Research of "outstanding quality" - with further development: Evaluation of the Potsdam Institute by Leibniz experts

The work on tipping points in the Earth system, such as the Gulf Stream system in the Atlantic, on planetary waves of the jet stream and their influence on weather extremes, or on the management of the global carbon cycle and CO₂ pricing – the report highlights them all as concrete examples of the institute's "excellent research." "The full diversity of impacts of climate change" is researched, from forest fires to migration, from monsoon forecasting to supply chain disruption, from peatlands as CO₂ sinks to equity issues in climate policy.

These "outstanding research results" are regularly published in "top-tier journals," including Nature, Science and PNAS, the evaluation report says. All of this has always been made available to decision-makers in business and politics, who have drawn on PIK's “very important and highly demanded policy advice” and continue to do so, from the former German Chancellor to international central banks. The experts highlight the large number of "excellent models", i.e. computer simulations that PIK has developed for its scientific work. These are important tools of modern research, based on the analysis of and modeling with complex data sets. The institute "enjoys an outstanding reputation for the software engineering" and coordinates global comparisons of computer simulations from many different institutes.

"Very successful comprehensive change process" completed since last evaluation

Since the last evaluation seven years ago, the Potsdam Institute has "very successfully completed a comprehensive change process," the report says. It began with the appointment of two new scientific directors: Johan Rockström, a natural scientist with an international background, and Ottmar Edenhofer, who firmly anchors the social sciences at the top management level. In addition, the position of Administrative Director was created and filled with Bettina Hörstrup.

The Board of Directors implemented “meaningful changes” at the organizational level, of which a number are highlighted in the report. At the department management level, there were four changes to sharpen the research agenda. Among other things, the appointment of a new co-department head with a research focus on health, jointly with Charité Berlin, established this new topic at the institute. This "is welcomed," the reviewers say. With its new FutureLab research groups, PIK investigates "innovative new topics." The institute has also been able to increase its publications in peer-reviewed journals by 46% compared to the previous evaluation period and, as recommended, has increased its publications in relevant economic journals. The Commission notes that PIK "continues to be extremely successful" in attracting third-party funding, for example from the EU or the German Research Association, and was able to "significantly increase" this once again, to over 50% of the total budget in the evaluation period.

Further development for future tasks

The fact that the institute plans to expand its work in the social sciences in order to further strengthen the development of solutions to problems and challenges arising from climate change is "supported in principle" by the commission and is "very welcome."

The report highlights the idea of integrating the Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change (MCC) along a 'knowledge value chain' and establishing three innovative research fields. For this, PIK must apply for additional institutional funding, a so-called Sondertatbestand, the report says.

"The report is both a recognition and a mandate"

"To be thoroughly reviewed and rated excellent by such a prestigious group of international scientists is a very important recognition of the quality and relevance of our science," said Johan Rockström, one of PIK's two scientific directors. "This is especially significant for all of our researchers who dedicate so much effort and talent to advancing our understanding of the climate crisis and its solutions. This evaluation confirms that PIK carries Potsdam's name to the forefront of interdisciplinary climate research for global sustainability." He also emphasizes that "with the evaluation, we receive very valuable advice on how we can further develop the institute. At this point, we would like to express our special thanks to our funders in Brandenburg and the Federal Government of Germany for their continued support."

"The report is a double commitment to us," explains Ottmar Edenhofer, Director of PIK. "It means a commitment to the future direction of our work, as we want to significantly expand social science research on solutions to the climate problem. And it's a commitment to the future of the people our research is serving - because it is research for maintaining a safe operating space for humanity within planetary boundaries, for efficient management of global commons, and for successfully sustainable economies."