October 01, 2024

Prof. Alena Buyx, Director of the Institute for the History and Ethics of Medicine, was awarded the Order of Merit on Ribbon of the Federal Republic of Germany by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on October 1, 2024. In the justification for the award, the Office of the Federal President writes

"The doctor and medical ethicist is one of the most committed voices on issues of social change in our time. From 2016 to April 2024, Alena Buyx was a member of the German Ethics Council, from 2020 as its Chair. The importance of her commitment as an advisor on ethical issues in politics, society and science became particularly clear during the coronavirus pandemic. Despite massive hostility at times, she was an ever-present mediator who explained the conflict between state protective measures and individual freedoms in an understandable way. She is also highly committed to the debate on digitalization and its impact on society and the labour market. She always calls for the creation of transparent regulations for the use of AI. Alena Buyx thus makes an important contribution to responsibly shaping the future of our society."