Dr Philipp Schmid, Assistant Professor of Health Communication at the Centre for Language Studies (CLS), has been appointed as a member of the Commission for Risk Research and Risk Perception (RISKOM) at the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) for the 2026–2029 term.
RISKOM advises the BfR on how the public understands risks related to food and feed safety, consumer products and cosmetics. The commission supports the selection of methods to assess public knowledge and subjective perceptions of risk in the areas of food and feed safety, consumer products and cosmetics. It also contributes to the development and evaluation of communication strategies, including in the context of emerging risks.
Dr Schmid joins experts from universities, research institutes and consumer protection organisations in strengthening evidence‑based risk communication at the national level. Reflecting on his appointment, he said: "It is a privilege to serve on the Commission and help people who are at risk in distinguishing between fake and facts and making well-informed decisions." In the era of disinformation we are currently experiencing, "it is more important than ever to collaborate in interdisciplinary commissions and assist people in making well-informed decisions", added Schmid.