NIhK Research under Scrutiny

Lower Saxony boasts a diverse and vibrant research landscape that includes not only universities and institutes affiliated with the Helmholtz or Leibniz Association, the Max Planck Society, or the Fraunhofer Society, but also 12 state-funded non-university research institutions, nine of which fall under the jurisdiction of the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture—including the NIhK. These institutions are evaluated at regular intervals by the Lower Saxony Scientific Commission (WKN) with the assistance of external experts in order to assess their work from an independent, outside perspective and thereby support their further development. Most recently, in 2019, the WKN approved a comprehensive structural analysis of non-university research. Starting in 2025, the research institutions will once again be evaluated successively. 

After the NIhK initially presented a comprehensive report on its research over the past five years in the fall of 2025, an interdisciplinary expert commission—chaired by a voting member of the WKN—visited the NIhK during the last week of October to assess its research capabilities and learn firsthand about its current projects and the latest results. Over the course of two days, the members of the expert commission held in-depth discussions not only with the staff but also with the NIhK’s Scientific Advisory Board and with a selection of institutions collaborating with the institute. The discussions also included researchers at the early and very early stages of their careers who are able to gain extensive practical experience in archaeology and paleolandscape research through a voluntary social year, internships, or as student assistants. The commission members were impressed by the wide range of work carried out by the NIhK and wished the team every success in its future research. The commission’s recommendations are expected to be published in the spring of 2027.