Other involved scholars: Diana Kormos-Buchwald (EPP/Caltech); Jeroen van Dongen (Utrecht University and EPP/Caltech); Dennis Lehmkuhl (IZWT Wuppertal and EPP/Caltech); Donald C. Salisbury (Austin College); Tilman Sauer (EPP/Caltech); Kurt Sundermeyer (FU Berlin); Issachar Unna (Hebrew University and EPP/Caltech); Christoph Lehner; Christian Joas

The problem of formulating a quantum theory of gravitation was put on the agenda for theoretical and mathematical physicists soon after Einstein revised the classical theory of gravitation by his general theory of relativity. With the advent of modern quantum mechanics and quantum field theory, quantizing gravity turned into a research program that over time became a highly active field of research of modern theorists. While considerable technical progress has been made along different approaches, deep conceptual problems remain to be overcome. Historians of physics who are familiar with the history of general relativity and the history of quantum theory will reexamine key sources for the origin of today’s quantum gravity research. By adding a historical perspective and a focus on early expositions of quantum gravity research, the project intends to open up a new approach to help clarify the conceptual problems that underlie a quantum theory of gravitation.