Abstract:

In addition to research and teaching, the “third mission” of universities is becoming increasingly important, namely the transfer of scientific knowledge to the public. Traditionally, the mass media act as a filter that reports on small parts of a field’s scientific output. With the help of social media, such as podcasts, blogs, or short messaging services, some contemporary scientists are beginning to reach a wider audience directly. This panel will discuss how sociology compares with other disciplines when it comes to transferring its findings to the public. How do journalists decide which disciplines to refer to in their science reporting, especially when it comes to subjects that are investigated by several disciplines, for example education, labor, family, migration, or the environment? To what extent, and why, is sociology perceived in German quality media as subject matter for the “feuilleton” (i.e., the culture section) rather than the science section? How should scientific findings be communicated to arouse interest in the media and its consumers? How is the public perception and impact of science changing due to the trend towards unfiltered “open access” to research output? What challenges arise from the fact that scientific findings may contradict each other, meet scientific quality criteria to varying degrees, and increasingly compete with content generated by AI?