Science communication

Science communication describes the placement of topics from research and teaching to different publics and includes both science journalism and social media platforms such as science blogs as well as science PR and Marketing Science. Especially in the area of ​​applied research as well as in terms of technology transfer also exist parallels to innovation communication. The aims of science communication are as varied as their reference groups: from the creation of broad social acceptance of new technologies through interdisciplinary synergies to the targeted knowledge transfer and dialogue between research and industry.

Historical development

Due to an increasing competition for skilled workers and third-party funds in the research landscape, the science PR has won in recent years become more important, resources and medial influence as well as professionalism. Most academic institutions and professional societies now employ PR experts. Requirements and self-understanding of science communication have changed dramatically over the decades. From the experiment of the "enlightenment " of the population since the 50s on the persuasion of PUSH ( Public Understanding of Science ( and Humanities ) ) in the 80, then the fear of shortage of skilled labor and the louder demand for transparency and economic usefulness of scientific knowledge to the supposedly confidence-building dialogue between science and society in the 90s. A new paradigm shift is taking place these days in the wake of "social media" with a view to interactive communication platforms such as science blogs, content sharing or the Open Access movement. These new media enable new forms of communication in terms of changes through Open Innovation and Interactive value creation. An example of this is the so-called crowdsourcing of research services.

Research and teaching

• A number of chairs in the German-speaking area is dedicated to the communication of science, where the research focuses in most cases on journalism. Mention may be made, inter alia here Zürcher Hochschule Winterthur, the IFF (Klagenfurt, Vienna, Innsbruck and Graz), the Free University of Berlin, the University of Dortmund, University of Applied Sciences Bremen, University of Applied Sciences Darmstadt, Munich University of Technology and RWTH Aachen. At the TU Berlin a postgraduate course is offered " marketing science " for a few years.