Public Engagement

Public events allow our researchers to share their work and make science accessible to all. These interactions help build trust, foster a better understanding, while highlighting the relevance of science. Researchers also gain insights from the community, and address concerns and questions directly.

You can find iDiv researchers at events like the Long Night of the Sciences in Halle, Jena and Leipzig, the Leipzig Book Fair, the Silbersalz festival, Science Notes, Wissenschaftskino, and many more. We frequently announce events with iDiv participation on our news page and our social media channels (linked below).

Social media helps us engage with a broader audience and makes iDiv research more accessible and impactful.

We use platforms like X, LinkedIn, and YouTube to disseminate research findings, promote events, and connect with other researchers, policy makers, and the public.

Most people learn about new scientific findings through mass media (Online, TV, Radio, Newspapers). We inform media outlets of the latest research with press releases, and we engage directly with journalists, who cover biodiversity.

Over 1,500 reports about iDiv and iDiv research are published in international mass media outlets every year.

Clear communication is crucial for public understanding of science, but not all scientists have been trained on how to best communicate science.

iDiv’s Media and Communications team trains its scientists to communicate their research in plain language wherever they are: on social media, giving presentations or in conversation with the media. iDiv researchers are also supported with creating clear and engaging scientific illustrations.

iDiv researchers edited and wrote scientific papers tailored to children. These articles about soil biodiversity have been published in a special collection in the journal Frontiers for Young Minds.

Our scientists now coordinate the translations of these articles into over 20 languages.

iDiv welcomes school field trips and other civil-society groups, who are eager to learn about iDiv and our research.

Short tours through our building and laboratories, as well as presentations by our researchers and group discussions are always appreciated by our guests.