German Council of Science and Humanities: Further strengthening the research and scientific expertise of the BfS

Through its research, the implementation of statutory tasks, and science-based policy advice and communication, the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) performs valuable work for the radiation protection of the population. This is emphasised by the German Council of Science and Humanities in its recently published assessment of the authority. The advisory committee recognises the scientific achievements of the BfS as exemplary and recommends that the research and scientific expertise of the BfS be further strengthened.

In view of the decrease in corresponding research activities in radiation protection outside the BfS, the German Council of Science and Humanities believes that the BfS should cooperate even more intensively with universities and other institutions and increase the amount of in-house research conducted. The advisory committee expressly welcomes the efforts of the BfS to maintain expertise in radiation protection and radiation protection research. For example, by providing increased support for doctoral students.

Environment Minister Steffi Lemke Source: Bundesregierung/Steffen Kugler

Incentive and obligation at the same time

"Political action is based on solid scientific foundations. Providing this basis is one of the core tasks of the Federal Office for Radiation Protection in protecting people and the environment from radiation. The German Council of Science and Humanities confirms the scientific profile and strategic research orientation of the federal office. We will carefully examine its recommendations together with the BfS. Information from past evaluations has contributed greatly to the further development of the BfS as a departmental research institution and to the excellent state of its scientific work capability", says Steffi Lemke, Federal Minister for the Environment.

President of the Federal Office for Radiation Protection, Dr Inge Paulini

"The extremely positive assessment of the German Council of Science and Humanities encourages us to further expand radiation protection research at a high level and to network even more closely. We also have a boost for our commitment to maintaining expertise in radiation protection. Excellent science is at the core of the self-image of the Federal Office for Radiation Protection. We see the favourable evaluation of both our scientific performance and our consulting services as both an incentive and an obligation", says Inge Paulini, president of the BfS.

Important position in cross-border cooperation

The German Council of Science and Humanities recognises the extensive networking of the BfS in the German, European, and international scientific community. The BfS provides indispensable research, development, and standardisation services and plays an important role in cross-border cooperation on radiation protection issues. According to the German Council of Science and Humanities, the BfS has responded well overall to developments in radiation protection research caused, among other things, by the phase-out of nuclear energy, the increasing use of radiation and radioactive substances in medicine, and new technologies. It has also incorporated new questions and problems into its research programme. The BfS has also diversified its research profile through multi-, inter-, and transdisciplinary research approaches.

Excellent consulting and communication services

For the first time, the German Council of Science and Humanities explicitly includes science-based policy advice and risk and crisis communication at the BfS in its assessment – and rates its performance in these areas as consistently positive. With its science-based consulting services, the BfS is making an important contribution to radiological emergency preparedness against the backdrop of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine.

As an example of the excellent communication of the BfS, the advisory committee highlights the Competence Centre for Electromagnetic Fields. This was founded in 2020 and has helped to further develop the expertise on radiation-relevant risk communication and public dialogue in a targeted manner. The German Council of Science and Humanities sees potential for optimisation in external consulting as well as in longer-term, strategic research planning.

Evaluation by the German Council of Science and Humanities

The German Council of Science and Humanities, which advises the Federal Government of Germany on the content and structure of science and research, reviewed the scientific work of the BfS at the request of the Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUV). This is the third evaluation of the BfS since it was founded in 1989.