Communicating science: experts in dialogue with the public!

Communicating science: experts in dialogue with the public!

On May 5, 2025, an important debate workshop with Verena Mischitz took place at the University of Heidelberg. The workshop highlighted the tension between science and social engagement, with the central theme: “Research in the public sphere: Is that already activism?” Mischitz focused on the democratic responsibility of researchers in an increasingly complex media landscape.

Verena Mischitz, who studied communication science and political science in Vienna and Liège, has extensive experience in science communication. Before working as a freelance journalist and filmmaker for ORF, WDR and Arte, she worked as an editor and social media manager at ORF and as a presenter for “Der Standard”. For her creative explanatory videos on the climate and biodiversity crisis, she was awarded the Georg von Holtzbrinck Prize for Science Journalism, among others.

Training and public engagement

The workshop included a variety of events on the basics of science communication. Participants had the opportunity to improve their video clip creation skills through practical exercises. An interactive seminar entitled “Research in Interviews” prepared the participants for media appearances and taught them how to deal with critical questions. In addition, Mischitz gave a public lecture on communicating science in times of planetary crises, which addressed the challenges and opportunities of science communication.

The Nature Marsilius Visiting Professorship for Science Communication, which was founded jointly by Holtzbrinck Berlin, the Klaus Tschira Foundation and the University of Heidelberg, plays a central role in promoting competent reporting on scientific topics. The aim is to invite well-known experts who will enable high-quality exchange between science and the public. The previous holders of the visiting professorship include well-known personalities such as Mai Thi Nguyen-Kim and Kai Kupferschmidt.

Science communication in transition

Science communication has become more important in recent years, particularly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The increasing presence of knowledge transfer and the role of scientists in the media show that a cultural change towards a communicating science is necessary. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research is calling for this change to promote public understanding of scientific topics.

Science communication is now characterized by terms such as public understanding of science and citizen science, which further intensifies the dialogue between science and society. Digital platforms have redefined the boundaries of scientific communication, bringing with them both potential and challenges.

Academies and institutions are observing worrying developments in science and the media. Therefore, a responsible exchange between science, media and society is becoming increasingly important. Science and journalism are essential components of a democratic society that are crucial for informed decisions and public dialogue. Recommendations for improving this communication are necessary to ensure the quality of publicly available information, as studies in the journal Journalistik show.

At a time when scientific authorities are increasingly being challenged by skeptical movements, science's outreach is crucial to its reputation and trust in society. Developments in scientific communication and the media landscape must continue to be monitored critically in order to ensure the quality and integrity of scientific dialogue.

For more detailed insights into this topic, we refer to the detailed analysis of scientific communication by ncbi.nlm.nih.gov and leopoldina.org is treated. Further information about the events can be found on the website University of Heidelberg.