"Invisible Heroes" Nominated for the TUD Award for Excellence in Science Communication 2026

Participatory Photovoice Exhibition Combines Research, Personal Stories, and Social Dialogue

We are delighted to have been nominated for the TUD Prize for Excellence in Science Communication 2026. The exhibition “Invisible Heroes: Between Everyday Life and Caregiving — Young Adults with Caregiving Responsibilities Tell Their Stories,” by the research group “Participatory Research and Technology Development for Health-Promoting Interventions” at the Center for Open Digital Innovation and Participation (CODIP) at TU Dresden, is one of the six nominated projects.

The TUD Prize for Excellence in Science Communication honors outstanding initiatives that make scientific content accessible to a broad audience and highlight innovative approaches to science communication. The award ceremony will take place on September 1, 2026.

The exhibition “Invisible Heroes: Between Everyday Life and Care” was created as part of the Kraft-Copilot research project , based on the participatory research method Photovoice. Four young adults who provide care documented their daily lives through photography and reflected on their experiences together with the research team in a participatory research process. The resulting photographs, personal quotes, and stories were then co-curated, anonymized, and organized into an exhibition.

© Björn Adelberg

The exhibition focuses on the perspectives of young people with caregiving responsibilities. They provide insights into their daily lives, share their challenges and hopes, and shed light on a reality that often goes unseen. The exhibition follows a consistently participatory approach: science communication is shaped not about those affected, but together with them.

The combination of personal photographs, stories, and interactive elements creates emotional connections and invites visitors to reflect and engage in dialogue. The exhibition opened in the summer of 2025 as a traveling exhibition and was accompanied by guided tours, workshops, and discussion forums. This created spaces for interaction between young adult caregivers, professionals, the scientific community, policymakers, and the general public.

© Björn Adelberg

For us, this nomination is a special recognition of the participatory approach and the commitment of all those involved—especially the young adult caregivers who shared their experiences and actively helped shape the exhibition. They not only contributed content but also helped shape how the findings were communicated. We would like to extend our special thanks to the four co-researchers—Franziska, Clara, Lina, and Anna (pseudonyms)—who played a decisive role in shaping this process with their perspectives, experiences, and dedication.