The Ethics Committee of Kiel University is available to researchers working at the University on questions of research ethics, mediates in relevant disagreements and may make recommendations for the implementation of research projects. It supports researchers in the application and implementation of research projects by providing or assessing the research ethical aspects of the proposed project. If required, after extensive consultation, it issues certificates of no objection on ethical aspects of research projects such as for publications, funding applications or visas.

Composition of the Committee

The Ethics Committee consists of three permanent members of Kiel University (Core Committee), who belong to different subjects and are elected by the Senate together with four deputies on the recommendation of their faculties.  The three members elect the chairperson of the core committee. His/Her term of office is three years.

Core Committee:

Chair: Prof. Dr. Dr. Ino Augsberg
Faculty of Law
Mail, Website

Prof. Dr. Stefan Hoffmann
Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences
Mail, Website

Prof. Dr. Angelika Messner
Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Mail, Website

Alternate Members:

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Reinhard Koch
Faculty of Engineering
Website

Prof. Dr. André Munzinger
Faculty of Theology
Website

Prof. Dr. Ulrich Orth
Faculty of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences
Website

Prof. Dr. Huayna Terraschke
Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Website

Tasks and Functioning of the Ethics Committee

The tasks of the Central Ethics Committee are set out in the Kiel University's statute on "Freedom of Research and Research Risks" of May 2013, Section D, Item 2:

“… In the individual procedures for evaluating research projects, the Ethics Committee also includes the Executive Director of the institute concerned. In addition, the members of the core commission and the responsible director may elect up to two further voting members to the commission responsible for a specific procedure. They must have special expertise in research ethics, in the scientific field concerned or in other areas relevant to decision-making. The commission should be interdisciplinary with regard to members of the natural sciences and humanities. It may appoint a rapporteur for each procedure.

The researchers responsible must be informed without delay of any doubts as to the compatibility of their research with the present rules and must be heard by the ethics committee. In case of doubt as to the compatibility of research with the present ethical rules, it may also be called by the President and, if there is a legitimate interest, by any scientific member, employee or doctoral candidate of Kiel University as well as by external cooperation partners.

The researchers responsible are to be informed and consulted without delay of any doubts about the compatibility of their research with the present rules and to be heard by the ethics committee. You have the right to submit written or oral comments at any time and to inspect the relevant documents as far as possible. They shall be informed of the of the commission's main procedural steps and may participate in hearings and interviews. They shall be informed of the final recommendation of the Ethics Committee without delay and the reasons on which it is based, by sending the written opinion of the commission.

A recommendation of the Ethics Committee on the compatibility or incompatibility of research with these rules requires a majority of its members. In the event of a tie, the vote of the chairperson shall be taken in all votes. The same shall apply, if the Ethics Committee makes recommendations based on  the present rules on the manner in which a research project should be carried out or not carried out. The above-mentioned decisions may be taken by the Ethics Committee on the basis of a proposal by the rapporteur in a written procedure, if the interested party has previously been able to comment on the rapporteur’s proposal.

The ethics committee reports regularly to the senate on its work."

Application form for the assessment of ethical aspects of research projects (to follow)

Further Information

Kiel University Website on Integrity and Ethics in Research

Central Senate Ethics Committee

Statute of Kiel University on research freedom and research risks

Kiel University guidelines to ensure good scientific practice