Scientific community Brandenburg publishes joint statement

Potsdam, 31 August 2026

Brandenburg’s scientific community sends a collective signal to preserve freedom, independence and resilience of science. Universities, extra-university research facilities and other stakeholders with close links to science underline their social responsibility and commitment to liberal democracy in a joint statement entitled “Freie Wissenschaft stärkt Brandenburg”.

Initiated by the association proWissen Potsdam, the statement was drafted subsequent to a conference of the Brandenburg Ministry for Science, Research and Culture on resilience of science in July 2026. It proclaims the key importance of scientific institutions for development in Brandenburg and calls for reliable framework conditions to safeguard scientific independence and capacity to act even in times of crisis.  

Joint Statement on the Freedom and Resilience of Science

Free Science Strengthens Brandenburg

Science in Brandenburg stands for social responsibility. This includes not only research and the education of students, but also the transfer of knowledge to society, the economy, politics, and culture. Together, universities, non-university research institutions, and other science-related organizations make essential contributions to the development of Brandenburg. The state’s impressive success story over the past decade would hardly have been possible without the strength of its scientific institutions. Science thrives on transparency and a willingness to accept criticism. At the heart of scientific work is the continuous process of reviewing and correcting one’s own findings. This very approach makes science both effective and vulnerable - particularly when political interference, disinformation, economic dependencies, or deliberate attacks on individuals and institutions increase. That is precisely why science needs reliable framework conditions that protect its independence and ensure its ability to act. These include support structures for employees and researchers, digital and organizational security, and stable infrastructure. Clear procedures for dealing with crises are also essential, as is a public culture that does not delegitimize scientific work but instead strengthens and recognizes it. The leaders of Brandenburg’s universities and research institutions see themselves as pillars of liberal democracy. They stand together in solidarity whenever the freedom of science, as enshrined in Germany’s Basic Law, comes under attack. This explicitly includes the implementation of diversity, equal opportunities, and gender equality. The State of Brandenburg, its universities and non-university research institutions, funding organizations, and science policy partners are working together to strengthen their resilience. The goal must be to ensure that science can continue to operate freely, courageously, openly, and responsibly even under pressure. Only in this way can it serve the public good in the long term and on a sustainable basis. And this is the standard by which we, the undersigned, want to be measured.

