Science Communication Workshop

What does it actually mean for researchers to communicate about science on social media using short-video formats? What can active researchers who produce their own content contribute to the expanding field of science communication? And what skills and framework conditions do researchers need to successfully share scientific content on social media?

These questions were the focus of a workshop organized by the Chair of Applied Linguistics, which took place from September 30 to October 1, 2026, at Kultur Form Riesa Efau in Dresden. The workshop was funded by TU Dresden through the TUD Prize for Excellence in Science Communication, which was awarded to Prof. Simon Meier-Vieracker in 2025.

© Karl Jeremias Donath

Participants included science creators from various disciplines and at different career stages—ranging from students to chairs—who have long been producing short videos for TikTok and Instagram. The program on the first day included a compact training session on professional stage speaking led by Ulrike Kobalz (Carl Maria von Weber University of Music, Dresden) and a practical presentation on the topic of science slams by Dr. Ina Hollerer.

On the second day, Karl Jeremias Donath from the social media team at TU Dresden described the institutional perspective on science creators within their own ranks. It became clear that researchers who communicate their work can significantly enrich universities’ core communication strategies through their personalities, their connection to research, and—especially on social media—their reach.

Next on the agenda was the Content Workshop. Working deliberately under tight time constraints and taking great joy in bringing spontaneous ideas to life, the participants produced material for videos that were—and continue to be—published on their social media channels.

To wrap up, the participants revisited the fundamental principles of their work, drawing on the insights gained from the workshop. One conclusion: Researchers who communicate are key stakeholders—both in the field of science communication and in the social media landscape—with their own voice and their own perspective. What this perspective entails is outlined in a jointly authored position paper published on Zenodo.