A comprehensive history of the sciences represented in teaching and research at the FU does not yet exist. This volume shows how illuminating such a story is. Using the example of cultural and ethno-sciences, the contributions make it clear that the FU has seen itself in the often glamorous Berlin tradition since its foundation, carried it over into the new era and at the same time opened up to new national and international standards. It becomes apparent how, for example, in the troubled years after 1968, new approaches in methodology, structure and working methods as well as completely new topics were linked to the demands made by the students. In addition, this volume shows that the derogatory term orchid subject does not apply to most small subjects. Nor is it justified to apostrophize them as "exotic niches".