The Board of Trustees strengthen the links between the Institute and the general public, giving advice on matters of social and political relevance. The Board’s members are key players in various areas of society. They are appointed by the President of the Max Planck Society, and meet once a year. The current members of the Board of Trustees are:

Dr. Christine Bergmann, Former Federal Minister of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women, and Youth

Prof. Dr. Hans Bertram, Humboldt University of Berlin, Institute of Social Sciences

Prof. Dr. Kurt Biedenkopf, Former Minister President of the Free State of Saxony

Mathias Brodkorb, Minister of Education, Science, and Culture of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania 

Prof. Dr. Charlotte Höhn, Former Director of the Federal Institute for Population Research at the Federal Statistical Office Germany

Prof. Dr. Claudia Hübner, Former State Minister for Demographic Research and for Senior Citizens at the State Ministry of Baden-Württemberg

Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Max Kaase, Former Vice President of the University of Bremen

Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Ursula M. Lehr, Former Federal Minister Youth, Family, and Health

Dr. Helmut Platzer, President of the Board of Directors of the AOK Bavaria

Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schareck, Rector of the University of Rostock

Dr. Henning Scherf, Former Mayor and President of the State Government of Bremen

Dr. Frank Schirrmacher, Editor of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung