The use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) opens up new opportunities for science communication – such as targeted outreach, automated text generation, or visual preparation of complex content. At the same time, AI presents communicators with new ethical, practical, and strategic challenges. So how can AI be used meaningfully and responsibly without endangering trust in science?
This question has been the focus of the taskforce “AI in Science Communication,” initiated by #FactoryWisskomm (Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space). Coordinated by Gesine Born (Bilderinstitut), Nicole Hillebrand (University of Freiburg), Ekkehard Felder (University of Heidelberg) and Matthias Begenat, Head of Science Communication at the Center for Advanced Internet Studies (CAIS), a comprehensive set of recommendations has now been published. It is aimed at communicators at research institutions and communication departments.
The document provides guidance structured around five key thematic areas:
- Potentials of AI for science communication
- Quality assurance and error prevention
- Responsibility and transparency
- Ethical aspects and social impacts
- Implementation in research organizations and communication units
Furthermore, overarching developmental perspectives are outlined on how science communication can strategically evolve amid digital transformations.
Interdisciplinary Expertise United
The recommendations were developed jointly by a broad group of experts from science, practice, and science communication. Contributors include:
- Dr. Matthias Begenat (Center for Advanced Internet Studies)
- Dr. Anne-Sophie Behm-Bahtat (Wissenschaft im Dialog)
- Gesine Born (Bilderinstitut)
- Prof. Dr. Ekkehard Felder (University of Heidelberg)
- Dr. Esther Greussing (Technical University of Braunschweig)
- Dr. Justus Henke (Institute for Higher Education Research Halle-Wittenberg)
- Nicole Hillebrand (University of Freiburg)
- Sandra Kirschbaum (CATALPA, FernUniversität in Hagen)
- Prof. Dr. Olaf Kramer (Eberhard Karls University Tübingen)
- Lucas Laux (Stifterverband | KI-Campus)
- Prof. Dr. Annette Leßmöllmann (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology)
- Iris Merget (German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence)
- Jun.-Prof. Dr. Benjamin Paaßen (University of Bielefeld)
- Prof. Dr. Senja Post (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology)
- Samantha Morgaine Prange (German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence)
- Prof. Dr. Ali Reza Samanpour (South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences)
- Kerstin Sellerberg (SICP – Software Innovation Campus Paderborn, University of Paderborn)
Download of Recommendations: https://www.bmbf.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/2025/FactoryWisskomm-TF-KI-Handlungsempfehlungen-Einsatz-KI-Wisskomm.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=3