Are you a researcher working on planetary health or engaging in science communication? Do you have something to say about food or food systems and how they relate to climate change, environmental protection, and human health? Then the Munich Science Communication Lab (MSCL) is your place to be. On March 28th, we will hold an in-person workshop in Munich where experts, practitioners, and researchers from science communication and planetary health will come together to develop ideas and form teams. The MSCL will help you develop new ideas for communicating planetary health by funding and supporting your project (= experiment) through our experience and network.
Join our workshop or apply directly for an experiment at the MSCL.
FAQs
Workshop:
- What is going to happen during the workshop?
In the workshop, you will explore innovative ways of communicating about the interaction between human health and the planet’s health with a specific focus on food and food systems. You will meet many people you can form teams with and discuss and develop new ideas on how to communicate planetary health.
- What is necessary to apply for the workshop?
You need to fill out this form until March 10, 2022, and tell us your motivation, expertise, and ideas at their current stage. Don’t worry if you can’t fill in all the fields yet – we are looking for a diverse group. You can also apply as a team.
- When and where will the workshop take place?
The workshop will take place on March 28, 2022, at the University of Munich. It will be an in-person event starting at 3:30 PM local time. **
- Who can apply for the workshop?
Anyone who has a good idea or is interested and motivated to develop an idea related to planetary health communication is welcome to apply for the workshop. It will be a bilingual workshop with input welcomed in English and German. You can already come as a team or as an individual.
- What if I have a good idea, but I cannot join the workshop?
To apply for an experiment, it is not necessary to join the workshop. You can also directly apply for a funded experiment. **
- How much does it cost to join the workshop?
The workshop is entirely free. However, travel expenses are not covered.
- Is there a way to participate in the workshop virtually?
There isn’t a virtual workshop planned yet – the workshop on March 28th is a presence workshop held in Munich. If there is enough interest for a virtual brainstorm session, we will plan one shortly after. Please let us know if you can only meet virtually. Don’t forget that if you have a team and want to be in the process, you don’t have to participate in the workshop to propose an experiment. It is not a pre-requisite.
- Will only people at the workshop be able to apply for an experiment?
We have two applications – one for attending the workshop and another for the experiment, which can be applied independently.
Experiments:
- What is meant by an “experiment”?
An experiment can be a media product (e.g. a social media post, a radio show), an event, an exhibit, an installation, or any other communicating activity related to planetary health. **
- When and where does the experiment need to take place?
You are entirely free in choosing the location. However, the period in which the experiment must take place is between April and August. **
- How can the MSCL help me?
The MSCL can assist you in conducting the experiment. We have many social scientists and experts in the lab who can help you with questions and support you at any stage of your experiment.
- Are the experiments funded?
Yes, the experiments are funded with a grant of up to €8,000 in direct costs per team.
- What are the general requirements for an experiment?
First of all, you do not need to worry if you cannot fulfill all the requirements. We will help you and guide you through the different points. In the end, …
… the experiments should address at least one of the following issues: (1) Framing planetary health, (2) communicating wicked problems, (3) the Mutual Benefit Model of Science Communication. If you want to dig deeper into the topics, look into our call sheet.
… the content has to come from the field of planetary health with a particular focus on food and food systems. The experiments must be based on scientific facts backed by appropriate scientific experts.
… the experiments’ messages, message design, and communication tools must be theory- and evidence-based. That is why we will put a lot of effort into building teams with the appropriate knowledge.
… you should co-create the experiments with its desired stakeholders and have clear, measurable goals and outcomes. The co-creation process and the evaluation are part of the experiment. Data collection must be done scientifically and ethically.
… the experiment ideally includes some variation to evaluate different groups.
… the created knowledge should help to inform future research on the science communication areas described below. This also includes publishing the results of the evaluation. **
- How do I apply for an experiment?
You must write a four-page proposal and hand it in until April 15, 2022, via mail: info@mscl.de. In the proposal, you need to (1) describe your experiment (including an evaluation plan), (2) justify how you are going to meet our requirements, and (3) plan the monetary and non-monetary resources needed: What do you bring to the table, where do you need the MSCL and its network?
- I have more than one idea. Can I apply for more than one experiment?
Yes, you can apply for more than one experiment. **
- I have only a little idea about how social sciences work. Can I still apply for an experiment?
Yes, you can. We will help you find a team partner and, besides that, assist you at every step of the process.
- What happens after my experiment takes place?
Using social science methods (text/image analysis, participant interviews, observations, experimental designs), we will analyze your experiment and link it to other empirical findings from the research. Together, we will develop a timeline to coordinate the experiment, the study, and the evaluation.
- Can these experiments take place in 2023?
We wouldn’t exclude this possibility, but it is advantageous if they can produce results this year. This way, we can go into the next round with the knowledge of the first round. The experiments shouldn’t be too extensive.
- Is it possible to plan an experiment outside of Munich/Germany?
Yes, we welcome experiments taking place in other regions as well.
- Are you offering support regarding the methodology and practices of data collection during and after the experiment?
Yes, we will try our best and we will share our resources. We do want every team to include an aspect of science communication research.
- Regarding co-creation, where does co-creation take place if one comes to you with a topic or/and an idea? In the experiment with possible audiences? Or in the workshop/work with you?
Ideally, it takes place in both cases.
- How do you see the cooperation/application of research institutions that are well funded themselves and/or have their own funds for outreach projects?
There is no problem there. Maybe you have an idea of what you want to implement with us and you don’t need funding, but you would like the space for reflection and the network.
- How many experiments do you plan altogether?
It will depend on the scope of the experiments. If some require a lot of resources, we will plan less. If they are smaller, we will plan more.
- Is it possible that one part of the experiment could feed into a master thesis at another University?
There should be no problem. However, there might be an issue with the thesis advisor if they have other ideas in mind and want the student to concentrate on other aspects.