Podcasts have long been an essential part of science communication. But what makes a science podcast successful? How can content be effectively and sustainably shared with the public? And which topics are particularly well-suited to this medium? In this episode of CAISzeit, we explore how podcasts not only convey knowledge but also embed it into broader societal discourse.
Dr. Charmaine Voigt and Birte Kuhle from GESIS – Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences in Cologne provide insights into their research within the Wi4impact project, which examines the impact and dissemination of science podcasts from German universities and research institutions. They discuss the key strategies for podcast success – from social media and detailed show notes to active audience engagement. Along with host Dr. Matthias Begenat, they also explore how science podcasts have evolved over time and the role AI tools now play in podcasting.
Recommended Resources on the Topic
More about the Wi4impact project:
Studies:
- Derrick, G. E., Faria, R., Benneworth, P., Pedersen, D. B., & Sivertsen, G. (2018). Towards characterising negative impact: Introducing Grimpact. Proceedings of the 23rd International Conference on Science and Technology Indicators, 1199–1213. Read more
- MacKenzie, L. E. (2019). Science podcasts: Analysis of global production and output from 2004 to 2018. Royal Society Open Science, 6(1), 1–18. Read more
- Holland, T. A. (2024). Palaeo podcasting: A practice-led extended-mixed methods case study. Media International Australia, 1329878X241265824. Read more