Science and Communication
In a world full of complex challenges, social cohesion is at risk if we fail to convey the value of research and the process of knowledge acquisition. Our researchers are therefore personally engaged in numerous public outreach activities. At the Rhine-Ruhr Center for Science Communication Research as an example, they develop innovative strategies to effectively counter fake news and scientific skepticism. At the same time, we are training the next generations of science journalists at the Ruhr Innovation Lab – with the only program of its kind in Germany. In this way, we create the foundation for a trustworthy science communication in various ways. Together for an informed and connected future!
Public Voices
From groundbreaking research to public engagement: Personalities from Ruhr University Bochum and TU Dortmund University are making an impact across science and society. They discuss pressing topics as migration, loneliness, schools or climate change, sharing scientific insights with the media and public.
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Prof. Aladin El-Mafaalani is one of Germany's most prominent voices on migration and education. The sociologist from TU Dortmund University frequently presents his research findings on television and in panel discussions. His non-fiction books on integration, racism and education have appeared on bestseller lists. He was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit in recognition of his public work. -
Talking about loneliness is a taboo for many people. In her research, psychologist Maike Luhmann not only develops measures to combat loneliness, but also speaks publicly about it. She wants to break the stigma. The researcher is also a board member of the association “Vereint Bochum” (United Bochum), which campaigns against loneliness. -
Environmental economist Prof. Andreas Löschel from Ruhr University Bochum is a member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. He was a frequently heard voice in the media during the energy crisis and continues to provide his expertise on issues relating to climate and sustainability to the media. Löschel has repeatedly been ranked among the 50 most influential economists in Germany in the F.A.Z. economist ranking. -
Prof. Nele McElvany is the scientific director of the PIRLS/IGLU study in Germany, which assesses and compares the reading skills of elementary school children worldwide. The education researcher from TU Dortmund University shares her findings on the causes of reading deficits with the public and engages in dialogue with policymakers and educators to apply these findings to school practices. -
Prof. Christoph M. Schmidt from Ruhr University Bochum is former Chairman of the German Council of Economic Experts, President of the RWI – Leibniz Institute for Economic Research, and holds the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, First Class. -
Theoretical physicist Prof. Doris Reiter sent a quantum light source across Europe and reached more than a million people within a year through laboratory demonstrations, a podcast series, and digital platforms. The QuanTour format gave the public insights into the world of quantum physics and earned the professor from TU Dortmund University several international awards. -
Basic research is often difficult to access. However, biopsychologist Prof. Onur Güntürkün from Ruhr University Bochum proves that it is possible to fascinate the public with it. He was not only awarded the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize for his excellent research, but also received the Communicator Prize for communicating his brain research. -
Dr. Marcel Sebastian examines how our society treats animals. Why do we love and pet some animals while slaughtering and eating others? For his research, the sociologist from TU Dortmund University interviews slaughterhouse workers as well as veterinarians. He shares his expertise through various formats, including journals, documentary films, and his own nonfiction book. -
Prof. Ricarda Steinmayr's research focuses on the well-being of children and adolescents. The question of how happy or unhappy they are has become a topic of increasing public concern in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. The psychologist from TU Dortmund University is also involved in prevention efforts and develops training programs to strengthen students' social and emotional skills. -
Prof. Metin Tolan, experimental physicist at TU Dortmund University, is known for explaining complex physical principles through everyday phenomena. Through his books and lectures, which link physics to soccer and films such as James Bond and Titanic, he reaches a nationwide audience. In 2013, he received Germany’s prestigious Communicator Award for his innovative approach to science communication. -
In times of political crisis and emotional turmoil, objective analysis by experts is more important than ever. Prof. Pierre Thielbörger, Director of the Bochum Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict, regularly analyzes world political events in the media from a legal perspective, providing guidance on complex issues.
Trusted Advisors to Politics
Distinguished researchers from both universities are in high demand for their expertise, providing input to policymakers and authorities. They chair commissions for federal and state governments, sit on advisory boards or consult public institutions. Topics range from demography and racism to the economy and STEM education.
