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Homepage/Divisions/Senior Expert Chemists/Working groups/AG Publication/Pros and cons
AG Publication

Pros and cons

Pros and cons

Pros and cons

The working group public relations organises the publication of reports on current topics in the natural sciences with political significance. Unsurprisingly, such topics are discussed controversially. The working group does not take a position here, but finds two authors in each case who present well-founded opposing views. This project is overseen by Dr. Dieter Kunz, Bayreuth, and Prof. Dr. Helmut Ritter, Wuppertal.

So far, 28 such pro and contra reports have been published in Nachrichten aus der Chemie:

Academia–industry cooperation

Ulf-Peter Apfel: Basic research and application – two sides of the same coin. Nachr. Chem. 2025, 73(11), 16.
Paul P. Momtaz: Freedom of science concerns society as a whole. Nachr. Chem. 2025, 73(11), 17.

Climate-neutral chemical production

Paul Münnich: Climate protection is the central guiding principle. Nachr. Chem. 2025, 73(02), 8.
André Thess: Unrealistic ideas about the costs of climate neutrality. Nachr. Chem. 2025, 73(02), 9.

Highly processed foods

Sascha Rohn
"Food processing has contributed to increasing life expectancy." Nachr.Chem. 2024, 72 (9) 16.
"Highly processed foods can increase the risk of diet-related diseases." Nachr.Chem. 2024, 72 (9) 16.

Food packaging

Mara Hancker: The right packaging prevents food waste. Nachr. Chem. 2024 ,72(4), 22.
Chrissi Holzmann: In the packaging-free shop: 84 per cent packaging saved. Nachr. Chem. 2024 ,72(4), 23.

PFAS

Lorena Herkert: PFAS in rainwater and in the fatty tissue of polar bears. Nachr. Chem. 2023, 71(9), 8.
Thomas Holtmann: There are no alternatives for many applications. Nachr. Chem. 2023, 71(9), 9.

Patent release

Rüger Schlund: Patents are not sent by God. Nachr. Chem. 2022, 70(4), 10.
Thomas Seuß: Other measures seem simpler. Nachr. Chem. 2022, 70(4), 11.

Electric mobility: H2 fuel cell

Gerhard Kreysa: Hydrogen for the transition in mobility. Nachr. Chem. 2021, 69(2), 8.
Ferdinand Dudenhöffer: No breakthrough for fuel cells in passenger cars. Nachr. Chem. 2021, 69(2), 9.

Crispr-Cas in plant breeding

Klaus-Dieter Jany: The method must not be judged across the board, Nachr. Chem. 2019, 67(12), 8.
Christoph Then: A particular duty of care arises. Nachr. Chem. 2019, 67(12), 9.

Industry requirements for university graduates

Achim Derks: Practice-oriented degree programmes secure the supply of skilled workers, Nachr. Chem. 2019, 67, 24.
Horst Hippler: Universities are not vocational schools, Nachr. Chem. 2019, 67, 25.

Glyphosate

Thoralf Küchler: The debate about glyphosate is not objective, Nachr. Chem. 2018, 66, 992.
Johann G. Zaller: Decisions based on the precautionary principle are required, Nachr. Chem. 2018, 66, 993.

Electric mobility

Martin Winter: The rise of the electric car has begun, Nachr. Chem 2018, 66, 536.
Thomas Koch: The combustion engine is not the problem, Nachr. Chem. 2018, 66, 537.

Preprint server

Uwe Böhme, Cornelia Rau, Silke Tesch: Preprints in chemistry, Nachr.Chem. 2018, 66, 427.
Irina Sens: Why preprints also make sense in chemistry Nachr.Chem. 2018, 66, 429.
Peter Gölitz: Why chemists do not need preprints Nachr.Chem. 2018, 66, 430.
Wolfram Koch: How is the GDCh participating in the ChemRXiv preprint server Nachr.Chem. 2018, 66, 431?

Sweeteners

Anja Krumbe: Efficient sweeteners, Nachr.Chem. 2017, 65, 890.
Susanne Ziesenitz: Sweeten naturally with sugar, Nachr.Chem. 2017, 65, 891.

Energy transition

Barbara Praetorius: The energy transition is an innovation driver, Nachr. Chem. 2017, 65, 570.
Joachim Weimann: National climate policy can only fail, Nachr. Chem. 2017, 65, 571.

Doctorate in chemistry

Nachr. Chem. 2016, 64, 649
Peter Klüfers: A doctorate is worthwhile.
Thorsten Daubenfeld: Just one of many possibilities.

Omega-3 fatty acids

Nachr. Chem. 2016, 64, 154
Gerhard Jahreis: Omega-3 fatty acids are essential nutrients.
Gerhard Spiteller: The positive effect of omega-3 fatty acids is pretended.

Experiments with bromine

Nachr. Chem. 2015, 63, 892
Thomas Seilnacht: "Experiments with bromine in schools are too costly."
Eric Täuscher, Dieter Weiß: "Bromine – but of course."

Grace period for novelty

Nachr. Chem. 2015, 63, 636
Thomas Seuß: "A grace period for novelty protects inventors."
Marcel Kouskoutis: "The disadvantages outweigh the benefits."

Transmutation

Nachr. Chem. 2015, 63, 126-127
Alex C. Müller: "In favour of the sustainability principle in the nuclear fuel cycle"
Horst Geckeis: "Transmutation cannot replace a final repository."

Fracking

Nachr. Chem. 2015, 63, 26
Mohammed Amro: "Germany should not lose any time over fracking."
Karsten Runge: "Fracking in densely populated Germany would be fatal."

Open access

Nachr. Chem. 2014, 62, 748
Guido Herrmann: "Open access does not solve the cost problem."
Peter Seeberger: "Open access is only a first step."

Climate killer CO2

Nachr. Chem. 2013, 61, 132
Heinz Hug: "The climate models are failing."
Ehrhard Raschke: "No, they are not."

CHE ranking

Nachr. Chem. 2013, 61, 24
Frank Ziegler: "Prospective students need guidance."
Henning Hopf: "This does more harm than good to chemistry."

Demonstration lecture

Nachr. Chem. 2012, 60, 1092
Reinhard W. Hoffmann, Paultheo von Zezschwitz: "We need the demonstration lecture."
Michael Göbel: " More suitable for subsidiary subjects."

Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage (CSS)

Nachr. Chem., 2012, 60, 1000
Lutz Wicke: "The CCS boycott is making Germany a climate sinner."
Werner Neumann: "CCS is not a bridging technology, but a makeshift technology."

Green genetic engineering

Nachr. Chem. 2012, 60, 650 - 651
Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard: "Green genetic engineering is being fought politically through irrationality."
Angelika Hilbeck: "Green genetic engineering promotes industrial agriculture."

Biofuels

Nachr. Chem. 2012, 60, 22 - 23
Gundolf Kohlmeier: "Into the age of renewable energies with entrepreneurial spirit."
Vollrath Hopp: "Producing biofuels cannot be justified."

Nuclear energy

Nachr. Chem. 2011, 59, 954 - 955
Joachim Nitsch: "Nuclear power plants are not an option for climate protection."
Heribert Offermanns: "Nuclear technology too can be a technology of the future."