Communicating with scientific laypeople

online lecture by Frauke Zbikowski on 15 April 2025, 3 p.m.

Moderation: Eva Wille

"I dropped chemistry in high school" or "I never understood it." This is how many people react when you mention at a party or family gathering that you studied chemistry. Yet most chemists (and female chemists too, by the way) are convinced that their subject is incredibly exciting and important for humanity. How can the gap between the two sides—chemistry enthusiasts and non-chemists—be bridged? A search for clues from the perspective of someone who finds themselves caught between two stools.

 

• “General public” – Who am I dealing with?

   

  • What is meant by “scientific laypeople”?
  • Is there a “broad public”?
  • Why it is important to know your target audience

• “People, animals, sensations” – What do scientific laypeople find interesting?

   

  • The most popular articles in the science section
  • “What does this have to do with me?” – Perspectives of readers or listeners

• “How do I tell my child?” – A short digression about language

   

  • How to convey chemistry content
  • Comprehensibility
  • Entertainment

• What to do: A personal conclusion