New analysis ranks the GSF as the most significant European research institution in the field of air pollution

According a worldwide analysis conducted by “Essential Science Indicators”, the GSF – Research Centre for Environment and Health ranks first among European research centres in the field air pollution when counting the number of cited publications from 1995 to 2005. On a worldwide range, the GSF ranks fifth from 3,052 institutions; is is the most frequently cited European research institution in the field of air pollution. The top positions are held by four American institutions.

Among the 20 authors most frequently cited from 1995 to 2005, the GSF is represented with three staff members of the “Institute of Epidemiology”: PD Dr. Annette Peters, head of the research group “Epidemiology of Air Pollution” ranks 10 th (770 citations), Prof. Dr. Dr. H.-Erich Wichmann , Director of this Institute ranks 14 th (606 citations), and a former employee of the Institute ranks 19 th (546 citations). Among all European authors, Peters and Wichmann are ranked third and fifth, respectively.

“The excellent performance of the GSF in the field of air pollution research is based on our interdisciplinary approach here on the campus, integrating exposure assessment, epidemiology and clinical expertise, and on the strong international network”, stresses Wichmann.

The worldwide ranking list of top authors on the subject of air pollution is headed by two Harvard scientists, Prof. Joel Schwartz and Prof. Douglas W. Dockery from Boston , USA , ranking Harvard University first among worldwide institutions. The GSF has established an intensive cooperation with Harvard University . This include joint research projects, regular exchange of postgraduate students and joint publications. Annette Peters from the GSF spent two years as a guest scientist there. The success of this efforts is proved by the fact that, at the moment, Peters is rated third-best European author among a total of 10,710 authors from 87 countries. Peters managed to raise 4 US grants, which means a financial support of 2.5 million US$ for the GSF. “The visits at Harvard University are important milestones in the career of the scientists at this institute. We want to continue this exchange intensively in the future as well”, says Peters.

There is also a close cooperation in the field of air pollution research with the second ranked institution, the US Environmental Protection Agency, the US EPA. Under the GSF-EPA cooperation treaty, which was signed in 1998, short mutual visits of the scientists take place on a regular basis. This facilitates joint research projects and joint workshops which are held every two years, either in the US or in Germany.