Resilience, crisis management and communication, technological innovations and international cooperation – these were the topics discussed by over 900 participants from science, research, administration and practice at the ‘Research for Civil Protection 2025’ conference. Current challenges and innovative solutions in civil protection and civil defence were the focus of the second specialist congress organised by the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK). The event took place from 5 to 7 February at the World Conference Center Bonn (WCCB). The number of participants almost doubled compared to the first congress in 2023 – impressive proof of the growing interest in this important topic. The DKKV was also represented in large numbers – by the office, institutional members, personal members and young professionals.
The first day began with a welcome address by BBK President Ralph Tiesler and words of welcome from Bonn’s Lord Mayor and former DKKV Chairwoman Katja Dörner, among others. The opening lecture ‘Hybrid threats in and against research’, in which retired colonel Sönke Marahens spoke about the blurred boundaries between war and peace and the role of research as a strategic instrument of power, was an exciting start.
Afterwards, participants were able to choose from five parallel sessions. A total of 52 sessions were held, each with three presentations. The first of four session slots started after a coffee break.
DKKV Managing Director Dr Benni Thiebes moderated the session ‘Prevention in flood protection’, which focused on preventive measures and considered sociological, natural and technical perspectives. In his contribution, DKKV member Norbert Gebbeken emphasised the importance of structural property protection and stressed that such measures become crucial when preventive approaches are not sufficient. The evening ended with a reception at which congress attendees were able to exchange ideas and reflect on the day.
The second day of the congress began with further exciting sessions, including a presentation by Paula Gnielinski, winner of the DKKV Sponsorship Award 2024, on the topic of ‘Administrative capacity in public crisis management during extreme weather events’. The lunch break was followed by an intermezzo with greetings from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the Federal Ministry of Defence and a contribution from the BBK’s Scientific Advisory Board on Research and Civil Defence.
Lothar Schrott, DKKV board member, moderated a multifaceted session on the topic of ‘Extreme weather’. This not only offered insights into drought prevention in Switzerland, but also took a historical look at heavy rain management in 19th century Berlin. The evening offered another opportunity for dialogue at a reception.
On the last day of the congress, participants were able to attend various sessions again. In the ‘Community Resilience’ session, the TransKat project, in which DKKV is involved as a partner, was presented. The project impressively illustrates the importance of social work in disaster situations and aims to create stronger links with disaster relief in order to ensure more inclusive support.
Another highlight was the ‘Serious Gaming’ session, in which speakers presented games they had developed themselves and a VR game that is currently being developed. The serious game ‘Neustart’, which has already been played at DKKV events and has proven to be a valuable training tool for various professional groups, including police command and control, was particularly exciting.
The congress concluded with a panel discussion on the topic of ‘Special challenges of civilian security research: secrecy and scientific freedom’ with the participation of DKKV board member Prof Dr Martin Voss.