The Rhine-Ruhr Centre for Science Communication Research is one of four centers for science communication research funded by the VW Foundation for an initial period of five years. In addition to Prof. Dr. David Kaldewey from the Department of Science Research at FIW, the center includes Prof. Dr. Julika Griem from the Center for Advanced Study in the Humanities in Essen, Prof. Dr. Oliver Ruf from the Institute for Media Development and Analysis at Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences, and Prof. Holger Wormer from the Institute for Journalism at the Technical University of Dortmund.

For five years, the Rhine-Ruhr Centre will investigate from different perspectives the question of how knowledge about the science system and its actors, roles and values can be communicated. On the one hand, the interdisciplinary field of science research and, on the other hand, science communication in the social sciences and humanities will be investigated. Researchers will explore how the respective research cultures and epistemologies enrich the creation of socially relevant knowledge and contextualize the research results of the natural sciences.

The aim is to develop new quality standards and formats to promote dialogue between science, journalism and the well-informed public. In close cooperation with the practice partners Science Media Center (SMS) and Wissenschaftspressekonferenz (WPK), the necessary infrastructure will be established to give the new approaches sustainable effectiveness nationally and internationally.

The newly established centers are also to receive permanent support from their home universities beyond the funding period.