Mathematical and natural science societies issue statement on the draft bill to modernise fixed-term employment law in the academic sector (WissZeitVG), June 2026
Joint statement by the five major mathematical and natural science societies united under “Wissenschaft-verbindet” — DVGeo, DMV, DPG, GDCh and VBIO — on the draft bill to modernise fixed-term employment law in the academic sector (WissZeitVG) (June 2026)
Biologisation And Bio-Inspiration In Materials Science And Process Chemistry
White paper summarising and evaluating the workshop “Biologisation and Bio-Inspiration in Materials Science and Process Chemistry” held on 5 December 2024, published by GDCh, Dechema, GeKats and VCI (March 2026)
Strengthening Germany’s biotechnology sector by cutting red tape in genetic engineering legislation
Joint statement, signed by representatives of numerous organisations, including GDCh President Prof. Stefanie Dehnen (September 2025)
Why a combined “natural sciences” subject in lower secondary education is currently not a good idea
Joint statement by natural science and science education societies and professional associations on the development of science education (June 2025)
Germany needs innovation. Innovation needs materials research
Position paper by the German Association for Materials Science and Engineering (BV MatWerk). BV MatWerk, of which GDCh is a member, sees itself as a link between science, associations and policymakers. (June 2025)
Science needs more than money and fine words
Joint statement by the German Geosciences Association (DVGeo), the German Mathematical Society (DMV), the German Chemical Society (GDCh) and the German Association for Biology, Biosciences and Biomedicine (VBIO). In response to the coalition agreement published by CDU/CSU and SPD, the major mathematical and natural science societies united in the “Wissenschaft verbindet” alliance set out their positions on the framework conditions for Germany as a location for science (April 2025).
Shortage of STEM professionals threatens our prosperity
Joint position paper by DECHEMA Society for Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, the German Chemical Society (GDCh), the Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (GBM), the Association of Employed Academics and Managers in the Chemical Industry (VAA – Chemical Professionals and Executives) and the Association of German Engineers (VDI). (June 2024)
White paper on the state of practical chemistry teaching in German schools
published by GDCh and the Conference of Chemistry Departments (KFC) (February 2024)
Statement by the mathematical and natural science societies against anti-democratic and nationalist tendencies in Germany. Joint press release by the German Geosciences Association (DVGeo), the German Mathematical Society (DMV), the German Physical Society (DPG), the German Chemical Society (GDCh) and the German Association for Biology, Biosciences and Biomedicine (VBIO). (February 2024)
GDCh statement on the terrorist attacks on Israel (October 2023)
GDCh statement and discussions on ECHA’s proposed restriction of PFAS (September 2023)
Mathematical and natural science societies issue statement on the planned amendment to the Academic Fixed-Term Contract Act (WissZeitVG)
The five major professional societies in Germany representing the life sciences, chemistry, geosciences, mathematics and physics comment on the planned amendment to the Academic Fixed-Term Contract Act (July 2023)
Mathematical and natural science societies: strengthening basic research in Germany
On the occasion of the “International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development 2022/2023 (IYBSSD)”, proclaimed by UNESCO, the five major professional societies representing the life sciences, chemistry, geosciences, mathematics and physics call for greater recognition of basic research in Germany and its importance for sustainable development, better communication of its value and more effective support for it. (July 2022)
Continuing professional development for teachers is not a leisure activity!
Joint position paper by the mathematical and natural science societies on continuing professional development for teachers, published by DVGeo, DMV, DPG, GDCh and VBIO. (March 2022)
Joint statement by DVGeo, DPG, GDCh and VBIO on the war in Ukraine (25 February 2022)
Recommendations of the GDCh Study Commission on undergraduate chemistry degrees at universities (August 2021)
Position paper on education, research and innovation policy by chemistry organisations
joint position paper by 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 chemistry societies for new calls for proposals to support materials research, published by GDCh, Dechema and VCI (November 2020)
See also the joint position paper by GDCh, Dechema and VCI, “Strengthening Germany through materials innovations”, from June 2018, below on this page.
Joint position paper by the mathematical and natural science 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 nonselective herbicide technologies in Europe) (June 2020)
Natural science societies on climate change: “Listen to science!” (January 2020)
Four major mathematical and natural science societies in Germany are calling on policymakers and businesses to take decisive action against climate change. They cite the available scientific evidence, which calls for more resolute action.
Cross-association position paper on upper secondary education at nine-year grammar schools (April 2019)
White paper on digitalisation in catalysis research by the German Catalysis Society (GeCatS), published by 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 of the Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker on "Plan S" (in English)
Statement by the GDCh Division of “Chemical Education” on the structural requirements for practical teaching in schools (2018)
Polymer research in Germany, position paper of the GDCh Division of Macromolecular Chemistry (July 2018)
Joint position paper by GDCh, DECHEMA and the German Chemical Industry Association (VCI) “Strengthening Germany through materials innovations” (June 2018)
Catalysis teaching profile / Key Topic Collection for Catalysis Teaching by the German Catalysis Society (GeCatS), published by 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 findings and recommendations from the retreat “Strengthening chemical education in school 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)
Hague Ethical Guidelines (January 2016)
Under the leadership of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), more than 30 scientists and representatives of chemistry societies, including GDCh, developed the “Hague Ethical Guidelines”, which are explicitly supported by the GDCh Board. Further information and the Hague Ethical Guidelines (German translation)
Recommendations of the GDCh Study Commission on undergraduate chemistry degrees at universities (April 2015)
Joint statement by the mathematical and natural science societies on university funding (January 2015)
Strategy paper by the Working Committee on Fine Particles of ProcessNet, KRdL and GDCh (in English), (Strategy paper 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)
GDCh Position Paper "On the Future of Scientific Publishing" (December 2013)
Position paper “Positions and demands of chemistry organisations in science and industry on education, research and innovation”, published by BAVC, DBG, DECHEMA, GDCh, GBM, IG BCE, VAA and VCI (January 2013)