University Research Ethics Committee

The University’s efforts to ensure – to the best of its abilities – that research is dealt with in an unimpeachably ethical way also express its commitment to excellence and high quality. This is why on 26 October 2016, the University Executive passed a resolution establishing the Committee for the Ethics of Security-Relevant Research at the University of Passau.

By decision of the University Executive of 10 July 2019, the Committee for the Ethics of Security-Relevant Research was renamed University Research Ethics Committee (or 'Ethics Committee' for short) on 1 October 2019. Since then, the Ethics Committee has offered advice on safety-relevant and ethical aspects of research (see § 2(2) of the guidelines).

Committee members

Application

Eligible applicants are researchers from the University of Passau. If you, as a researcher of the University of Passau, would like to submit an application to the Ethics Committee, you will find further information below.

Please use the online application form provided to submit your application to the Ethics Committee in German or English.

It is important that you submit your application in good time before commencing your research, as the processing time from the submission of your application to the resolution takes at least six weeks. Be aware that even if you submit a complete and conscientious application, there may be enquiries and requests for additional documents, which will further lengthen the processing time.

Subject to further legal requirements, the Ethics Committee declares by resolution to which extent, in its opinion, the implementation of the research project appears justifiable in terms of ethical and/or security-relevant risks (with modifications and requirements, e.g. for risk reduction).

The decision letter from the Ethics Committee may be submitted to external fund providers or journals along with your research application or paper, if requested.

The Ethics Committee will advise you on ethical aspects of research in relation to your research project as outlined in the application, if there are risks to human dignity, life, health, freedom, property, animals, the environment or peaceful coexistence within your research project.

In addition, the ethics committee advises on security-relevant aspects of research. Security relevance exists in particular if the research project relates to objects and technologies that are related to the development of weapons or there is a direct risk of abuse with regard to the subject of research ('Dual Use Research of Concern'). A risk of abuse exists especially if the research project produces knowledge, products or technologies which can be misused (possibly by third parties) for significant harmful purposes.