“The Ideal Path in Science Communication”: TUD Once Again Recognizes Excellence in Research Communication

Prof. Melanie Humann and Katharina Porepp received this year’s TUD Prize for Excellence in Science Communication

Research that makes an impact on society: On September 1, 2026, as part of Science Communication Day, the TUD Dresden University of Technology once again awarded a Grand Prize and a Young Researcher Prize for excellence in science communication.

The grand prize, worth 5,000 euros, was awarded to Prof. Melanie Humann, holder of the Chair of Urbanism, for her dialogue project“Erzgebirge Atlas – Wissenschaft auf der Walz.” Using maps and infographics, the project illustrates what shapes the region and how people shape their lives.

Going “where it hurts”

In her laudatory speech, Prof. Roswitha Böhm, Vice-Rector University Culture and Internationalization, highlighted the uniqueness of this project and quoted from the jury’s decision: The researchers go “where it hurts”—meaning that they do not shy away from encounters or the sometimes controversial discussions with the people of the Erzgebirge, who are the subject of their research. These encounters give rise to collaborative and participatory urban development projects and new areas of research. “Research, teaching, and knowledge transfer are uniquely intertwined with and through science communication,” said Roswitha Böhm, which is why the jury also referred to this as the “ideal path for science communication” in its evaluation.

Going the Extra Mile

“It is a great pleasure for us to have received this award. The Rector spoke today about the extra mile one sometimes has to go for good science communication. We were more than happy to do so and thank TUD for the recognition and appreciation,” said award recipient Melanie Humann after the ceremony in the Rectorate Ballroom.

Note: “Erzgebirge Collections” Exhibition in Cooperation with TU Dresden

The exhibition showcases findings from several years of teaching and research in the Erzgebirge region.

Further information: https://www.zfbk.de/programm/ausstellung-erzgebirge-collections/

Making the Future of Agriculture “Tangible”

Katharina Porepp, a doctoral student at the Chair of Industrial Design Engineering, received the Young Researchers Award—worth 2,500 euros—for doctoral students and postdocs for the interactive exhibit“Double Harvest”from the “digi.farming.lab.”

The exhibit is part of the permanent exhibition “Agriculture of the Future” at Berlin’s Futurium and brings the latest findings from agricultural research to life in an interactive way. In virtual landscapes, visitors can, for example, explore what sustainable agriculture might look like in the future from a bumblebee’s perspective.

“I’m incredibly thrilled to have been selected from among so many great projects. On Science Communication Day, you can once again see just how diverse science communication is and what the TUD has to offer in this area. I’m all the more pleased to have received this award. I’m also delighted that our exhibit will continue to be part of the Futurium exhibition,” said Katharina Porepp.

The laudatory speech was delivered by Prof. Jens Krzywinski, holder of the Chair of Industrial Design Engineering at TUD. He emphasized: “Katharina Porepp has turned several prototypes into a compelling public-facing format that operates in the virtual world yet remains tangible. At the same time, it breaks down various barriers that typically make science difficult to access.” The exhibit can be used in the truest sense of the word, allowing visitors to “experience” the subject of the research—while sitting in a tractor seat.

Note: Sowing and Understanding Perspectives: The “Double Harvest” Exhibit at the Futurium in Berlin

Three interactive stations present different perspectives on key challenges and solutions for future agricultural systems.

Further information: https://futurium.de/doppelte-ernte

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