Statement of the undersigned professional societies on the planned amendment of the WissZeitVG

Several professional societies, which together represent more than 45,000 members in the natural and life sciences as well as in biomedicine, are commenting on the planned amendment to the Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz.

Currently, an amendment of the Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz (WissZeitVG) is being discussed. In principle, a discussion of the career paths of young scientists within and outside academic institutions is very welcome. However, from the point of view of the undersigned scientific societies, the debate on the amendment of the WissZeitVG for the natural and life sciences has so far not sufficiently described essential aspects.

Scientific work in the natural and life sciences as well as in biomedicine usually requires the collection of complex data sets as well as elaborate quantitative analyses of processes that inherently take place on long-term time scales. Recognition of the associated contributions by the scientific community comes through scientific publications in leading international journals, which require internationally competitive work opportunities well beyond the targeted 3-year postdoctoral phase. Visible publications then enable scientists to independently lead their own research projects and thus form the basis for appointment to a tenured professorship or comparable leadership positions.

Limiting the postdoc phase to only 3 years is therefore clearly too short, especially in international comparison, and would massively restrict the individual work opportunities of scientists, especially with regard to a further academic career. An exodus of scientists abroad and a considerable loss of research quality in the natural and life sciences as well as in biomedicine would be the inevitable negative consequences. Furthermore, such a narrow time restriction of the postdoc phase would lead to a considerable disadvantage of women in science.

Furthermore, we point out that the intended amendment of the WissZeitVG, which is currently being discussed with great commitment by all parties involved, will not create more permanent positions. This can only be achieved by a significant increase in permanent funding for the basic financing of universities and non-university institutions.

Gesellschaft für Biochemie und Molekularbiologie (GBM)
Anatomische Gesellschaft
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Experimentelle und Klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie (DGPT)
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Extrazelluläre Vesikel (GSEV)
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Zellbiologie (DGZ)
Deutsche Physiologische Gesellschaft (DPG)
Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker (GDCh)
Gesellschaft für Entwicklungsbiologie (GfE)
Gesellschaft für Genetik (GfG)
Neurowissenschaftliche Gesellschaft (NWG)
Vereinigung für Allgemeine und Angewandte Mikrobiologie (VAAM)

The signatory professional societies represent more than 45,000 members in the natural and life sciences and biomedicine.

Media contact:
Prof. Dr. Volker Haucke
President of the German Society for Biochemistry and Molekular Biologie e.V.
https://gbm-online.de/die-gbm.html
haucke@fmp-berlin.de
Tel. +49 (0) 30 947 93 100

Information on the GBM
The German Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (GBM) is the largest bioscientific professional society in Germany. It offers its approximately 5,000 members from universities, research institutes and industry a strong external representation of interests vis-à-vis politics, industry and the public, as well as opportunities for international cooperation. Internally, the GBM opens up numerous opportunities for networking and the promotion of scientific careers.

Wissenschaftlicher Ansprechpartner:
Prof. Dr. Volker Haucke
President of the German Society for Biochemistry and Molekular Biologie e.V.
https://gbm-online.de
haucke@fmp-berlin.de
Tel. +49 (0) 30 947 93 100

Weitere Informationen:
https://gbm-online.de Website of the German Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (GBM)