Science Communication Day
Table of contents
Through its outstanding research, TU Dresden makes a valuable contribution to solving global challenges. TUD researchers are working on the major issues of our time, such as the climate crisis, artificial intelligence, societal upheavals, and new therapeutic approaches. We actively share their findings with the public to inform and educate. But also to engage in dialogue with the society that supports science. Science communication encompasses a variety of approaches to foster this dialogue and highlight the relevance of research. With its annual Science Communication Day, TUD offers its researchers and science communicators a multifaceted platform to learn about, further their education in, and network with one another on the topic of science communication.
Highlights for 2026
This year’s Science Communication Day on September 1, 2026, will focus on the question of how research can be communicated in a way that is both understandable and trustworthy, thereby strengthening the connection between science and society.
The program will open with a keynote address followed by a panel discussion on the topic“Who Can We Still Trust? Science Communication at the Intersection of Polarization and AI.” In his keynote address, Olaf Kramer, Professor of General Rhetoric and Director of the Research Center for Science Communication at the University of Tübingen, will examine the conditions under which understanding is achieved, but also why it repeatedly fails, how rhetoric can help secure a social consensus, and how AI systems are changing political communication and the formation of public opinion.
An extensive program of workshops and presentations for TUD researchers and science communicators builds on this theme, offering opportunities to learn about, discuss, further one’s education, and network on the topic of science communication.
At the end of the day, the Main Award and the Young Researchers’ Award for Excellent Science Communication 2026 will be awarded. With these awards, TUD honors outstanding achievements in science communication - both by established researchers and by early-career researchers. All information about this year’s jury and the nominations can be found on the TUD Award website.
TUD employees can find further information and register on the TUD intranet.
Looking Back
On May 15, 2025, TU Dresden hosted its first Science Communication Day. The event offered scientists and communications professionals a diverse platform to learn about, further their education on, and network with one another on the topic of science communication.
Benedikt Fecher, Geschäftsführer von Wissenschaft im Dialog, Beatrice Lugger, Beraterin für Wissenschaftskommunikation (ehem. NaWik), Dirk Brockmann, Direktor des Center Synergy of Systems (SynoSys), Sven Engesser, Professor für Kommunikationswissenschaft und Marion Schmidt, CCO der TUD diskutierten im Eröffnungspanel die Frage, was Wissenschaftskommunikation heute leisten muss.
Best practice exchange in the afternoon: How can physics be explained in a playful way using an app? What interactive exhibitions does the COSMO Science Forum organize? What formats of science communication can young scientists use? This and much more was presented and discussed during a look at practical examples of successful formats of science communication at TUD.
On May 15, 2025, the Day for Science Communication took place for the first time at TU Dresden. The event offered a versatile platform for TUD´s researchers and communications managers to learn about science communication, build up their skills in this area, and to network with each other. It is part of the TUD's science communication initiative to improve skills in the field of science communication.
In inspiring keynote speeches, interactive workshops and personal exchanges, participants gained valuable insights into how research findings can be translated into understandable and comprehensible content. The successful premiere made it possible to set new impulses and sustainably strengthen the network for science communication at the TUD.
Following the opening panel, many further questions on science communication were discussed: How can the connection between science and society be strengthened? What ideas and formats could help to improve science communication in order to interact effectively with society and promote understanding of complex research topics?
The workshops held on the Science Communication Day provided TUD researchers and communications officers with training on how to present research findings in a way that is understandable and tailored to specific target groups for use on social media, in visualizations, and in infographics. Another workshop taught how to create meaningful evaluations for science communication and why they are important.
In the workshop "Science in your ear: podcasts as a communication tool", participants received tips on podcast creation and attended the recording of "Food Facts - the TU Dresden food chemistry podcast".
Participants were also given advice on how to deal with hostility towards science and attacks and what Scicomm support offers for this.
The first Science Communication Day concluded with the first-ever presentation of the TUD Award for Excellent Science Communication in the ballroom of the Rectorate Building.
Contact
If you have any questions about the Science Communication Day, please contact the Directorate Communication and Marketing by email at .
Funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Free State of Saxony as part of the Excellence Strategy of the Federal and State governments