Future Security Lab
What does the future of security look like? What does security mean in an increasingly networked world? Which unpredictable events must we prepare for – and what holds our society together in times of crisis? Using vivid scenarios and immersive technologies, visitors to the Future Security Lab can familiarize themselves with various aspects and challenges of civil security.
The lab showcases projects from civil security research embedded in theme-specific scenarios. An overview of the implemented projects and scenarios can be found here. Workshops and discussion rounds for professional groups are also offered. Information on upcoming dates is available here.
The Future Security Lab builds on the work of the Public Security Research Forum (Forschungsforum Öffentliche Sicherheit), which has been active in the field of security research at Freie Universität Berlin since 2009. The dialogue space is funded by the Federal Ministry for Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR) and is aimed at decision-makers in the fields of disaster management and civil protection, as well as political stakeholders.
What to Expect at the Future Security Lab
Interdisciplinary security research is innovative, creative, and forward-looking. Bringing together different stakeholders and approaches presents challenges that the Future Security Lab actively addresses. It provides an overview of current research results and insights into security research discourse in Germany. Results are presented through individual projects embedded in cohesive scenarios:
The "Blackout" Scenario: Experience the effects of a long-term, large-scale power outage as a multiple crisis. The scenario vividly demonstrates how the situation escalates drastically across different phases – from the initial hours of uncertainty to structural collapse after several weeks. The central challenge here is managing cascading effects. Solutions for stabilization are presented: The KriKom project demonstrates resilient communication systems for disaster relief when conventional networks fail. LifeGRID introduces concepts for the emergency care of people in need of nursing assistance. Other projects, such as TankNotStrom (logistics for emergency generators), illustrate how supply lines in critical infrastructures can be maintained.
The "Climate Change" Scenario: Structured according to the chronology of a crisis, this scenario leads through the disaster cycle – from prevention and preparation to acute response and aftercare. The primary challenge is managing extreme weather events like droughts, floods, or storms holistically rather than in isolation. Solutions for each phase are shown: For prevention, the Dürreatlas and the Sea Level Rise Viewer visualize looming threats. For preparation, systems like WebKonRad and FeWIS support disaster relief services with precise data. For acute response, tools such as the UV-Bodyguard and the KUBAS Helferapp are presented.
"Dynamic and Multiple Crises": This area focuses on the situational picture. The scenario illustrates that crises today rarely occur in isolation; instead, they are interwoven as multiple crises and can intensify one another. To remain capable of taking action within this complexity, reliable situational awareness is crucial. Tools that make these factors measurable are showcased: For example, the PsychoKat project uses interactive dashboards to visualize how the population experiences crises, what protective behaviors they exhibit, and where resources like resilience need to be strengthened.
Detailed descriptions of the projects presented in the Future Security Lab can be found here: Project Outlines.
The Interface Between Research and Politics
Located in the immediate vicinity of the German Bundestag, within the Einstein Center Digital Future (ECDF) building, the Future Security Lab offers a dialogue space for decision-makers and experts from civil security research, disaster management, and politics.
The Public Security Research Forum has been working at this intersection of politics and civil security research since 2009, aiming to bring current research findings into political discussion and to transport topical political issues back into the scientific community. The Steering Committee (Steuerungskreis) of the Public Security Research Forum serves as a direct link to the German Bundestag.
At the ECDF, professors conduct research on various aspects of digitalization. The Future Security Lab collaborates with them to address the interface of civil security.
The Director of the Future Security Lab is Ann-Kathrin Lindner, who is responsible for its content and technical design.
Please direct registrations and inquiries to:
Freie Universität Berlin
Forschungsforum Öffentliche Sicherheit
Takustr. 9
14195 Berlin
Tel +49 30 838 62914
ann-kathrin.lindner@fu-berlin.de