Department Risk Communication

Our tasks

Consumer health protection involves research into, assessment and communication of risks. In this context it is not just the risks themselves that are important but also their communication in the media and how they are perceived. Scientific findings must be transparent and put across in a comprehensible manner in order to promote the rational handling of risks.

Legal basis

BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment has the statutory remit for risk communication and informs the public at large about possible health risks and the research findings on which they are based in the fields of food, chemical and product safety. To this end BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment enters into an active dialogue with various stakeholders from science, trade and industry, political circles, the media, associations, non-governmental organisations and consumers. Besides target-group orientated press and public relations, this communication process entails the active involvement of various interest groups in expert meetings, status seminars, consumer protection fora, stakeholder conferences and public symposia.

Research

The interdisciplinary Risk Communication Department conducts research projects on risk perception, early risk detection and risk impact assessment for instance in the fields of new technologies like nanotechnology, changes in nutritional behaviour of consumers following risk communication or the ranking of risks by various social interest groups. The tools used here are representative surveys, consumer conferences, Delphi surveys and focus groups.

Our units

The Risk Communication Department comprises seven units:

Third party projects (Selection)

Research projects
  • Category Research project
    In Progress
    • Risikokommunikation

    Coordinated Communications

    Start:
    Aug 2023
    End:
    Apr 2027
    Department:
    Risikokommunikation
    Research focus:
    Internationale Zusammenarbeit
    Read Coordinated Communications
  • Category Research project
    In Progress
    • Risikokommunikation

    Holistic approach for tackling food systems risks in a changing global environment

    Start:
    Oct 2022
    End:
    Sept 2026
    Department:
    Risikokommunikation
    Research focus:
    Gesundheit von Mensch, Tier und Umwelt (One Health) / Forschung zur Sicherheit nationaler und internationaler Warenketten / Wirkungsbezogene Analytik und Risikofrüherkennung / Internationale Zusammenarbeit / Nachweis von Kontaminanten und zur Bewertung chemischer Risiken
    Read Holistic approach for tackling food systems risks in a changing global environment
Go to overview of all third party projects

Science News - The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment in journals

Datum Titel Fachzeitschrift
External Link: Exploring motivations, information behavior, perceptions, and intentions among dietary supplement users: a cross-sectional survey study in Germany Frontiers in Nutrition
External Link: Microplastics: State of the Evidence on Health Effects and Public Perception Deutsches Ärzteblatt
External Link: Investigating seasonal changes in factors associated with COVID-19 concerns: Results from a serial cross-sectional survey study in Germany between 2020 and 2023 Frontiers in Public Health
External Link: Gesund oder giftig? Lebensmittel zwischen gefühlten und tatsächlichen Risiken Forum
External Link: Participatory Science Communication Through Consensus Conferences: Legitimacy Evaluations of a German Consensus Conference on Genome Editing Science Communication
External Link: The Public’s Understanding of Superfoods Sustainability
External Link: Communicating Food Risk-Benefit Assessments: Edible Insects as Red Meat Replacers Frontiers in Nutrition

Kontakt

Prof Dr Gaby-Fleur Böl Head Department - Risk Communication Address: Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10
10589 Berlin
Germany Postal address: German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment)
Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10
10589 Berlin
Germany Telephone: +49-30-18412-72000 +49-30-18412-72000 E-mail: 2@bfr.bund.de

Topics covered by the unit

Our newsletters

The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment offers you various newsletters in German and English.

Subscribe