Dr. Hans-Georg Weinig
GDCh Commission "Ethics in Chemistry"
On 18 June 2026, the inaugural meeting of the GDCh Commission on Ethics in Chemistry, established by the GDCh Board at its meeting on 11 March 2026, took place at the GDCh in Frankfurt.
The Commission sees itself as a platform for reflecting on ethical issues in chemistry. Unlike university ethics committees, which assess research projects with regard to their ethical acceptability and issue ethical opinions, the “Ethics in Chemistry” Commission expressly does not see itself as a supervisory or arbitration body. Rather, it is intended to promote exchange, discussion and guidance on ethical issues in chemistry. If required, the Commission can prepare statements on current developments and challenges, for example on strengthening the integration of ethical issues into university teaching in chemistry.
Chair:
Prof. Dr Klaus Merz (Ruhr University Bochum) and Prof. Dr Jennifer Strunk (TUM, GDCh Board member) were elected as the Commission’s Chairs.
Other members are:
Prof. Dr Lars Borchardt (Ruhr University Bochum)
Prof. Dr Julia Dietrich (FU Berlin)
Elina Fecher (VCI)
Prof. Dr Hartmut Frank (formerly University of Bayreuth)
Prof. Dr Jens Hartmann (Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, Köthen)
Prof. Dr Michael Müller (University of Freiburg)
Prof. Dr Erhard Meyer-Galow (GDCh honorary member)
Christian Schnurr (TUM)
Dr Hans W. Steisslinger (formerly terra Institut)
Alexandra Tietze (JCF)
Dr Hans-Georg Weinig (GDCh Office)
Digital lecture series “Rethinking Chemistry: Ethics and Sustainability” in the winter semester 2026/27. GDCh President Prof. Ruth Bieringer will open the series on 3 November 2026 (details to follow).
Dr. Hans-Georg Weinig