23 Earth Sciences for Society, Education in Earth Sciences and Geoheritage I

Tuesday, 6 September 2011
11:00 AM - 4:45 PM
A 119

"SCIENCE IN DIALOGUE", CENTER OF COMPETENCE FOR THE COMMUNICATION OF SCIENCE IN GERMANY

Paper number: 23-9
Program: Theme Sessions
Time: 2:40 PM – 2:55 PM

Authors

Abstract

"Science in Dialogue" (German: Wissenschaft im Dialog – WiD) was founded in 1999 by the leading German science organizations as an initiative of the Stifterverband (Association for Promotion) of German science. Endowment foundations joined in later as partners. Crucial support for Science in Dialog is provided by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. In the past 10 years "WiD" has developed many new formats for communication, for example, the "Summer of Science", a large science festival that takes place in a different city each year, organized in cooperation with the local colleges, research institutes, civic initiatives and companies.

The offerings include interactive exhibits, workshops, discussion forums and much more. The exhibition ship MS WISSENSCHAFT has been making cruises since 2002 with interactive exhibits on board. With a show thematically linked to the respective "Year of Science", the floating Science Center visits about around 30 cities nationwide. Many new dialogue formats are presented annually at the Science Communication forum. WiD also forms networks and passes on its ideas and experience to the supporting organizations as well as other establishments.