Seminar Trust in Science

Trust in science is a key element in ensuring that society understands complex problems. HHU is therefore offering its students a regular seminar on the topic of “Trust in Science – Understanding, Communicating, Strengthening” within the framework of the General Studies programme from the summer semester 2026. The project initiated by the Public Engagement Unit (“Bürgeruniversität”) is being funded by the Foundation Studium Universale of the Society of Friends and Sponsors of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf. 

At the heart of this interdisciplinary and practical seminar lies the question of how science communication can contribute to addressing and handling scientific findings in a considered way that promotes trust. With reference to topics such as climate change, vaccinations or genome editing, students learn how trust in scientific expertise evolves and how it can be undermined or strengthened in a targeted way. Building on this, they develop their own science communication contributions in the form of texts for the Bürgeruni Blog (German only) and an annual exhibition at the Haus der Universität (“University House”) within the framework of the Citizens’ University programme. This empowers them to prepare debates for an interested public in an easy to understand, differentiated and media-appropriate way. 

With this seminar, HHU is strengthening its strategic orientation as a Citizens’ University in the area of teaching. It is aimed at students from all faculties from the second year of their studies onwards. The seminar is run by Julia Mirkin, Research and Teaching Fellow at the Department of Philosophy, who is also a member of the teaching staff in the General Studies programme “Scientific Ethics in the Empirical Sciences”.