Workshop 2025 - Communicating Science effectively

How can scientists communicate their scientific findings in such a way that they are considered in political decision-making processes and thus become effective?

This question was at the center of a two-day workshop by Helmholtz Energy – and impressively demonstrated how complex, but also how relevant, the exchange between research and politics is today.
 

Understand political decision-making processes, classify energy policy

At the beginning, workshop leader Tome Sandevski introduced the mechanisms of political decision-making processes. He explained how expertise flows into legislative processes, what communication channels are available for this, and what role energy policy plays in this framework. His central concern: scientific results only have an impact if researchers take into account the logic of political procedures. 

To understand this practically, the workshop participants worked on exercises in which they analysed different studies and statements – and thus got to know the methodology behind science policy processes in greater depth.
 

The Role of Think Tanks and Associations at the Interface between Science and Politics

How this exchange works in practice was demonstrated by the subsequent panel discussion 'Science Policy: Stakeholder Perspectives from Policy Advice.' Representatives from think tanks and associations – including Manuela Pieper (Verband der chemischen Industrie), Katharina Hartz (Agora Energiewende), Frederik Digulla (Stiftung Klimaneutralität) und Simon Vogelsang (Stiftung KlimaWirtschaft) – provided a rare glimpse behind the scenes of their work.

They described how they inform political decision-makers, which forms of communication are particularly effective, and what expectations political decision-makers have of scientific expertise. Together, they discussed at which point scientific findings can actually flow into the political process – and when and how they are most urgently needed there.
 

Political Practice at Helmholtz: From Background Talks to EU Committees

The second day put the political work of the Helmholtz Association itself in focus. In the panel on "Political Work in Helmholtz," Rutger Schlatmann (HZB), Katharina Sielemann (Helmholtz SynCom), Theresa Volkmer (Helmholtz Berlin Office), and Julia Hahn (KIT) described their experiences in the political environment. They reported on confidential background talks with members of parliament, parliamentary events in Brussels and Berlin, as well as their work in various scientific advisory boards. The role of the Office of Technology Assessment at the German Bundestag was also discussed. The central question for the workshop participants was: How can we contribute our own research results as precisely as possible – and where can we find support in doing so?

How politics ticks – directly from the institutions

A third panel finally brought the perspective of political decision-makers to the table. Simon Straub (Alliance 90/The Greens), Rodoula Tryfonidou (Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy), and Henrik Dornseifer (staff member of the German Bundestag) spoke openly about what political work looks like in everyday life and how scientific expertise plays a role in it.  
Among other things, they explained in which formats scientific knowledge is used, at what point in the political process expert information is most effective, and what requirements are placed on the presentation of scientific results.

Conclusion: Science needs political connectivity

The two days impressively demonstrated how great the interest in an effective exchange between science and politics is—and how much more impactful research can be when it understands political processes and responds to them strategically. For the scientists from Helmholtz Energy, the workshop not only provided fundamental knowledge and practical tools for effective communication, but also highlighted how central their commitment is to an energy policy that is guided by scientific findings.

Núria González & Andrea Meyn
Organizers of the workshop