Everybody has what it takes to be a scientist! From measuring light pollution via a smartphone app to analyzing pollution on the beach or mapping invasive mosquitoes – these are just three examples of projects in Germany where citizens collaborate with science. Citizen science invites non-professionals to support and conduct scientific research by collecting and analyzing data and bringing in their own questions.
The online platform Bürger schaffen Wissen – Citizens Create Knowledge informs about citizen science, different projects and the opportunities to participate. The platform also connects current projects to each other and seeks to increase public awareness of Citizen science. Bürger schaffen Wissen is a joint project of Wissenschaft im Dialog and the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin. The platform is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research; additional funding is provided by the Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft.
CS Track aims to extend our knowledge about citizen science by conducting a systematic large-scale investigation of citizen science activities in Europe and associated countries. Based on this research, the project will disseminate good practices and formulate knowledge-based policy recommendations to help maximize the benefit of citizen science for individual citizens, organizations, and society at large. As a project partner in CS Track, WiD provides expertise on citizen science initiatives in Germany and takes on various tasks in research, conceptualisation and qualitative analysis, as well as in the dissemination of results and findings. CS Track „Expanding our knowledge on Citizen Science through analytics and analysis“ is funded by the European Commission within the context of development programme Horizon 2020.
In DiPubHealth new formats for public health communication are developed, based on research about discourse dynamics on public health topics. It is crucial to adapt the communication of public health to the communication conditions and to communicate better and not only more. In a first step Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT) and Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen (RWTH) will jointly investigate the public discourse dynamics of selected public debates on public health issues. Therefore KIT and RWTH are developing a toolbox with evaluation grids, typologies and criteria catalogues that enable the analysis of discursive events. Wissenschaft im Dialog (WiD) supports the research by communicating it. Based on the research results WiD will develop and test formats for science communication. The project is financed by the Bayer Foundation.
The online competition “Fast Forward Science“ honours people who are not only passionate about science themselves, but can also inspire others. The contestants are passionate about research, innovative multimedia formats and communication. Whether you are a student, postdoc, vlogger or communicator, you can submit social media contributions on scientific topics. The aim is to convey current research - understandable, targeted and with an aha-experience. The online competition is worth a total of 23.000 euros. It has taken place since 2013 and is a joint project of Wissenschaft im Dialog and Stifterverband.
The Hochschulwettbewerb is a communication challenge for young scientists from all research areas. Open to college and university students, PhD students and young scientists from all research areas, competitors are asked to design projects on the topic of the current German Science Year. The challenge is twofold: On the one hand competitors must show the value of science for society in an interactive way and on the other they must present research results related to the working life of the future understandably.
The Transfer Unit brings together researchers and practitioners of science communication. The project aims at making the practitioners’ know-how and experiences visible and accessible to researchers to inform novel research questions. This transfer will spark insights and knowledge that are more in line with the practical work of science communicators. On the other hand, the Transfer Unit will compile and analyze research findings on science communication and make it available to the public in accessible and concise ressources. The Transfer Unit’s goal is to strengthen the bond between researchers and practitioners of science communication and to thus contribute to the professionalization of science communication.
Wissenschaft kommunizieren is Wissenschaft im Dialog’s series of summer schools and workshops which provide training in science communication and communication skills. The multi-day events are targeted at graduate students and post-docs as well as junior scientists and professionals in science communication. By combining a range of lectures, workshops and training on methods and techniques of science communication, the participants increase their knowledge of science communication and have the opportunity to discuss current issues with experts from theory and practice.
