Helmholtz Munich Joins AHA – The Science Communication Hub
AHA – The Science Communication Hub, a Bavaria-wide initiative has been launched to unite science communication activities for greater impact and make scientific knowledge more accessible to the public. As a co-founding member, Helmholtz Munich is part of the Hub, which – together with leading research institutions in Munich – aims to increase the visibility, relevance, and impact of science for diverse audiences.
A Collaborative Network for Science Communication
The Hub is a joint effort from Munich’s leading universities, research institutes, museums, and communication experts to consolidate existing efforts, develop new formats, and foster interdisciplinary cooperation. It is coordinated by a central office at the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities and financed through the Bavarian state budget.
“Munich has the opportunity to become the capital of science communication,” says Prof. Matthias Tschöp, CEO of Helmholtz Munich. “There is enormous potential in closer networking between the two universities of excellence and the top research institutions.”
Key Objectives of the AHA Hub
The AHA Hub is built on a shared commitment to:
- Highlight the importance of research and innovation for societal change and economic progress
- Promote public participation in science as a pillar of democratic engagement
- Foster trust in science through transparent and inclusive communication
- Strengthen science education and support the next generation of researchers
- Create dialogue-oriented formats that bridge science and society
- Raise awareness of scientific foresight, risks, and resilience
In addition, the initiative seeks to network existing actors in science communication, leverage synergies, pursue joint funding opportunities, and raise the international profile of Bavaria as a hub for science and innovation.
Alongside Helmholtz Munich, founding members of the Hub include acatech – National Academy of Science and Engineering, the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Deutsches Museum, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Hochschule München (University of Applied Sciences), Max Planck Society, Munich Science Communication Lab, Bavarian State Collections of Natural History (Staatliche Naturwissenschaftliche Sammlungen Bayerns, SNSB), Technical University of Munich, and University of the Bundeswehr Munich.
First Public Event: AHA Wirtshaus-Wissen
The Hub’s first public event, AHA Wirtshaus-Wissen, will take place on May 18 at 4 PM at the Hofbräukeller in Munich. Well-known TV presenter Willi Weitzel (Willi wills wissen) will guide children, families, and interested guests on an educational journey into the world of forests.
Admission is free, and registration is available here: AHA Wirtshaus-Wissen mit Willi Weitzel
More about AHA - The Science Communication Hub: About us - AHA | Science Communication in Bavaria
