Options for marking a geological repository in the Federal Republic of Germany

The safe disposal of high-level radioactive waste is an essential and complex technical, social, and communicative challenge. A key element here is the question of how geological repositories can be marked over tens of thousands of years in such a way that future generations are warned of the dangers they contain and, at the same time, knowledge of their existence and significance is preserved. This challenge touches on scientific, technical, semiotic, legal, and socio-cultural dimensions in equal measure. The current state of research on marking the final repository site shows that, despite international efforts, key questions remain unanswered: Which materials and designs are stable over geological time scales? How can comprehensibility be ensured in the face of cultural change? And to what extent can marking systems be meaningfully combined with other strategies for preserving knowledge? The project will review the current state of international research and evaluate it with regard to the situation in Germany. In addition to researching international scientific literature, dialogue with the international specialist community is also important for classifying and evaluating the transferability to German conditions.