National Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech)

18 Oct Pre-Implantation Diagnostics (PID) – the Impact of a Limited Approval in Germany

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National Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech)
2011
Pre-implantation diagnostics (PID) is a diagnosis procedure that makes it possible for parents, who have a high risk of giving birth to a child with a serious hereditary disease, to give birth to a child who is not affected by the respective disease. In Germany, PID was considered to be prohibited pursuant to the Embryo Protection Law of 1990. The German Federal Supreme Court has argued in a ruling of July 6, 2010, that a prohibition of PID cannot be inferred with the requisite certainty from the Embryo Protection Law. Hence the lawmaker is called upon to take a clear-cut stand as to the question of the permissibility of PID. With the publication on hand, Leopoldina, which is the National Academy of Sciences, acatech, which is the German Academy of Science and Engineering, and the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences (representative for the Association of German Academies of Sciences) take on this current question and take an ad-hoc stand as to the question of pre-implantation diagnostics.
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18 Oct Statement: Synthetic Biology

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National Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech)
2009
Based on the disciplines of biology, molecular biology, chemistry, biotechnology as well as information technology and engineering sciences, a new field of research is evolving, called synthetic biology. It has attracted special attention recently, also on an international basis. Synthetic biology can make an essential contribution to the gaining of knowledge in basic research. Beyond that, it opens up options for biotechnological applications in the medium term, i.e. in the area of new and improved diagnostic agents, vaccines and drugs as well as the development of new biosensors and biomaterials or even biofuels. Concurrently, the research area opens up new questions, e.g. about legal aspects in the context of biological safety or the protection from abuse; likewise, questions about the economic use and ethical aspects. Against this backdrop, the German Research Foundation (DFG), acatech, which is the German Academy for Science and Engineering, and the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina have pooled their strengths and crafted a joint statement on possible opportunities and risks of synthetic biology.
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18 Oct Promotion of Young Professionals in Science and Technology

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National Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech)
2009
The shortage of young people in numerous technical professions that can be ascertained at present has been foreseeable for some time owing to various societal trends and conditions—among which the demographical development ranks first. Usually, partial aspects or highly specialized questions are pursued in such surveys, generated as a rule from a discipline-specific perspective. Hence it is not only difficult to gain an overview of the broad range of literature but especially to comprehend the numerous and complex reasons for the shortage of young people as well as the possible interdependencies. acatech aims at the development of a comprehensive strategy for the targeted promotion of young people for entry into the engineering sciences. If one wants recommended actions and suggestions of promotional measures to be well founded, one has to identify and understand the complex reasons for the shortage of young people beforehand. Hence the experts of the “Platform” deal with the causes from a multidisciplinary and problem-oriented perspective and investigate the problems that were identified as urgent in the context of five topics.
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18 Oct Perspectives on Biotechnology Communication. Controversies – Contexts – Formats2

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National Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech)
2012
Biotechnology, and genetic engineering in particular, have been a point of focus for public debate in Germany for almost 40 years. However, controversy in social and academic settings centres around specific application rather than on the theory of biotechnology itself. Conceptualizing this public controversy as a lack of acceptance that can be overcome by providing greater information misses the point. Controversy is by nature important, and should not be swept under the carpet by communications. When it comes to new technologies, dialogue between scientists and the public at large is vital.
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18 Oct Concept for an Integrated Energy Research Program for Germany

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National Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech)
2009
The Federal Minister of Education and Research, Annette Schavan, has commissioned acatech and the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina with the crafting of the concept for an integrated energy research program in autumn of 2008. The two academies were requested to identify the most important research questions between the apparently contradictory priorities of secure and affordable energy supply and the federal government’s climate protection goals. In so doing, the social, legal and economic aspects as well as questions of acceptance with regard to energy supply were to be addressed as well. Hence the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities as a representative of the Union of the German Academies of Sciences and Humanities was integrated for the crafting of an initial concept draft in which around 100 scientists from universities, non-university research institutes, industry as well as civil society participated.
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17 Oct Future Energy Grid. Information and communication technology for the way towards a sustainable and economical energy system

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National Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech)
2012
Germany's change in energy policy can only succeed using smart grids. Germany wants to opt out of nuclear energy by 2022 and rapidly transition to renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. However, electricity production from these energy sources is sporadic by nature as wind and sun are not consistently available. The current energy grid is not designed for a large number of fluctuating energy sources, therefore these renewable energies can only be integrated into the electricity system on a large scale if the grid infrastructure and storage capacities are upgraded. Information communication technology (ICT) is essential for the future power supply. Energy technology and ICT merge together in a “smart grid”, in which the individual infrastructure components communicate with each other and the power consumption and generation intelligently adapt to each other.
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17 Oct Towards a financially viable transition to sustainable energy Efficient regulation for tomorrow’s energy system

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National Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech)
2012
The decision to initiate a transition to sustainable energy has brought about a paradigm shift in Germany's energy policy, with the German government targeting a complete overhaul of the energy supply system by 2050. The aim is for the lion's share of future electricity generation to be accounted for by renewables. This will only be possible with significant investment in the expansion of renewable energy generation capacity, backup capacity to guarantee security of supply and grid infrastructure development. This substantial challenge is set to become even greater now that phasing out nuclear power has once again become a priority for Germany.
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17 Oct Adaptation strategies in climate policy

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National Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech)
2012
An effective climate policy comprises both curbing climate change by reducing CO2 emissions (mitigation) and adapting to its impact (adaptation). Mitigation and adaption are complementary and not competitive policies. Consequently, whilst continuing to pursue global emissions reduction targets, Germany should also start adapting to and preparing for climate change.
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17 Oct Future Energy Grid. Migration to the Internet of Energy

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National Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech)
2012
EIT ICT Labs is a Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) supported by the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT). Our mission is to turn Europe into a global leader in Information and Com¬munication Technologies - ICT innovations. Sustainable energy sup¬ply, intelligent traffic management and increasing the quality of life are just some of the challenges that society, business and politics will face in the future. Innovative ICT technologies offer new ways of giv¬ing a much needed boost to finding alternative solutions. Education, Research and Business are three elements in the EIT ICT Labs “Knowledge Triangle” and key drivers of the knowledge-based society. EIT ICT Labs aims to create a new breed of innovators and entrepreneurs that can develop breakthrough ideas - supported all the way to the market.
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17 Oct Partitioning and transmutation of nuclear waste

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National Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech)
2014
In June 2011, the German government’s announcement of the transition to renewable energy (known as the ‘Energiewende’) marked the beginning of the end for electricity production using nuclear power. The goal is for all electricity production at Germany’s nuclear power stations to cease by 2022. However, no definitive answer has yet been provided to the question of where and how the radioactive waste from these power plants will be permanently disposed of. In particular, there is currently no permanent storage facility for highly radioactive heat-generating waste. Whilst this type of waste only represents a small fraction of the overall volume, it accounts for 99 percent of the total radioactivity of the waste from nuclear plants.
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