Björn Thümler (; born 22 November 1970) is a German politician of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) who served as Minister for Science and Culture for Lower Saxony from 2017 to 2022. Thümler has been a part of the Landtag of Lower Saxony since 2003. As minister, he also was a member of the German Bundesrat from 2017 to 2022.
Early life and education Thümler was born in Brake and grew up in the municipality Berne where he went to Kindergarten and Primary school. From 1990 Thümler did his Grundwehrdienst in the 11th Panzergrenadier Division in Oldenburg until 1991. Thümler got his Abitur at the Gymnasium Brake in 1990. From 1991 he studied political science at the University of Hanover and history at the University of Oldenburg until 2000.
Political career Early beginnings Thümler became a member of the Junge Union in 1986 and was chairman for the Wesermarsch district from 1990 until 1996.
Landtag of Lower Saxony Thümler has been a part of the Landtag of Lower Saxony since 2003 for the district of Wesermarsch.
State Minister for Science and Culture, 2017–present Thümler was appointed by Bernd Althusmann as Lower Saxony Minister for Science and Culture on 22 November 2017. He appointed his state secretary Sabine Johannsen on the same day.
Thümler was nominated by his party as delegate to the Federal Convention for the purpose of electing the President of Germany in 2022.Drucksache 18/10450: Niedersächsische Mitglieder der 17. Bundesversammlung am 13. Februar 2022 State Parliament of Lower Saxony.
Other activities Leibniz Association, Ex-Officio Member of the Senate (since 2021)Senate, as of 1 January 2021 Leibniz Association. Braunschweigische Stiftung, Member of the Board of TrusteesBoard of Trustees Braunschweigische Stiftung. Cultural Foundation of the German States (KdL), Member of the CouncilBoard of Trustees Cultural Foundation of the German States (KdL). Deutsches Museum, Member of the Board of Trustees Volkswagen Foundation, Chair of the Board of TrusteesBoard of Trustees Volkswagen Foundation, Hannover. Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Member of the Board of TrusteesBoard of Trustees Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry. Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Member of the Board of TrusteesBoard of Trustees Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization. NORD/LB Kulturstiftung, Member of the Board of Trustees (2017–2022)Board of Trustees Norddeutsche Landesbank. Stiftung Lesen, Member of the Board of TrusteesBoard of Trustees Stiftung Lesen.
Honors On November 26, 2020, the University of Glasgow awarded Thümler the title of Dr. h.c.
Personal life Thümler is married to Christina Debus and has one daughter.
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