Federal Minister for Education and Research, Germany (2005-present)

Prof. Annette Schavan

Annette Schavan (born June 10, 1955 in Jüchen) is a German politician (CDU). She has been the Federal Minister of Education and Research since November 22, 2005.

From 1995-2005, she served as the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports of the German state of Baden-Württemberg. During this time, she oversaw school education in Baden-Württemberg.

Schavan was under discussion to become the Christian Democrats' candidate for Germany's presidency in 2004, but Horst Köhler was nominated and elected. In 2005 she tried to succeed Erwin Teufel as Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg, but she was defeated by her rival Günther Oettinger (also CDU) in the internal elections of the CDU.

In 2006 she received the Else Mayer Award.