Research Projects

Scientists’ interactions with journalists and their views about public communication.
Surveys of scientists in China, Brazil and Israel (2012-2014)

Journalistic construction of scientific uncertainty in the reporting of neuroscience.
Case-studies of the creation of journalistic stories (2012-2013).
Grant by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG).

Media coverage of research as feedback to neuroscientists – medialization of science and its consequences for the governance of science.
Content analysis of media coverage and semi-structured interviews with neuroscientists in Germany and the USA.
Grant by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

Variations of the science-media interface between 16 different academic disciplines from the hard sciences, social sciences and humanities.
Surveys of scientists and journalists, analysis of media coverage and press releases, and semi-structured interviews with PR professionals.
Grant by Volkwagen Foundation.

Integration of biomedical research and expertise in the media and its use by decision-makers.
Survey of biomedical researchers in Germany, France, Great Britain, Japan and the USA, semi-structured interviews with PR professionals in Germany, France and Great Britain, hermeneutical media analysis of German newspapers, and semi-structured interviews with political/administrative decision-makers.
Grant by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

Cultural differences in public perception of food biotechnology between Germany and the USA.
Public opinion surveys in Germany and the US, and media reception studies in both countries.
Grant by Rutgers University/USDA.

Media representations of climate change in Germany – scientist-journalist interactions, media coverage and its reception by the audience.
Content analysis of media coverage of climate change, matching surveys of experts and journalists who interacted during the production of media stories, and an experimental analysis of “cognitive responses” of media users when reading newspaper articles about climate change.
Grant by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

Reception and effects of media coverage on genetic engineering in Germany.
Experimental media reception study analyzing “cognitive responses” of people reading newspaper articles or watching TV films about genetic engineering.
Grant by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

Interactions of scientific experts and journalists in risk reporting.
Content analysis of media articles about “risks”, a survey of scientific experts who were mentioned in these articles and a survey of journalists who had written the articles.
Grant by Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft.