Climate in focus: Verena Mischitz on the fight for science communication

Climate in focus: Verena Mischitz on the fight for science communication

On June 24, 2025, a remarkable lecture by Verena Mischitz took place at the University of Heidelberg, which addressed the complex challenge of communicating scientific findings on global warming. Mischitz, who has been working as a journalist and filmmaker for renowned broadcasters such as ORF, WDR and Arte since 2023, discussed the difficulties that scientists and journalists face when they want to report on climate issues. It is often a challenge to bring these critical issues to the attention of the general public, she explained during her remarks.

Mischitz has established himself as a significant voice in science communication. She has received several awards for her explanatory videos on the climate and biodiversity crisis, including the Georg von Holtzbrinck Prize for Science Journalism. She has also been the spokesperson for the Austrian Climate Journalism Network since 2022, which further underlines her commitment to precise and sustainable reporting on climate issues. This initiative aims to educate the public about climate change and promote dialogic forms of science communication, which is particularly necessary today uni-heidelberg.de reported.

The role of science communication

The Nature Marsilius Visiting Professorship for Science Communication at the University of Heidelberg, a joint initiative of Holtzbrinck Berlin, the Klaus Tschira Foundation and the University of Heidelberg, invites experts who are committed to high-quality reporting on scientific work. The aim of this professorship is to develop new forms of exchange between science and the public. In times of crises, such as the climate crisis, this task becomes more and more urgent, as current reporting on climate change and environmental awareness shows. The media has a responsibility not only to report on problems, but also to offer solutions and show scope for action in order to promote public discussion bpb.de analyzed.

The challenges in the area of ​​climate communication are diverse. Mischitz, who is also a freelance journalist and presenter for Arte and WDR Quarks, brings extensive experience from her work as a lecturer at the Institute for Media, Society & Communication at the University of Innsbruck and as a video editor and presenter at the Standard in Vienna. She has experience in political education and media education work, which makes her a sought-after speaker in schools. Her academic qualifications include bachelor's degrees in political science and journalism and communication studies and a master's degree in political science from the University of Vienna.

Innovative formats and digital media also play an important role in further intensifying the dialogue on climate issues. Mischitz is also one of the leading voices in the Austrian media landscape, as shown by her nomination for the K3 Prize for her video series “Explained!: Climate”. She is also listed in the industry magazine “Österreichs Journalist:in” as one of the best science journalists in the country. Their perspectives help raise public awareness of climate issues and enable informed discussions, as demonstrated by the results of several studies analyzing the role of the media in climate policy.

Given the challenges ahead and the role of the media in climate change, the influence of committed journalists like Verena Mischitz is proving crucial. Their work not only promotes knowledge and understanding of global warming, but also a sense of urgency that is often missing in the general public, thus significantly promoting dialogue between science and society.