Three Questions to Professor Holger Wormer on Good Science Communication

Professor Wormer, why is there a Mission Statement on Good Science Communication for TU Dortmund University?

Nowadays, all researchers are increasingly obliged to inform not only the scientific community but also a broad public about their research. This is not just a general expectation on the part of politics but also becoming a criterion more and more often for the approval of research funds. To a certain extent, this requirement is understandable because research is predominantly financed from public funds and society should partake in the advancement of knowledge, not least in order to be able to make qualified decisions based on scientific findings. For this to succeed, certain criteria must be met – we have formulated these for TU Dortmund University in our Mission Statement on Good Science Communication.

What, then, is “good” science communication?

Good science communication must primarily fulfil two criteria: It must be both science-oriented and audience-specific. This means that scientific quality standards must not be violated in communication with the general public either. You must name uncertainties or contradictions, and perhaps even the research group with which you are competing. Here, TU Dortmund University was already pioneering when it anchored this in its Rules of Good Scientific Practice back in 2019. To communicate in a way that is understandable for the audience, you are allowed to simplify, but you must not exaggerate. You should also ask: What is the audience interested in? Topics such as the climate crisis, school research or migration usually require greater involvement in the public debate than more theoretical fields.

What misunderstandings are there in science communication?

The point is not simply that everyone should somehow communicate more. Science communication must be voluntary, not a further obligation – the German Science and Humanities Council has also issued a statement emphasizing this. However, anyone wanting to communicate their research should ask themselves which target group is interested in which topics and how to reach it. It must be about the topic in hand and not about marketing yourself. Someone who updates the audience on the state of research can achieve more in the public debate than by announcing at symposia what prestige projects or prizes they have recently acquired. Although, as is known, many media companies have financial problems, an interview for a newspaper or on television generally still has far more outreach than posting on a moderately popular social media account. However, anyone stepping into the public eye must also be able to withstand criticism – that lies in the nature of debate.

More Information on Good Science Communication

About the Mission Statement

The Rectorate of TU Dortmund University adopted the Mission Statement on Good Science Communication at the end of 2022. It was developed by the Chair of Science Journalism in cooperation with the Office of University Communications. It is based on various papers on science communication formulated in the past, including ones by the German Science and Humanities Council, the academies of science in Germany and the Bundesverband Hochschulkommunikation (German Association for University Communication). Within the “Media Doctor” project, the Chair of Science Journalism has already developed and tested quality standards for journalistic reporting, but also for press releases on health, the environment and nutrition.

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