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7C - Role of environmental science in influencing sustainable development (WE7/9) Role of German BMBF research project sponsorship in influencing the scene in ecotoxicology. Herrchen, Monika1, Klein, Werner1, Hommen, Udo1, Wenzel, Andrea1, Müller, Martin1, Gruber, Edelgard2, Böhm, Eberhard2, 1 Fraunhofer Institute Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Schmallenberg, Germany, NRW2 Fraunhofer Institute Systems and Innovation Research, Karlsruhe, Germany, BW ABSTRACT- Since the beginning of an intensive and systematic research in the field of environmental chemistry and ecotoxicology in the early seventies, more than 200 projects of a total budget of approximately 65 million EURO were sponsored by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Research projects were multifaceted with respect to topics, scientific and political context, budget, as well as structural and management aspects. In the course of an external evaluation process moderated by two Institutes of the Fraunhofer Society, all BMBF research projects sponsored in the thematic area of ecotoxicology were analysed with respect to their scientific impetus and efficacy in environmental policy. Furthermore, it was the aim of the analysis to reflect the intended scopes and objectives of the projects with final results and achievements for the respective target groups and users. Scientists, governmental authorities and industry were identified as users of the results from ecotoxicological research projects. The following criteria were applied in the evaluation process: improvement of knowledge, political and scientific development of thematic areas, positioning within the international scientific community, timeliness and flexibility of applied research sponsorship, efficiency of awarding of contracts. It was not the exclusive aim of the evaluation to perform a retrospective analysis but also to give future oriented recommendations for research programmes in ecotoxicology, and also for an improved research project promotion by BMBF. Acknowledgement: the financial support by BMBF is gratefully acknowledged. Key words: environmental policies, research project sponsorship, evaluation |
