Science in crisis mode: New paths to security required!

Science in crisis mode: New paths to security required!

On September 26, 2025, the University of Hamburg will present decisive research results on the challenges of security-relevant science. Given a changing geopolitical climate and the rise of non-democratic forces, the crucial role of science in security policy is more important than ever. In this context, the university emphasizes the urgency of strengthening the responsibility of scientists and political decision-makers in the area of ​​knowledge security. These findings were summarized in a current position paper by the Science Council.

The need to assume shared responsibility suggests that the conditions for scientific work are changing. Scientists face the challenge of not only generating their findings, but also ensuring their safety in an increasingly confrontational international environment. In its report, the Science Council proposes graduated procedures in order to limit the effort and at the same time protect academic freedom.

The University of Hamburg reports that these recommendations aim to promote integration of the fragmented field of security-related research.

Focusing on security and resilience

The Science Council's report pays particular attention to the willingness and ability of science to contribute to the security and resilience of democratic communities. This is becoming increasingly relevant against the background of international tensions and the mobilization of political countercurrents. In addition to the scientific communities, political framework conditions are also important in order to successfully overcome these challenges.

The publication consists of 83 pages and is written in German. It provides important recommendations for the practical implementation of the theory. The full title of the report is:Science and security in times of global political upheaval. Current trends show that science can no longer be viewed in isolation, but must be placed in the context of security policy issues. Future research should clearly focus on the topics of knowledge security and its social implications.

Recommendations for research

• Empfehlungen zur Integration sicherheitsrelevanter Forschung
• Schutz der Wissenschaftsfreiheit durch abgestufte Verfahren
• Stärkung der gemeinsamen Verantwortung zwischen Wissenschaft und Politik
• Zielgerichtete Beiträge zur Resilienz des demokratischen Gemeinwesens

In an ever-changing political context, it is essential that scientists and institutions work together to create environments in which knowledge can be safely acquired and applied. Loud the DFG These developments are expected to lead to a better understanding of the security dimension of modern science, bringing both benefits and challenges.

In order to clearly communicate the recommendations and positions, the report is published under the DOI 10.57674/9tr5-kn29 published and is available under the CC BY-SA license. The Science Council states that it is necessary to find ways to consistently include science in the design of security-related policies.