The afternoon featured a trio of keynote speakers. Prof. Tobias Rohrbach opened the session with a look into his research on conspiracy theories during the COVID-19 pandemic and how journalistic approaches can shape public perceptions. Dr. Alina Zumbrunn followed with a presentation on public attitudes influenced by affective polarisation, examining how views on vaccination intersect with broader societal and political issues such as immigration, climate change and gender-sensitive language. Dr. Philipp Markolin concluded the keynotes with a thought-provoking exploration of the rise of anti-science ecosystem that prioritise emotional narratives and conspiracy myths over evidence-based information.
The final session focussed on “Bridging the divide: Science communication in a polarised world”. MCID co-chairs Prof. Carmen Faso and Prof. Volker Thiel moderated a panel discussion consisting of Theres Lüthi (independent science journalist), Philipp Markolin (Science Writer), Tobias Rohrbach (Assistant Professor, Dept. of Communication and Media Research, University of Fribourg) and Alina Zumbrunn (Scientific Collaborator, Institute of Political Science, University of Bern). The panel tackled a range of timely questions: how much fake news can, or should society tolerate? How has the role of journalists evolved during the pandemic? Should all scientists be expected to engage publicly and make themselves more visible?
The discussion concluded with a shared understanding that while scientists should not stay hidden in ivory towers, not all are naturally suited for media engagement. The panel emphasized the need to explore new communication strategies to reach audiences and stakeholders traditionally beyond the scientific community’s reach.
The day wrapped up with an apéro—another welcome opportunity for discussion and networking. We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who contributed presentations, posters, and insights throughout the sessions. Your engagement made this year’s event a tremendous success!
