Wolfgang C. Goede
When the German Federal Republic was founded in 1949 it
became a democracy, from a formal point of view, but inside it remained very authoritarian
and, of course, so did the media. Science journalism were in the first place not journalists, but
scientists who did not make it in science so they got into writing. Their peers
remained academics and the public was sort of excluded. In East Germany science
and science writing were tightly controlled by the communist parties.
Furthermore, natural sciences were considered an outstanding productive power
and to top it off the whole communist ideology was embedded in science -- so
how could a science writer dare to criticize a scientist?
Professional science writing was
basically only born in 1980 when the Bosch foundation launched a ten year programm to sponsor and enhance science
writing. Bosch is producing electrical appliances and had a true self-interest
in making people more literate on technology. 150 students were trained by
sending them for six months into various media -- print, radio, television. Not
only students of natural sciences but also people like me who specialized in
sociology and political science participated of the programm. At the end of the
project a department for science communication was established at the
University of Berlin, the only one in Germany until today.
These days we experience a boom in
science communication in Germany. Although the media is stuck in a severe
crisis since the end of new economy and the traumatic events of September 11.
Why? Science can provide orientation and is something stable to hold on to.
National Geographic has been launched very successfully, right now „Technology
Review“ of Massachussetts Inst. of Technology (MIT) has come out in a German
version and, of course, there is a typical German creation, PM magazine /
Knowledge matters which I work for and which will celebrate its 25th
anniversary in October 2003. PM is published abroad under various names like
Focus in Italy, Ça m’interesse in France, or Muy Interesante in Spain and Latin
America. Altogether it reaches a circulation of over 2 million copies.
Apart from the print media there are
almost ten science programms on German television. For 30 years the „broadcast
with the mouse“ has been a hit which explains on Sunday mornings the world to
children. The credo of the inventor: At the beginning of any research I am
dumb. This attitude which I also comply with in my work makes you come up with
very basical explanations. Another very successful event has become the
children‘s university of Tübingen and major cities in the country. Once a week
professors are confronted with an auditorium full of elementary pupils and explain
what is life and why there are rich and poor people. Tough job, but excellent
training for scientists and science communicators.
Moreover, Germany hosted the first
national citizens‘ jury on gene diagnosis and technology. This method of
community participation orginates in Scandanavia. Out of 10 000 people 19 women
and men are selected who conduct a hearing with experts on technological and
scientific subjects and then make recommendations. Another approach to
disseminate science: Science centers which are flourishing throughout the
country. Very popular has become Bremen‘s Universum Science Center which tries
to integrate the visitors, provide fun and adventure, communication and
interaction and, above all, tries to address people on the emotional level.
In the year of chemistry there
have been exhibitions and events througout the country, among others a ship
with a chemistry show traveling on the Rhine which explains very practical
things like for example: If you spill red wine fight the spots with white wine
rather than salt. Very controversial has been the exhibition „Body World“. A
professor for anatomy Gunther von Hagens has specialized in a technique
applying plastic with the help of which dead human bodies are transformed into
transparent sculptures which show bones, muscles, nerves, blood vessels in a
very impressive way. A disgusting show as the church an the medical professions
claimed or a new method to ecucate
people about the wonder of their body? I went with my children and they found
it highly interesting and educating.
A noncontroversial and very
encouraging development: Multiple German science writing groups – about a dozen
different groups – move toward consolidation and strenghten their power. For
many years, science writers have seen themselves more as members of regional or
state organizations than as part of any national group. A new „Federation of
Science and Technology Journalists“ may be on the horizon. A recent conference
of journalists produced a blueprint for national consolidation and cooperation.
According to the press release issued after the meeting: „German science and
technology journalists need to build links between the more than ten different
organizations which now represent them in an effort to achieve more cooperation
along the model of the British and American associations. This is important
because the European Commission more
often recognizes science and technology
journalists in neighboring countries simply because they are better organized
than their German colleagues. In future, however, a strong German organization
could make its voice heard and participate in important matters, such as
establishment of a pan-European research news agency.“
Last not least a recent study
funded by the Bertelsmann Foundation found that the need for expanded science
reporting is on the rise in Germany. Over 60 per cent of journalists questioned in the study saw a growing public
interest in science topics, especially the „life sciences“. Topics such as
nutrition, health, medicine, genetics, and bio-technology will become central
themes and play an important role in
maintaining readership. Over 70 per cent of media executives thought
journalists needed further education in these areas of interest.
In response, the Bertelsmann
Foundation, BASF, and the Volkswagen Foundation have begun a joint 5-year-project to help journalists to
brush up on their science skills. In addition, scientists will also be trained
in how to deal with the media and to become journalists. A special mentoring
programm will offer training to selected scientists and offer a crash
course in writing as well as two work
placements in print, radio, online and televison. The mentee becomes part of a
tandem in which he is coached by an experienced journalist on the one side and
a scientist on the other side who provides access to themes and background
information. Thus the gap between science and public shall be bridged.
Above all, German science writers
must learn to do their own national research and not just rely on magazines
like „Nature“ and „Science“. An investigation of professor Winfried Göpfert,
university of Berlin shows, that prestigous daily newspapers like „Frankfurter
Allgemeine“ and „Süddeutsche Zeitung“ rely heavily in its science section on
foreign journals. Almost a half of the articles deal with medicine and refer to
Nature or Science. „Is that serious?“ asks Göpfert.
This article is based on a talk
given at the British Association for the
Advancement of Science, BA Festival of Science, University of Salford,
September 2003.
Wolfgang C. Goede holds a master‘s
degree in political and communication science. He engages in civil society
projects, community organizing, scientific citizenship and is co-founder of the
World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ)
Contact & more
info:
mailto:Goede.wolfgang@muc.guj.de