Policy Advice in Germany
Politics and society are constantly faced with the task of finding solutions to the challenges of our time. At the same time, science is delivering new insights at an unprecedented pace, enabling innovation and providing new impetus. This knowledge is almost impossible for laypeople or decision-makers to comprehend and is therefore often not directly usable. The Leopoldina's task is to bring together knowledge, evaluate it, and make it usable—through policy briefs, discussion papers, statements, events, and digital dossiers.
Last edited: 11. May 2026
The topics we are working on
How can Germany's energy supply be restructured in a climate-friendly way? How can the self-regulation skills of children and young people be strengthened? How can obesity be combated? The Leopoldina works on a wide range of topics. It prepares scientific findings with the aim of developing options for action for policy-makers. It also provides well-founded information on current topics with socio-political relevance.
Who we advise
Our papers provide information and advice to political decision-makers in governments, parliaments and ministries at federal and state level, as well as to representatives of associations, foundations, non-governmental organisations and many more. The topics are presented in such a way that interested individuals can also understand them. We promote informed dialogue with our supplementary public events.
Who we are
Further information
The Science-Policy-Society (WPG) department at the Leopoldina's offices in Halle and Berlin develops current policy advice projects in collaboration with the Academy's specialist committees and scientists. We are an interdisciplinary team with different scientific backgrounds - from biology to literary studies.
How we advise
Our main task is to provide knowledge for informed decisions in politics and society. The Leopoldina is independent in its choice of topics. We orientate ourselves towards current issues in the political debate or social challenges. Sometimes new findings from research are the reason for preparing a topic for politics and society. Suggestions for topics to be discussed usually come from the specialist committees, from Academy members or from the office. Occasionally, the Leopoldina is also asked by politicians to summarise the state of knowledge on a topic.
If there is a need for advice from the Leopoldina, we put together a group of scientists. These come from various disciplines and consist of academy members and non-members. The decisive factors for participation are scientific expertise and the ability to assess the state of knowledge in an interdisciplinary context.
As a rule, external experts (e.g. from business, politics, associations, interest groups) are involved in the policy advice process through expert discussions. This makes the political options for action more realistic and practical. It is also important for the integrity of our papers that they are scrutinised by external experts before publication. Depending on the topic and target group, we publish our findings in various formats and seek dialogue with the addressees in background discussions, parliamentary events or workshops. Clear rules apply to the experts involved regarding the handling of conflicts of interest in science-based advisory work.
Ongoing projects
Working groups
- Obesity
- Approaches for an efficient healthcare system
- Data-driven dementia prevention
- Energy systems of the future
- Clinical studies on vulnerable people
- Post-infectious diseases
- RNA-based therapies
- Spacecraft and atmosphere
- Interactions between humans and the earth system
The future of scientific publishing
Completed working groups
Focus groups
Scientific commissions
Which formats we offer
Statement
Detailed science-based and interdisciplinary analysis of an issue with long-term socio-political relevance, including recommendations or options for action. Statements reflect the Academy's substantive positions.
Discussion paper
Publications in the "Leopoldina Discussion" series are contributions to debates on current issues by the authors named in each case.
Policy Brief
Short format that explains current topics from a scientific perspective. The target group are political decision-makers.
Future Report Science
Analysis that addresses issues relating to the medium and long-term development of science, including recommendations and options for action. The Future Report reflects the Academy's positions on content.
Digital dossier
Interactive websites on which a topic is presented in a compact, clear and understandable way (scrollytelling).
Topic in focus
Overview and in-depth information on the topics dealt with by the Leopoldina.
Principles of our counselling
The effectiveness and credibility of science-based policy advice is based on transparency in the way it works and the comprehensible presentation of scientific content. In order to reach addressees, policy advice cannot be limited to merely describing the state of knowledge. That is why our papers usually contain approaches or options for action.
The principles of our policy advice:
- Work on the basis of the best available evidence, i.e. the current state of knowledge.
- Existing uncertainties and divergent scientific opinions are disclosed.
- The objectives and values on which the recommendations are based are stated.
- All those involved in statements and discussion papers must disclose any existing conflicts of interest that could cast doubt on their impartiality.
- Complex challenges require diverse scientific perspectives. Good science-based advice is therefore based on the cooperation of various specialist competences and is open-ended
The aim of Leopoldina's policy advice is to contribute to informed democratic decisions and sound political judgement.