On the day of the March for Science in April scientists in many locations around the world take to the streets. Helmholtz President Otmar D. Wiestler explains why he supports the movement.

Free access to scientific publications and scientific data is still an exception to the rule. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research wants to change that and has initiated an open-access strategy. A discussion with the activist Christian Heise concerning the usage of, and risks connected to, freely available research data.

How can we deal sparingly with environmental resources such as water, fossil fuels, or wood? How are we supposed to manage the energy transition? Like leitmotifs – these issues crop up again and again in the daily work routine of Erik Gawel at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ).

His CV reveals how enthusiastic Holger Hanselka is about making allegedly incompatible things compatible. Thus it is no wonder that he was considered to be the perfect appointee for the position of Director of the research university in the Helmholtz Association. Holger Hanselka has been President of the Karlsuhe Institute of Technology for almost three years now. His ten-point plan is considered to be ambitious.

In a few days, the British will decide whether or not they want to stay in the EU. What would the UK’s departure mean for science on both sides of the English Channel? Researchers comment on a potential Brexit.

A longer life – as healthy as possible, mentally in shape and physically in top condition. Most people probably have this desire. The market reacts with offers dealing with digital self-monitoring, and research is also conducted to deal with this topic. In Berlin scientists and philosophers discussed this in the event series "Fokus@Helmholtz".

Communication between science and society cannot be a one-way street, opines Carsten Neßhöver. This environmental research scientist is looking for new forms of knowledge transfer.

At the turn of the millennium, the heads of state and government leaders of the Member States of the United Nations formulated eight common goals that are intended to improve the lives of human beings. What has actually changed since then? An overview

For some, they are important aids in the daily routine, but for others, they are ominous surveillance tools. They are integrated into bracelets and glasses, or downloaded as apps into our smartphones. They measure, store and locate our personal data. Wearables – minicomputers hidden in our apparel – are conquering new territories – step by step – in our daily lives. For our benefit? Two points of view.