First signatories:
•    Aubel, Noosha – chief executive / proWissen
•    Aust, Roland – chancellor / Filmuniversität Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF
•    Barsuhn, Prof. Dr. Michael – president / ESAB Fachhochschule für Sport und Management Potsdam (FHSMP)
•    Barth, Prof. Dr. Matthias – president / Hochschule für nachhaltige Entwicklung Eberswalde
•    Behrens, Ulrike – board of trustees (for DESY Zeuthen) / proWissen
•    Brämick, Dr. Uwe – scientific director and chief executive / Institut für Binnenfischerei e.V. Potsdam-Sacrow
•    Bodensiek, Kirstin – administrative executive / Max-Delbrück-Centrum für Molekulare Medizin in der Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft
•    Buiter, Prof. Dr. Susanne – scientific director / GeoForschungsZentrum GFZ (board of trustees / proWissen)
•    Conrad, Dr. Franziska – UP Transfer GmbH (board of trustees proWissen)
•    Diekmann, Prof. Dr. Bernhard – head of research unit / Alfred-Wegener-Institut in Potsdam (board member / proWissen)
•    Doepner, Mareike – board of trustees (for Potsdam) / proWissen
•    Dziewas, Prof. Dr. Ralf – vice rector / Theologische Hochschule Elstal
•    Engel, Dr. Silke – Spokesperson / Universität Potsdam (board of trustees / proWissen)
•    Esser, Prof. Dr. Günter – director / Akademie für Psychotherapie und Interventionsforschung an der Universität Potsdam
•    Fraenkel, Prof. Dr. Carlos – director / Einstein Forum
•    Fratzl, Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Peter – director / Max Planck Institut für Kolloid- und Grenzflächenforschung, Potsdam-Golm
•    Franzen, Nico – managing director / ProPotsdam Naturerlebnis GmbH
•    Friederich, Götz Th. – lawyer, LL.M. (Univ. Edinb.)
•    Friedrich, Prof. Dr. Tobias – dean and managing director / Hasso-Plattner-Institut für Digital Engineering gGmbH  (HPI)
•    Fuchs, Prof. Dr. Doris – scientific director / Forschungsinstitut für Nachhaltigkeit (RIFS) | am GFZ
•    Fürst, Dr. Michael, director / Filmmuseum Potsdam
•    Grande, Prof. Dr. Gesine – president / Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU)
•    Günther, Prof. Oliver – PhD – president / Universität Potsdam (board member / proWissen)
•    Grune, Prof. Tilman –  scientific director / Deutsches Institut für Ernährungsforschung Potsdam-Rehbrücke  
•    Glauert, Prof. Dr. Mario – director / Brandenburgisches Landeshauptarchiv
•    Hadlich, Wolfgang – managing director / UP Transfer GmbH (board member / proWissen)
•    Hörstrup, Dr. Bettina – administrative director / Potsdam-Institut für Klimafolgenforschung e.V. (PIK)
•    Ihle, Wolfgang – managing director / Akademie für Psychotherapie und Interventionsforschung an der Universität Potsdam
•    Jakobs, Jann – honorary chairman / proWissen
•    Janz, Prof. Dr. Norbert – MR LRH Brandenburg / apl. Prof. Universität Potsdam
•    Kahmen, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gerhard – scientific director / IHP – Leibniz Institut für innovative Mikroelektronik
•    Köhler, Prof. Dr. Claudia – managing director / MPI MP
•    Köhler, Holger – chair / Arbeitsgemeinschaft Freier Schulen im Land Brandenburg e.V. (AGFS)
•    Leinkauf, Dr. Simone – managing director / proWissen
•    Leinkauf, Prof. Dr. em. Thomas, Universität Münster, (Florenz-Berlin)
•    Matuschka, Agnes von – managing director / Standortmanagement Golm GmbH (board of trustees / proWissen)
•    Melzer, Katja – managing director / Brandenburgische Gesellschaft für Kultur und Geschichte gGmbH
•    Metzler, Prof. Dr. Gabriele – director / Leibniz-Zentrum für Zeithistorische Forschung
•    Mühle, Prof. Dr. Eduard – president / Europa-Universität Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder)
•    Ordon, Prof. Dr. Frank – Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI), Bundesforschungsinstitut für Kulturpflanzen
•    Perscheid, Dr. Michael – VP Applied Research & Standortvertreter, SAP Innovation Center Potsdam
•    Pulvermacher, Vicky – board of trustees (for IHK) / proWissen Potsdam e.V.
•    Randig, Markus – administrative vice director / Leibniz-Institut für Gartenbauwissenschaften (IGZ)
•    Reiff-Stephan, Prof. Hon.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jörg – director / „net4ai“ & head of research group iC3@SmartProduction TH Wildau
•    Rockström, Prof. Dr. Johan – scientific director / Potsdam-Institut für Klimafolgenforschung e.V. (PIK)
•    Rosenbach, Wolfram –administrative board member/ Leibniz-Institut für Astrophysik Potsdam (AIP)
•    Rürup, Prof. Dr. Miriam – director / Moses Mendelssohn Zentrum für europäisch-jüdische Studien in Potsdam
•    Schröder-Smeibidl, Dr. Birgit – administrative board member / Deutsches Institut für Ernährungsforschung Potsdam-Rehbrücke
•    Schmitt-Rodermund, Prof. Dr. Eva – president / FH Potsdam (board of trustees / proWissen)
•    Schultz, Maria – director / Stiftung Gedenkstätte Lindenstraße in Potsdam
•    Simon, Prof. Dr. Hans-Uwe – president / Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg (MHB)
•    Seeberger, Prof. Dr. Dr. h.h. Peter H. – managing director / MPI KGF
•    Seifert, Dirk – managing director / Arbeitsgemeinschaft Freier Schulen im Land Brandenburg e.V. (AGFS)
•    Steinmetz, Prof. Matthias – scientific director / Leibniz-Institut für Astrophysik Potsdam (AIP)
•    Steller, Dr. Thomas – director / Potsdam Museum – Forum für Kunst und Geschichte
•    Stitt, Prof. em. Dr. Dr. h. c. Mark – board of trustees (for MPI MP) / proWissen
•    Sturm, Prof. Dr. Barbara – scientific director / Leibniz-Institut für Agrartechnik und Bioökonomie e.V. (ATB)
•    Stürmer, Prof. Dr. Susanne – president / Filmuniversität Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF
•    Trilcke, Prof. Dr. Peer – management / Theodor-Fontane-Archiv | Universität Potsdam
•    Tippe, Prof. Dr. Ulrike – president / Technische Hochschule Wildau
•    Van Dam, Prof. Dr. Nicole – scientific director / Leibniz-Institut für Gartenbauwissenschaften (IGZ)
•    Vorpahl, Dr. Daniel – Neues Potsdamer Toleranzedikt e.V.
•    Vogel, OKR Martin – EKBO commissioner for federal states
•    Vogtherr, Martin, Prof. Dr. Christoph – general director / Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten Berlin-Brandenburg
•    Weiß, Christopher – managing partner / Glockenweiß GmbH
•    Wetzel, Daniel – Agentur Medienlabor
•    Wilms, Prof. Dr. Andreas – president / Technischen Hochschule Brandenburg
•    Woithe, Hendrik – chancellor / Universität Potsdam
•    Zabel, Thomas – managing director / Kongresshotel Potsdam
•    Zielinski, Prof. Dr. Oliver – scientific director / Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon


See an episode in our podcast series, same title, with Nicole Friedlein, research assistant / Lehrstuhl für Öffentliches Recht, Universität Potsdam, and Dr. Volker Rachold, director / Deutsches Arktisbüro at AWI. Podcast.

Contact for Questions
proWissen Potsdam e.V.
Dr. Simone Leinkauf, executive board
Phone: (0331) 977 4588
E-Mail: leinkauf@prowissen-potsdam.de