The third edition of the Conference of the SILBERSALZ Science & Media Festival 2020 takes place from 17–18 October at the Leopoldina – National Academy of Sciences, in Halle (Saale), Germany.

This year, the Conference is designed as an interactive laboratory for media & science bringing together international scientists looking for new ways to communicate their research with the broader public and media professionals seeking new stories from the frontline of science and technology. We will tackle rebuilding public trust as a common challenge for both contemporary science and media and create a space for crucial interdisciplinary collaboration. New ways of coproduction could become key as societies face the double challenge of accelerating climate change and growing populism, even democratic backsliding.

With a program guided by science and media as the two faces of trust, we are delighted to already announce three outstanding scholars as headlining keynote speakers, who will explore the challenge of trust from their respective backgrounds:

Prof. Dr. Antje Boetius, an award-winning marine biologist, the Director of the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Center of Marine and Polar Research, Germany’s national polar research center, and head of the steering committee of Wissenschaft im Dialog ("Science in Dialogue"), an initiative of major German scientific associations.

Hossein Derakhshan, an Iranian-Canadian journalist, blogging pioneer, research fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Shorenstein Center, research associate at the MIT Media Lab, and co-author of landmark Council of Europe report Information Disorder.

Dr. Jürgen Renn, a leading science historian, the director of the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, co-initiator of the Berlin Declaration on Open Access to Knowledge in the Sciences, and author of The Evolution of Knowledge: Rethinking Science for the Anthropocene.

In light of the current unprecedented situation, the conference will harness the insights of these and other experts joining the program, inviting reflection, analysis and case studies of science communication and the broader role of the media in the wake of COVID-19. It seems that now more than ever, we need constructive dialogue around trust in science and media.

As in last year’s edition, the SILBERSALZ Science and Media Pitch additionally creates a platform for international scientists and media professionals to present their latest science projects to an international audience of investors, foundations, media experts and science institutions. This pitching forum is currently open to submissions from scientists, science journalists and media professionals looking to develop their science projects and concepts into specialist factual content and interactive experiences. More information on the Call for Science Projects is available at: http://www.silbersalz-festival.com/en/call-for-science-projects. The new extended deadline for submissions is: 14 August 2020.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Be inspired by standout keynotes and engage in enlightening interactive formats.
• Discover new projects: our science & media pitch is a unique opportunity to hear about the latest concepts, research, discoveries and science projects in development – for commissioning, coproduction or distribution on all platforms. The Call for Science Projects is still open. Apply with your project by 14 August 2020!
• Share your feedback and know-how with the pitching teams in roundtable discussions following the pitching. More info on how to sign up will follow in May.
• Expand your network: A chance make new connections in the scientific world, as well as with foundations and creators from all fields – to meet, exchange and kickstart future collaborations while catching up with your peers.
• Become part of a sustainable community dedicated to advancing dialogue between science, media and the public.