Science and Politics: The Fritz Haber Institute in Dialogue
The Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society recently opened its doors for a dialogue between science and politics.
At the heart of this exchange was Prof. Dr. Beatriz Roldán Cuenya, the managing director of the institute, who welcomed Ruppert Stüwe, a member of the German Bundestag and the Committee for Education, Research, and Technology Assessment. The focus of the meeting was on presenting some of the groundbreaking research work of the institute, especially in the areas relevant to the energy transition. They also discussed the important related research that is being carried out in Germany at synchrotron radiation user facilities, which are serving to tackle urgent environmental, medical and industrial challenges of the 21st Century.
The Fritz Haber Institute, known for its innovative contributions to chemistry and physics, plays a key role in researching technologies for a sustainable future. Prof. Roldán Cuenya and her team are working on research to find solutions for some of the most pressing problems of our time, including the conversion of CO2 into usable energy sources and the development of efficient catalysts for green hydrogen production, both driven by renewable energy sources.
During the visit, Prof. Dr. Beatriz Roldán Cuenya emphasized the importance of exchange with political decision-makers to promote a profound understanding of fundamental scientific work and its implications for society, since there is no possibility of a technology transfer without a strong basis of fundamental research to support it. This dialogue that Ruppert Stüwe initiated is crucial to ensure that political measures are based on solid scientific findings and effectively contribute to addressing global societal challenges.
The significance of this meeting goes far beyond the individual visit. It underscores the need for continuous and close collaboration between science and politics to answer the big questions of our time and jointly develop solutions for a sustainable future.
