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Wissenschaft im Dialog - An initiative of Germany’s scientific community

The organisation for science communication

Wissenschaft im Dialog (WiD) is the German organisation for science communication of the scientific community. WiD supports science and research with expertise in effective communication with society and encourages researchers to communicate their research, including its controversial aspects, with the public. Moreover, WiD raises citizens’ awareness for the social significance of science and promotes understanding research processes and findings. For that reason, WiD organizes various participatory formats, e.g. discussions, school projects, exhibitions, and competitions across Germany and provides online portals about science and science communication.

Initiated by the Stifterverband, Wissenschaft im Dialog was founded in 2000 by the leading German science organisations. Further science-related foundations joined as partners. WiD is supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

Ever since, WiD has constantly extended its activities. Initially, the focus was directed towards broad public communication. Today, the dialogue for controversial topics, the development of new formats and building a network for stakeholders in the sector, have become further priorities. Most recently, the quality, evaluation and impact of science communication are moving more into focus. Consequently, WiD addresses the following audiences:

The general public:

They have the opportunity to acquire new knowledge regarding science and its impact on a democratic society, form individual opinions and discuss them with scientists and politicians.  Furthermore, interaction with scientists improves the understanding of how they work and how they make new discoveries. 

Projects for the general public

Researchers:

They are encouraged to get in touch with different groups of society to not only discuss their work and its social relevance, but also methods and processes. Apart from supporting researchers in strategically expanding their communication skills and activities, WiD also advocates science communication as an important part of scientific work.

Projects for researchers

Communicators:

They are provided with a platform for networking and exchange of experiences. WiD offers formats for advanced training in science communication and supports communicators in developing programmes and in evaluating them with an impact-oriented focus. As the German organisation for science communication, WiD is a central contact and trend scout for topics, methods, quality and exchange in the field of science communication - beyond national boundaries.

Projects for communicators

Workshops

We also pass on our know-how on science communication in workshops. These are primarily aimed at young scientists and communicators. The workshops are mainly booked by universities and research institutes, but also by research groups and associations.

We offer courses on the following topics in German and English:

  • introduction to science communication
  • communication strategy
  • social media
  • analogue and digital formats of science communication

We also offer courses on other topics upon request. If you are interested, please contact Michael Wingens (workshops@w-i-d.de).

 

The strategy paper "Debatten anstoßen, Erkenntnisprozesse kommunizieren und neue Zielgruppen ansprechen" ("Initiating debates, communicating processes of research and reaching new target groups") sums up the central goals of Wissenschaft im Dialog. Together with the associates of Wissenschaft im Dialog, they were developed in 2017. 

Committed to inclusion and sustainability

Through its various projects, Wissenschaft im Dialog engages diverse groups in the process of research to make scientific findings and their social impact accessible to a broad audience. To this end, Wissenschaft im Dialog relies on innovative and multifaceted formats. Wissenschaft im Dialog strives to make all activities - both internal and external - as ecologically sustainable and inclusive as possible. Within the work context of Wissenschaft im Dialog, the focus is on collaborative, interdisciplinary and motivating exchange, regardless of origin, gender, sexual orientation, disability, skin color, religion, educational and/or family background. Wissenschaft im Dialog promotes teamwork through open and honest interaction as well as the compatibility of private life and job in the form of flexible working time models.

All the measures and strategies we are implementing to ensure equal opportunities and participation for all employees, regardless of gender, are summarized in our Gender Equality Plan.