Expert Council Advocate Proposed for Future Pandemics by Drosten
During the Corona-Pandemic, the line between scientific advice and political involvement gets murky. Christian Drosten, a well-known virologist in Germany, expresses his desire for change in the future. He shared this with "Spiegel".
Drosten, a prominent figure in the field of virology, calls for the establishment of a single expert council for future pandemics. According to him, this council should primarily be staffed with experts handpicked by the academic world. He made these remarks to "Spiegel".
The selection criteria for such a team should solely be "Expertise in their respective field", not "Media popularity or other factors". The purpose is to clearly designate authoritative assessments and statements. This is a common practice in science, where expert committees and spokespersons are appointed based on genuine expertise. The naming would typically be handled by academies or scientific organizations.
Georg Mascolo, a journalist, criticized in the joint "Spiegel" interview with Drosten that during the Corona-pandemic, there were too many different expert committees: "It was hard to discern the scientific consensus opinion, and more importantly, where the boundary between scientific consultation and political action lay."
Drosten added: "When it comes to human lives, we need a clear, recognizable stance from science, one that the scientific community truly supports. While everyone is free to share their opinions publicly, it's good practice for public scientific communication for specialists to discuss their areas of expertise, and for others to stay quiet."
According to a study, scientists are reporting an increase in insults, abuse, and even threats. In a survey, about half of the researchers (45 percent) admitted to experiencing some form of bullying or harassment. Drosten himself testified in court about a couple who insulted and cursed him at a campsite in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
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In light of the challenges faced during the Corona crisis and the impact of pandemics on society, Drosten advocates for the establishment of a unified expert council for future pandemics. This council, according to Drosten, should be composed primarily of academically renowned virologists and other experts in their respective fields.
The implementation of such a council, as suggested by Drosten, aims to distinguish authoritative assessments and statements in the face of future pandemics, ensuring a clear and unified stance from the scientific community.
