SCIENCE YEAR 2022 – A YEAR TO ASK QUESTIONS AND THINK AHEAD
Whether it be the increasing importance of algorithms in our everyday and working life, the impact of our lifestyle on the global climate or the question of how to feed the growing global population – our society is facing enormous challenges in the early 21st century. The insights generated by science and research have a profound impact on all areas of our lives. It is therefore crucial that we all address the momentum created by science and research, ask questions and contribute our own perspectives and knowledge to achieve more together.
But what really matters to us? What do we want to achieve as individuals and a society? And how can we pursue these goals? Science and research are undergoing a change and making every effort to engage in a dialogue with society. This creates new and other questions regarding topics such as reputation and relevance.This is where Science Year 2022 – Participate! came in. We invited you, fellow citizens, to enter into an open dialogue with scientists and researchers as equal partners. This Science Year was all about questions citizens had for the scientific community. Whether it was specific, everyday or visionary issues, ideas and questions – the many facets of their thoughts shaped the Science Year 2022. The aim was for citizens to experience research processes hands-on and for scientists to develop new ideas for research projects.
A key part of the Science Year 2022 was the “IdeenLauf” (in English: flow of ideas) which served to open up new cutting-edge fields for research and research policy. The “IdeenLauf”, the opportunity for citizens to ask their questions, run between 14 January and 15 April 2022.
After that, the questions were consolidated, complemented by additional texts to provide relevant context and discussed among scientists and selected citizens. A final report, which will provide the basis for an innovative agenda for research and research policy in Germany, was presented to policy-makers and researchers in autumn 2022.
However, questions regarding all topics were also asked after the end of the “IdeenLauf”.
A wide range of formats were offered during Science Year 2022 – Participate! that invite citizens to ask questions. The aim was that science and society discuss questions and that citizens contribute their knowledge, experience and perspectives to the future orientation of research policy.
More information on the current Science Year at www.wissenschaftsjahr.de.
