Questions for discussion

“We have lied to you, and we will do it again!”

This is the introduction to a video about science communication posted on the YouTube Channel ‘Kurzgesagt’. In many ways, it highlights the challenges of science communication!
Think about your last research presentation: How much did you have to simplify—or even “lie”—by skipping full details in order to reach the audience?

Scientific findings are complex and even uncertain. But some might still be relevant to the public. Thus we need strategies to present scientific discoveries, despite those challenges.

Science nowadays is often communicated to the broad public via Youtube, Podcasts, TikTok and social media. To reach as many people as possible, content is often sensational and shortened. Fake news is spread on the same platforms with the same tricks and it can be hard for users to differentiate proper science and alternative facts.

In this event, we are organising a panel discussion with a professor, a journalist, an EdTech-startup founder and a podcaster about the challenges of communicating science to a general audience.

In particular, we would like to discuss questions such as

• How can a consumer distinguish “communicated science” from fake news?

• How much can you simplify science communication without lying?

• Does science communication need to be sensational?

• Does real science always have to be educational?

• Is real science boring?

We are hoping to tackle these and similar questions from perspectives of various communication strategies, including “conservative” written form, modern approaches via social media and efforts by academic institutions.

Registration

Due to regulations by state and university, only a limited number of seats is available and is treated on a “First Come, First Served” basis with priority given to first year PhD students. Currently the following rules apply: "3G rule" (vaccinated, recovered, tested) and FFP2 mask requirement. The regulations might be subject to change.

Depending on the number of registrations, we may also stream the event with the possibility to contribute questions to the discussion. If necessary, given the current COVID situation, the event will be shifted to an online-only setting.