The effective communication of research and scientific findings is a challenging task, due to the complexity of the subject matter, the contexts in which communication takes place, the different interests and cultures of the stakeholders and also because of the significance of the results for society and politics. This is particularly true in times of crisis, as during the COVID pandemic or in the context of climate change. Proposals are needed on how academics can effectively communicate knowledge in these and other situations, as well as the uncertainties and lack of scientific findings, in order to constructively participate in public discourse.

The aim of this project within the Research Group Engaged Science was to create a guide to science communication by and for scientists. A further aim was to improve interaction with journalists based on these guidelines. What are the principles and perhaps also (unwritten) norms of science communication? What mistakes can be avoided and how? And what is needed to make science communication more effective?

Among other things, the project group wanted to address the question of how to deal with phenomena such as "false balance", false statements by colleagues and "fake news", how to communicate a lack of information, uncertainties and limitations of scientific findings and contradictory points of view, and how to draw the line between the knowledge base and normative decisions based on it. The work was based on a series of expert interviews with scientists, journalists and communication professionals using interview guidelines. An initial discussion of the results took place at the Forum Wissenschaftksommunikation in November 2023.

This publication has been available since autumn 2024 and can be downloaded here: "Science Communication: Key points of Die Junge Akademie" (in German only)