“Exogenous shocks like the current Covid-19 pandemic require a joint effort. In science, too, we have to look beyond the boundaries of our own discipline to live up to our scientific responsibility. That is why I appreciate the DFG’s initiative as the largest interdisciplinary scientific community to pool pandemic research in Germany. I am very pleased to support the work of the commission, which I consider to be extremely important, and to introduce the perspective of educational research into this collective endeavor,” said Cordula Artelt.

The spread of Covid-19 infections and measures to contain the pandemic pose significant challenges to society and place a great responsibility on the scientific community. The commission set up by the DFG’s Executive Committee has been appointed for two years and consists of 18 members representing a wide range of scientific disciplines—from medical disciplines, health communication and virology, to educational research, human geography and economic research, as well as cybernetics and computer science. The commission, consisting of eight women and ten men, will be interdisciplinary and operate on a purely science-driven basis with a long-term focus.

This independent and interdisciplinary commission will complement existing research activities by monitoring the overall research landscape, identifying research gaps, and supporting knowledge-driven research in all subjects relevant to the pandemic. Furthermore, it is to support the approved research projects from the call for proposals for interdisciplinary research on pandemics and epidemics published on March 19, 2020, as well as other projects funded by the DFG in this context.