Tübingen Science Prize: Two heroes for enlightenment honored!

Tübingen Science Prize: Two heroes for enlightenment honored!

On March 8, 2025, the Science Communication Prize was awarded University of Tübingen awarded. The main prize went to Professor Dr. Tobias Hauser, while Dr. Michael Kienzle received the young talent award. This award is aimed at outstanding achievements in communicating scientific topics to the public.

Professor Dr. Tobias Hauser was honored for his comprehensive awareness campaign about obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). His work includes a bilingual website, YouTube videos, press releases and intensive social media activity. The jury, consisting of science journalists, researchers and communication experts, recognized Hauser's innovative approach to an often stigmatized topic.

Dialogue on medieval research

For Dr. Michael Kienzle is awarded the prize in recognition of his dialogue with the public about castles and medieval aristocracy. Kienzle works in the sub-project “Resource Development and Dominion in the Middle Ages” and is responsible for organizing events, videos and publications. The highlights of his projects include the exhibition “Unearthed! Knights and Castles in the Echaz Valley” and an interactive living history event.

The content of his work is on the website www.greifstein-projekt.de documented. This platform has proven to be a valuable tool for connecting science and the public and for inspiring a wider audience about the topics of medieval research.

Science communication as the key to social relevance

The awarding of these prizes is part of the University of Tübingen's excellence strategy, which aims to increase the appreciation of science communication in society. Professor Dr. Karla Pollmann, who attended the award ceremony, emphasized the essential role of science communication for society. This need is also supported by current developments in the scientific landscape. That's what it requires BMBF Since 2020, there has been a cultural change towards proactive science communication in order to ensure the relevance of research.

Science communication has become increasingly diversified in recent years, takes place in various media and is therefore of central importance for the modern knowledge society. It is important that laypeople are empowered to understand scientific processes and make informed decisions, as can be observed in the discussion of health and political issues. Communication science therefore deals intensively with the topic and examines how scientific knowledge can be conveyed to the public.

A particularly relevant challenge is controlling the dissemination of information via social media. Misinformation can spread faster than correct information, which further underlines the need for robust science communication. An MIT study shows that misinformation on Twitter has a greater reach than correct facts, underscoring the dangers of digital communication, especially in times of crisis like the coronavirus pandemic.

In this context, the initiatives of the University of Tübingen, such as the awarding of the Prize for Science Communication, are not only commendable individual measures, but part of a larger, necessary change in science communication in order to increase the visibility of scientific content and actively involve the public in scientific discussions. The planned public awards ceremony for 2025 will be announced and will provide a platform to further address these important issues.