Rechts- und naturwissenschaftliche Kooperation im Umweltrecht am Beispiel des Chemikalien- und Naturschutzrechts

This article is based on a speech held at the annual conference of the German Chemical Society (working group Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology) on 23 September 2009 in Trier. Despite strong arguments for interdisciplinary co-operation in the field of law and natural sciences, it still appears as a rather rare phenomenon in the current research environment. This is partly due to the difficulties emerging from the increasing specialization and diversification in sciences. Beyond that, the current possibilities of third-party funding, not least aimed at initiating and intensifying interdisciplinary projects, provide a comparatively weak incentive to jurists. Nonetheless, there are indications for a change in the near future. However, at least chemical law (as well as for example nature conservation law) offers a range of starting points for a productive co-operation among jurists and natural scientists.