Recommendations of the DFG Commission on Pandemic Research
The DFG Commission on Pandemic Research has presented its final report, in which it emphasises the importance of interdisciplinary research and identifies a continued need for research. In order to be better prepared for future crises, the interdisciplinary committee argues in favour of science-led research and advice. The Germany-wide cooperation between science, politics and society during the coronavirus pandemic is emphasised as successful and exemplary. Despite the end of the acute pandemic phase, there is still a need for research on numerous issues. The Commission identifies three central conclusions from its three and a half years of work: the importance of interdisciplinary research in combating pandemics and crises, the need for a systematic and science-led review of the pandemic and pandemic measures, and the strengthening of the link between basic research and public health research in order to be better prepared for future pandemics.
Prof. Dr Dr h.c. Dr. h.c. Caren Sureth-Sloane, Professor of Business Administration, in particular Business Taxation at Paderborn University, looks back positively on the successful work as a member of the Pandemic Commission: "I was particularly impressed by the constructive and interesting interdisciplinary dialogue. It made clear what science can achieve together in order to quickly support decisions in the face of a specific major challenge. At the same time, it impressively demonstrated how this requirement can be met without losing sight of important values of scientific work, such as its thoroughness," says Sureth-Sloane. "In my view, the discussions about how to deal with preliminary results and about a culture of error in science and the public were also groundbreaking."
