The Commission for Ecology (Kommission für Ökologie) was set up in 1986. Its purpose is to examine current environmental questions and problems and to draw attention to possible future problems of an ecological nature. In this work it attempts to establish a scientific foundation for answers to the most diverse questions, for the benefit among others of those responsible for taking decisions in the Bavarian Parliament and ministries.

To this end the members of the Commission (at present 23 scholars representing a variety of disciplines) organise so-called round table discussions, generally twice a year. At these talks leading experts make their specialised knowledge and experience available to a large circle of participants from the academic world, politics, administration, industry and the media. Among the topics which have been dealt with by the Commission are: ‘the economy and ecology of future electricity supplies’; ‘damage caused by mining and its effect on ecosystems’; ‘telecommunications and the analysis of ecosystems’; and ‘allergy – a disease of civilisation?’ The lectures and debates of the symposia are published in the series Rundgespräche der Kommission für Ökologie (‘Round Table Discussions of the Commission for Ecology’).

More informations about the Commissions of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities is to be found at www.badw.de, about the Commission of Ecology at www.oekologie.badw.de.