Wissenschaft im Dialog (Science in Dialogue, WiD) is an initiative of the leading German research organizations. Since 1999, WiD has been fostering dialogue between the public and the science and research sector by staging discussion events, organizing exhibitions and hosting competitions. The National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina has been a partner of WiD since 2014.
In cooperation with WiD and the “Haus der Wissenschaft Braunschweig“ the Leopoldina has been staging discussion events as part of the “Wissenschaft kontrovers“ series since 2011. The series aims to promote dialogue on current scientific topics between representatives from science and the media and interested citizens. The topics are related to the respective themes of the Science Years, organized by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The Science Year 2015, for example, focused on the “City of the Future”, the theme for 2016/17 was “Seas and Oceans”.
The “Wissenschaft kontrovers“ series is funded by the BMBF and offers interactive discussion formats such as fishbowl discussions and night-time science cafés. In a fishbowl discussion, experts debate a topic in a circle in the middle of the room. Members of the public are invited to join the circle and directly take part in the discussion. At the night-time science cafés, experts kick the discussion off by presenting their points in keynote speeches. Participants may subsequently discuss the topic at their tables in a coffeehouse atmosphere, devise questions and suggestions and have them summarized in a general discussion at the end.
Podiumsdiskussion „Fisch auf dem Tisch - aber wie lange noch?” Leopoldina, 23 June 2017, 21 Uhr
Wissenschaftliches Nachtcafé „Ozean – Erde – Mensch: Der Einfluss des Klimawandels auf das Meer” Leopoldina, 1 July 2016
Wissenschaftliches Nachtcafé „Schöner Wohnen, gesünder leben? Wie gestalten wir unsere Zukunft in Halle?” Leopoldina, 3 July 2015
Wissenschaftliches Nachtcafé „Hilfe, mein Kühlschrank surft! Wie das „Internet der Dinge“ unser Leben verändert” Leopoldina, 4 July 2014
Fishbowl Discussion „Alt + krank = arm? Können wir unsere Gesundheit noch bezahlen?” Leopoldina, 25 October 2013
Fishbowl Discussion „Mehr Zeit, mehr Geld, mehr Betreuung. Wie gelingt Deutschland eine Zukunft mit Kindern?” Leopoldina, 5 July 2013
Fishbowl Discussion „Kommt der Blackout? Die Zukunft der Energieversorgung in Mitteldeutschland” Magdeburg, 19 December 2012
Fishbowl Discussion „Was darf die Wissenschaft? Forschung zwischen Freiheit und Verantwortung” Leopoldina, 6 July 2012
Fishbowl Discussion „Arbeiten in einem längeren Leben: Wie wir gesund und aktiv bleiben” Bremen, 25 October 2011
Fishbowl Discussion „Auf dem Weg zum Designerbaby? – Das Für und Wider der Präimplantationsdiagnostik” Leopoldina, 26 April 2011