Committee for Ethics in Security-Relevant Research

(Kommission für Ethik sicherheitsrelevanter Forschung, KEF)

Committee Members

Univ.-Prof. Dr. Sven Chojnacki (Freie Universität Berlin, Department of Political and Social Sciences, Otto Suhr Institute of Political Science)
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Andreas Diefenbach (Charité, Institute of Microbiology and Infection Immunology).
Dr. Julia Dietrich (Freie Universität Berlin, Department of Philosophy and Humanities, Institute of Philosophy)
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Christian Drosten (Charité, Institute of Virology)
Dr. André Fischer (Charité, Biosafety Officer)
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Lars Gerhold (Freie Universität Berlin, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Institute of Computer Science)
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Benedikt Kaufer (Deputy chair; Freie Universität Berlin, School of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Virology)
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Torsten Meireis (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Faculty of Theology)
Prof. Dr. Susanne Michl (Chair; Charité, Institute of the History of Medicine and Ethics in Medicine)
Dr. Andreas Schoberth (Freie Universität Berlin, Office of the General Counsel)
Dr. Lüder Wiebusch (Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin)

The Committee for Ethics in Security-Relevant Research (Kommission für Ethik sicherheitsrelevanter Forschung, KEF) is an interdisciplinary committee made up of members from Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, who are appointed for a term of four years.

Contact

Office

Freie Universität Berlin

Office of the General Counsel
Kaiserswerther Straße 16-18
14195 Berlin
Tel.: +49 30 838 73732
Email: kef@fu-berlin.de

Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin

Dr. Ilia Semmler
Charitéplatz 1 (CCM, Rahel-Hirsch-Weg 3)
10117 Berlin
Tel.: +49 30 450 525094
Email: kef@charite.de

At a Glance

One of the most pressing issues today in the field of research and science is how to navigate the challenges posed by the tensions that arise between the ideals of academic freedom and scientific responsibility. The Committee for Ethics in Security-Relevant Research (KEF) was established by Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin in order to raise awareness and strengthen a sense of responsibility among the scientific community at both institutions with regard to research and research results. KEF draws on the principles embodied by the Joint Committee on the Handling of Security-Relevant Research run by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the German National Academy of Sciences (Leopoldina).

The committee provides assistance to researchers by offering consultations and evaluations concerning ethical and legal aspects of security-related issues, especially if significant risks to human dignity, life, health, freedom, property, the environment, or peaceful coexistence are associated with a research project.

Departments and Institutions