Statements and position papers

• You can find our scientific and popular science publications on these pages.
• For statements and discussions on PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) we have set up dedicated pages.
• You can find more news from the GDCh on the website and our LinkedIn channel. We post selected content tailored to specific target groups on Instagram or Bluesky.

Statements and position papers

Mathematics and natural sciences societies comment on the draft bill for a law on the modernisation of fixed-term employment law in the academic sector (WissZeitVG), June 2026
Joint statement by the five major mathematical and scientific societies united under ‘Wissenschaft-verbindet’ – DVGeo, DMV, DPG,GDCh and VBIO on the draft bill for a law on the modernisation of fixed-term employment legislation in the academic sector (WissZeitVG) (June 2026)

Strengthening Germany as a biotechnology hub by reducing bureaucracy in genetic engineering legislation
Joint statement, signed by representatives of numerous organisations, including GDCh President Prof. Stefanie Dehnen (September 2025)

Why a ‘combined science subject’ in lower secondary education is not a good idea at present
Joint statement by scientific and science education societies and professional associations on the further development of science teaching (June 2025)

Germany needs innovation. Innovation requires materials research
Position paper by the German Federation for Materials Science and Engineering (BV MatWerk). BV MatWerk, of which the GDCh is a member, sees itself as an interface between science, industry associations and politics. (June 2025)

Science needs more than money and fine words
Joint statement by the German Geosciences Federation (DVGeo), the German Mathematical Society (DMV), the German Chemical Society (GDCh) and the Association for Biology, Life Sciences and Biomedicine in Germany (VBIO). Following the publication of the coalition agreement by the CDU/CSU and SPD, the major mathematical and natural science societies united in the ‘Science Connects’ alliance are publishing their positions on the framework conditions for Germany as a centre of science (April 2025).

Shortage of STEM professionals threatens our prosperity
Joint position paper by DECHEMA Society for Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology e.V., the German Chemical Society (GDCh), the Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (GBM), the Association of Salaried Academics and Heads of Departments in the Chemical Industry e.V. (VAA – Chemical Professionals and Heads of Departments) and the Association of German Engineers (VDI). (June 2024)

White paper on the state of experimental chemistry teaching in German schools
published by the GDCh and the Conference of Chemistry Departments (KFC) (February 2024)

Statement by the mathematical and scientific societies against anti-democratic and nationalist tendencies in Germany. Joint press release by the Umbrella Organisation for Geosciences (DVGeo), the German Mathematical Society (DMV), the German Physical Society (DPG), the German Chemical Society (GDCh) and the Association for Biology, Life Sciences and Biomedicine in Germany (VBIO). (February 2024)

GDCh statement on the terrorist attacks on Israel (October 2023)

GDCh statement and discussions on the ECHA’s proposed restrictions on PFAS (September 2023)

Mathematical and scientific societies comment on the planned amendment to the Science Fixed-Term Contracts Act (WissZeitVG)
The five major professional societies in the life sciences, chemistry, earth sciences, mathematics and physics in Germany have commented on the planned amendment to the Science Fixed-Term Contract Act (July 2023)

Mathematical and Natural Sciences Societies: Strengthening Basic Research in Germany
To mark the ‘International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development 2022/2023 (IYBSSD)’ proclaimed by UNESCO the five major professional societies in the life sciences, chemistry, earth sciences, mathematics and physics are calling for basic research in Germany and its importance for sustainable development to be given greater recognition, better communicated and more effectively supported. (July 2022)

Teacher training and professional development are not leisure activities!
Joint position paper by the mathematical and natural science professional associations on teacher training and professional development, published by DVGeo, DMV, DPG, GDCh and VBIO. (March 2022)

Joint statement by DVGeo, DPG, GDCh and VBIO on the war in Ukraine (25 Feb 2022)

Recommendations from the GDCh Study Commission on Bachelor’s degree programmes in Chemistry at universities (August 2021)

Position paper on education, research and innovation policy by the chemistry organisations
Joint position paper by the GDCh and seven other chemistry organisations (March 2021)

Covid-19 and the role of aerosol particles
Statement by the Joint Working Committee on Fine Particles (AAF) of DECHEMA/ProcessNet, GDCh and KRdL (December 2020)

Recommendations from the chemical societies regarding new call for proposals content to support materials research, published by the GDCh, Dechema and VCI (November 2020)
see also the joint position paper by the GDCh, Dechema and VCI “Strengthening Germany through material innovations” dated June 2018, at the bottom of this page.

Joint position paper by the mathematical and scientific societies on the COVID-19 pandemic, published by DVGeo, DMV, DPG, GDCh and VBIO (May 2020)

Open letter from the GDCh Division of Senior Expert Chemists to the European Commission (Discussion of more advanced non-selective herbicide technologies in Europe) (June 2020)

Scientific societies on climate change: “Listen to the science!” (January 2020)
Four major mathematical and scientific societies in Germany are calling on politicians and industry to take decisive action against climate change. They point to the available scientific evidence, which calls for more decisive action.

Cross-association position paper on the upper school in the nine-year Gymnasium (April 2019)

White paper on digitalisation in catalysis research by the German Catalysis Society (GeCatS), published by the DBG, DECHEMA, DGMK, GDCh and VDI (in English) (March 2019)

Statement by the German Chemical Society on ‘Plan S’ (Framework conditions for the transition to Open Access) (December 2018)
Statement by the German Chemical Society on “Plan S” (English)

Statement by the GDCh Division “Chemical Education” on the structural requirements for experimental teaching in schools (2018)

Joint position paper by the GDCh, DECHEMA and the German Chemical Industry Association (Verband der Chemischen Industrie e.V.) "Strengthening Germany through material innovations" (June 2018)

Teaching Profile: Catalysis / Key Topic Collection for Catalysis Teaching by the German Catalysis Society (GeCatS), published by the DBG, DECHEMA, DGMK, GDCh and VDI (March 2018)

Position paper by the GDCh Division of Nuclear Chemistry ‘Research & Perspectives’, 2nd revised edition (January 2018)

Discussion outcomes and recommendations from the closed-door meeting ‘Strengthening chemical education in Years 5 and 6’ (June 2017)

Position paper “Energy Storage – The Contribution of Chemistry”, published by DBG, DECHEMA, DGMK, DPG, GDCh, VCI and VDI (January 2015)”; the study "Energy Storage as an Element of a Secure Energy Supply" was published in *Chemie, Ingenieur, Technik*, issue 1/2/2015.
Position paper "Energy Storage Systems – The Contribution of Chemistry" (May 2016)

The Hague Ethics Guidelines (January 2016)
Under the auspices of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), more than 30 scientists and representatives of chemical societies, including the GDCh, drew up the “Hague Ethical Guidelines”, which are expressly supported by the Board of Directors. Further information and The Hague Ethical Guidelines (German translation)

Recommendations of the GDCh Study Commission on Bachelor’s degree programmes in Chemistry at universities (April 2015)

Joint statement by the Mathematical and Natural Sciences Societies on university funding (January 2015)

Strategy paper by the Working Group on Fine Particles of ProcessNet, KRdL and GDCh (English), (Strategy paper on fine particles 2014) (November 2014)

Statement on the further development of the CHE Ranking (December 2013)

GDCh position paper ‘On the future of scientific publishing’ (December 2013)
Position Paper "Positions and Demands of Chemical Organisations from Academia and Industry on Education, Research and Innovation", published by BAVC, DBG, DECHEMA, GDCh, GBM, IG BCE, VAA and VCI (January 2013)