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Prof. Martina Brandt's research focuses on aging societies. The sociologist contributed to the German government's Ninth Aging Report (2025) and has chaired its commission since 2022. At TU Dortmund University, she studies demographic changes in Germany and Europe, using her findings to develop recommendations for policymakers. -
Prof. Martin Werding from the Chair of Social Policy and Public Finance at Ruhr University Bochum is a member of the German Council of Economic Experts, which advises the German government on economic policy. Werding is also a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Roman Herzog Institute, a think tank that deals with values, leadership, and the future. -
Prof. Susanne Prediger researches mathematics education and teaching methods. Since 2021, she has contributed her expertise to Germany’s Standing Scientific Commission on Education Policy (SWK), which advises the federal states on educational policy. The expert from TU Dortmund University provides evidence-based assessments of which measures are worthwhile for improving the quality of education in schools. -
Prof. Karim Fereidooni, social scientist at Ruhr University Bochum, is involved in several advisory boards, including the Franco-German Youth Office, and has advised various federal committees on the subject of racism in recent years. In 2021, he was awarded the Walter Jacobsen Prize by the German Association for Political Education. -
Prof. Gabriele Sadowski has been a member of the German Science and Humanities Council (WR) since 2022. This committee advises the federal and state governments on the development of science, research, and universities. Sadowski, a professor of thermodynamics at TU Dortmund University, is a highly decorated researcher. She was awarded the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize and is a PI in the RESOLV Cluster of Excellence. -
Prof. Frank Lobigs conducts research on media economics and the digital transformation of media at TU Dortmund University. He regularly shares his expertise as consultant with public broadcasting institutions in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. As an economist and communication scientist, he is also a sought-after contact for journalists and politicians, offering advice on journalistic platforms, the public value of digital media, and the economic impact of media policy. -
Dr. Beate von Miquel, Managing Director of the Marie Jahoda Center for International Gender Studies at Ruhr University Bochum, is Chairwoman of the German Women’s Council. She is a representative of Protestant women in Germany, one of 60 member organizations of the council. The Women’s Council is thus the largest women’s lobby in Germany and represents the interests of 12 million members. -
Prof. Silvia Schneider, Head of the Research and Treatment Center for Mental Health at Ruhr University Bochum, is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the German Youth Institute. The advisory board, comprising around 20 experts, supports the German Youth Institute’s research planning and makes recommendations on individual research projects. -
Prof. Annette Hafner from the Chair of Resource-Efficient Construction at Ruhr University Bochum is a member of the German government’s Scientific Advisory Board for Forest Policy. The board advises and supports the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture in shaping the framework conditions for sustainable forest management. -
Prof. Jens Pothmann heads the research network of TU Dortmund University and the German Youth Institute in Munich. The network's reports on topics such as daycare expansion and workforce shortages inform decisions, reform processes, and legislation at the federal, state, and local levels. For example, Prof. Pothmann worked on the empirical basis for evaluating the Federal Child Protection Act in 2015. -
Prof. Stefan Greiving is professor for regional development and risk management at TU Dortmund University. He collaborates with federal, state, and local authorities on research projects to develop climate adaptation strategies. Following the catastrophic flooding in the Ahr Valley in 2021, he provided scientific support for the reconstruction process.
Communication, Education, and Engagement
RRC Science Communication Research: Tackling Science Skepticism
Since 2021, the Rhine-Ruhr Center for Science Communication Research (RRC) has been paving new paths in science communication as one of four competence centers in Germany funded by the Volkswagen Foundation. Over its five-year program, this interdisciplinary initiative tackles critical challenges such as disinformation and science skepticism. Led by TU Dortmund University with partners from Essen and Bonn this project sets a benchmark for advancing trust and understanding in an era of increasing complexity.
Lectures on Climate Change: Uniting Disciplines for Sustainable Futures
TU Dortmund University and Ruhr University Bochum have established successful public lecture series addressing the urgent challenges of climate change. Dortmund’s Climate: Change, Values, Science” and Bochum’s “Climate Change, Sustainability, and Future Concepts” unite researchers from various fields to explore scientific insights, societal impacts, and possible solutions. Both programs are integral to each university’s sustainability certificate, highlighting academia's role in shaping responses to this global challenge.
Science Journalism: Informed Public Discourse
As the only study program of its kind in Germany, the Bachelor’s degree program in Science Journalism at TU Dortmund University has been training hundreds of students to effectively communicate and contextualize scientific knowledge since 2003. The graduates fulfill an essential role in promoting informed public discourse in the media. Through projects like the Media Doctor, the Chair of Science Journalism is transferring insights about quality criteria back into journalistic practice to enhance reporting on health, environment or AI.
Planetarium Astro-show Visualizing Research from the Ruhr Region
Plasma, particle, and astrophysics - abstract terms to many. However, the planetarium show “Our Exotic Universe” proves that the results of these research disciplines can be visually stunning. Launched in October 2025, the show will be presented in various cities in Germany and abroad. It was realized by the Bochum Planetarium in collaboration with the Collaborative Research Center “Cosmic Interacting Matter—From Source to Signal.” This consortium is embedded in the Ruhr Astroparticle & Plasma Physics Center (RAPP Center), in which scientists from the Ruhr region collaborate on an interdisciplinary basis.