May 24, 2019
Future Lab "FAKE SCIENCE?! Science between Social Responsibility and Scepticism“
As society changes, so does the role of science. Political statements and reports in the media – e.g. on climate change, migration or nutrition – increasingly show scepticism about science and problems in communication. For example, in public perception, it is apparently difficult to distinguish between different contributions from science, in particular between confirmed facts as opposed to theories.
The School of Humanities and Social Sciences and the School of Science, together with the Collaborative Research Centres 940 "Volition and Cognitive Control“ and 1285 "Invektivity. Constellations and Dynamics of Disparagement", have taken the initiative in accepting these interdisciplinary challenges. The “Fake Science?!” Future Lab on 11 July 2019 will kick off this process as part of the series of events “TU Dresden in Dialogue”. The Future Lab is also supported by the Sächsische Bibliotheksgesellschaft - SäBiG.
During the Future Lab, we want to get to the bottom of the problem and, in six thematic circles, discuss which contributions scientists can make to social discourse, why scepticism about science is growing in some sections of the population, how a devaluation of expert knowledge can be countered, and what constitutes appropriate science communication.
We are looking for fellow campaigners and people with new ideas!
All interested members of TU Dresden and of the DRESDEN-concept institutions will have the opportunity to contribute their experiences, ideas, topics and questions to the Future Lab "Fake Science?!” These will be publicly discussed in a new series of events starting in the 2019/20 winter semester - "TUD in Dialogue".
Registration for the Future Lab will start in June!
Topics
The Future Lab will consist of six thematic circles. Each group will be supported by an interdisciplinary team of experts:
- The role of science in society – the significance of society for science
- Cognitive and social foundations of scepticism and trust
- Opportunities and risks of science communication
- Example 1: Climate Change
- Example 2: Migration and Integration
- Example 3: Food and Nutrition
Further information on the individual thematic circles will follow shortly.
| 8.30am | Admission & Registration |
| 9-9.20am |
Welcome Adress Background & Explanation of Rules |
| 9.30-10.15am | Discussion Round 1 |
| 10.30-11.15am | Discussion Round 2 |
| 11.30am-12.15pm |
Feedback Session including
|
| 12.15-12.30pm | Outlook & Conclusion Closing with Lunch Buffet |
The Future Lab will consist of six thematic circles. Each group will be supported by an interdisciplinary team of two experts - the theme sponsors. The theme sponsors are supported by so-called "pilots" in documenting the discussions and evaluating them afterwards:
| Title | Key Questions | Theme Sponsors & Pilots | |
| 1 | The Role of Science in Society - the Role of Society in Science |
Which roles are assigned to science by society, politics and the media? Which roles can or will science (not) fulfil? How do different disciplines deal with society? What is the responsibility of scientists? How can the understanding of certain findings within science (keyword: clearing house mechanisms) be improved or made transparent? |
Theme Sponsors: Pilot: |
| 2 | Cognitive and Social Foundations of Skepticism and Trust | What creates trust or mistrust? Under what conditions do they interrelate? What shifts are emerging? Isn't skepticism also a necessary mode of research and opinion-forming? |
Theme Sponsors: Pilot: |
| 3 | Opportunities and Risks of Science Communication | When does communication between science and society succeed? What irritations are there and why? How can they be counteracted? How can participation and co-creation be made possible without verbal abuse? |
Theme Sponsors: Pilot: |
| 4 |
Example 1: |
How are scientific findings on this topic with their uncertainties conveyed? Why are some of these findings being challenged by individual social actors? What role does the evidence problem play? How do corresponding counter-publics work? |
Theme Sponsors: Pilot: |
| 5 |
Example 2: |
What can science contribute to a better understanding of migration and its causes and consequences? How to deal with prejudiced or irrational attitudes towards migration? What role do science-based narratives play in migration? What can integration research contribute on both sides to integration efforts and successes? |
Theme Sponsors: Pilot: |
| 6 |
Example 3: |
How are scientific findings on this topic with their uncertainties conveyed? What role do science, media and marketing play? What influence does mass media scandalisation have? What about the relationship and interests of research, industry and consumer organisations? |
Theme Sponsors: Pilot: |
The Future Lab will employ the “World Café” model, designed for large group discussions. Depending on their interests, the participants will join one of the various thematic circles, where discussions will take place in a relaxed “coffee-house atmosphere”.
The discussions will be supported and structured by interdisciplinary teams of moderators. In this particular Future Lab, the moderators will not be obliged to be neutral. As sponsors of the topic, they will engage actively in debates with the participants.
In addition to the respective topic-specific questions, three cross-sectional questions are intended to be dealt with in all six thematic circles:
- Which topics and questions in the context of the Future Lab should TUD deal with more intensively in future social discourse?
- Which topics or questions might be exchanged with the public, and in which formats?
- At TUD and other scientific institutions in Dresden and beyond, what is likely to trigger general tendencies of scepticism about science and how can these be counteracted?
After approx. 40 minutes, the participants will move on to a new thematic circle.
The Future Lab will consist of two World Café rounds. The results will subsequently be evaluated and summarised. In addition, with a view to follow-up events in the 2019/20 winter semester, a decision will be made as to who will be in charge of which topics and who will continue to participate in which topics.
Future Labs in the shape of “World Cafés” have proven themselves at TU Dresden (Future Labs 2018) as a format for the exchange of ideas and experiences within the framework of the Excellence Strategy.
The Future Lab "FAKE SCIENCE?!" is funded by the Excellence Initiative of the German Federal and State Governments.