Statement of the spokespersons of the cluster

22 February 2021

Photo: CDC/ Alissa Eckert, MS; Dan Higgins, MAM

On 18. February 2021 Universität Hamburg published a press release on its main website supporting a document published by Prof. Roland Wiesendanger on the "Origin of the Corona Pandemic".

The Cluster of Excellence CUI: Advanced Imaging of Matter welcomes scientific discourse and the free expression of scientific opinion, but does not endorse this publication. We deplore that Universität Hamburg, in releasing a statement on its website, has given the impression that it, and thus also other members of the university, shares the views presented and supports work that clearly does not meet standards of scholarly research. As a cluster of excellence, we strive to maintain the highest standards of scholarship.

Several colleagues in the cluster are working on projects related to combating the coronavirus and are thus making valuable contributions to tackling the current global health crisis. In this context, they provide scientifically sound information on the coronavirus in an accessible form, following our usual high standards and practises of the dissemination of scientific work. Prof. Wiesendanger, a member of the cluster, was not involved in those activities.

We fully endorse the statement of the Dean's office of the Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics, and Natural Sciences.

The spokespersons

Henry Chapman          Klaus Sengstock      Horst Weller