible, and keep it accessible worldwide—as a historical reflection of pluralistic culture and a contribution to interreligious dialogue.

'Biblia Arabica: Critical Edition and Digital Indexing of Arabic Manuscripts of the Old Testament and Their Paratexts'
Inter-academic project by: Academy of Sciences and Literature | Mainz; Bavarian Academy of Sciences
Project lead: Prof. Dr. Ronny Vollandt (LMU Munich); Prof. Dr. Nathan Gibson (Goethe University Frankfurt) 
Collaboration partners: LMU Munich, Goethe University Frankfurt  
Duration: 2026-2046; 21 years

'Socinian Correspondence': Socinianism as a basis for the separation of religious questions and findings in astronomy and physics 
The project is dedicated to the reappraisal and digital cataloguing of Socinianism, a transnational religious movement of the 16th and 17th centuries that focused on tolerance, critical reflection, and scientific networking. The starting point is the letters and unpublished manuscripts—the so-called Inedita—of the leading Socinians. Using innovative, graph-based digital humanities methods, these sources are critically edited, structured, and made accessible on the web according to open access principles. The aim is to give researchers comprehensive insight into the dynamics of religion, science, and communication of the Socinian era for the first time. In this way, the project makes a significant contribution to understanding the historical development of pluralistic thinking in Europe and revealing the transnational networks of scholars and natural scientists.

'Religion and Science in Transition: Socinian Correspondence and Inedita Digital' 
Inter-academic project by: Academy of Sciences and Literature | Mainz; Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Lower Saxony
Project lead: Prof. Dr. Kęstutis Daugirdas (Johannes a Lasco Library Emden); Prof. Dr. Andreas Kuczera (Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen) 
Kooperationspartner: Johannes a Lasco Bibliothek Emden, University of Applied Sciences Mittelhessen 
Duration: 2026-2046; 21 years

The Academies Program 
The joint research program of the German Academies of Sciences and Humanities serves to develop, preserve, and research global cultural heritage. It is Germany's largest long-term research program in the humanities and social sciences and is unique internationally. With their long-term basic research, the academies make an indispensable contribution to the documentation and research of global cultural memory. Since 1979/80, the Academies Program has been jointly funded by the federal and state governments and coordinated by the Union of Academies. With a total budget of around 80 million euros, it comprises 127 projects with around 192 positions (as of 2025). These consist of 20 dictionaries, 104 editions, and three projects in basic social and cultural research. A total of approximately 900 employees are involved in the projects. In addition, more than 100 university teachers are involved in the projects on a voluntary basis.

Press release