Responsive Science Communication II

Science thrives on exchange – not only within the research community, but also with society at large. That is why we are committed to responsive science communication: we do not merely share knowledge, but engage with the public in dialogue about it.

Through our formats from podcasts and social media to exhibitions we create spaces for encounter, discussion and shared reflection. Our aim is twofold: to make science understandable and accessible, and to incorporate the societal questions, perspectives and ideas into our research. This fosters a vibrant exchange between the academic world and the public.

In the current second phase of the sub-project, we are deepening this approach: we are specifically creating spaces for dialogue between different forms of knowledge – whether in educational work, in collaborations with the arts and culture, or in new dialogue formats. These spaces of resonance are not only platforms for communication, but above all places for interaction and for mutual learning.

Our Formats

Podcast Sone & Solche

Once a month, researchers from our Collaborative Research Centre come together on our podcast – with different areas of specialisation, but shared questions. Hosted by Friederike Brinker and Tamara Vitzthum, this fosters interdisciplinary discussions and offers lively insights into the day-to-day reality of academic research, exploring the question: Why and how do people differ?

It shows that ‘this sort and that sort’ (which is the translation of our podcast’s title „Sone & Solche) are not only found in the many fields in which we conduct research. There is also diversity in perspectives, methods and experiences within the Collaborative Research Centre itself. Whether it’s discussions on methodology, personal research experiences or unexpected parallels: here, science becomes audible and tangible.

All episodes of Sone & Solche are available via our university library, our blog or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Social media and newsletter

We regularly post the latest updates from our research on Instagram and Bluesky. Our newsletter is published every one to two months. You can subscribe here:

Verlinkung Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/humandifferenzierung/

Verlinkung Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/sortingpeople.bsky.social

Verlinkung Newsletter: https://humandifferenzierung.uni-mainz.de/newsletter

Spaces of resonance: dialogue and mediation between forms of knowledge and the public

In the second funding phase, we are expanding our science communication activities to include two new areas of focus:

1. Educational outreach
 Through our educational outreach work, we engage with target groups of diverse ages and generations, sharing scientific findings whilst also incorporating the perspectives and experiences of our dialogue partners into our research. The aim is a mutual learning process that goes beyond traditional knowledge transfer. To this end, we are further developing a workshop concept for secondary school pupils and learners at adult education centres in collaboration with experts from educational institutions.

2. Collaborations with the arts and culture
 Together with regional cultural institutions and international artists, we develop formats that bring academic topics to life through artistic expression. These artistic approaches complement academic discourse and offer new perspectives on the SFB’s research.

Are you interested in collaborating with us? We look forward to hearing from you at: