press releases
2020
- 2023-03-28 Linking Research and Practice read article
German Federal Ministry of Education and Research Grants €7.5 Million to Collaborative Project Advancing Digital-Supported MINT (STEM) Education.
- 2022-12-13 Opposition to Wind Farms: Study Shows Negative Influence of Belief in Conspiracy Theories read article
To reduce CO2 emissions and meet the Paris climate targets, the German government has set ambitious goals to expand wind energy. However, installing new windmills often fails due to the resistance of the local population. Researchers at the Leibniz Institut für Wissensmedien (IWM) in Tübingen have now shown that belief in conspiracy theories plays a decisive role in the opposition to wind turbines. In addition, they have determined when the provision of information helps reduce opposition and when it remains ineffective.
- 2022-11-22 University of Tübingen Founds Research Center for Science Communication read article
Professor Olaf Kramer from the Department of General Rhetoric heads the center, which will also involve the public
- 2022-09-07 Video Conferences: Networking Skills Are Key read article
A study conducted by the Tübingen-based Leibniz Institut für Wissensmedien (IWM) analysed how the individual behaviour of participants attending online video conferences with strangers affects the success of the meeting. The results suggest that good networking skills and low levels of social anxiety can mitigate the potential disadvantages of prolonged remote collaboration. Companies should therefore consciously promote interaction.
- 2022-09-06 New Center for Digital Education read article
University of Tübingen and partner institutions intensify their research on the use of digital media in the classroom.
- 2022-04-07 Digital Media in the Classroom: Quality over Quantity read article
The use of tablets can boost pupils’ willingness to learn – if their potential is maximised
- 2021-11-02 Pushing the Button: Study Reveals Importance of Pause Button for the Comprehension of Educational Videos read article
How do you calculate the oxygen content of water? How does the European Union work? These and many other questions are addressed in countless videos on various internet platforms, the most prominent of which is YouTube. But how do people actually use these educational videos? In the context of an interdisciplinary research project, scien-tists at the Leibniz Institut für Wissensmedien (IWM), the German Institute for Adult Edu-cation (DIE) and the TIB – Leibniz Information Centre for Science and Technology have now gained first insights into when and why users of online video platforms push the pause button.
- 2021-09-28 Polarization and Disinformation: IWM and University of Tübingen host international expert forum read article
From 4 to 6 October, an interdisciplinary symposium organised by the Leibniz-Institut für Wissensmedien (IWM) and the University of Tübingen will bring together renowned experts from all over the world to share their insights on topics such as opinion polarization, fake news mechanisms or conspiracy theories. The aim is not only to understand these phenomena, but also to develop practical solutions to the challenges they pose. The keynotes will be streamed live and are open to the public.
- 2021-08-05 Increasing Vaccination Intentions: Study Sheds Light on Potential Persuasive Power of the Social Environment read article
In view of declining vaccination numbers and increasing Covid-19 cases, politicians are urging the public to continue taking up vaccination offers. However, the number of daily administered first doses is currently declining because many people are still sceptical about immunisation. This also applies, among others, to people who are prone to conspiracy theories. Researchers at the Leibniz-Institut für Wissensmedien (IWM) in Tübingen have now discovered: even doubters are willing to get vaccinated – if their close social environment expects them to do so.
- 2021-06-11 Algorithms Aid Decision-Making During Pandemic: Public Generally Accepting of Computer Assistance read article
During the pandemic, many decisions with far-reaching consequences had to be made. Algorithms could have helped in making these. Researchers at the Leibniz-Institut für Wissensmedien (IWM) in Tübingen, Germany, have now discovered that citizens generally do not object to the use of algorithm-based advice by those in responsible positions as long as a human is the final decision-maker.
- 2020-11-26 Evaluation: Leibniz Association publishes outstanding report on the Leibniz-Institut für Wissensmedien (IWM) in Tübingen read article
In a statement released on November 24, the Leibniz Association Senate recommended that the German federal and Länder governments continue to support the institute for the next seven years. The recommendation is based on the assessment report written as part of a regular evaluation. The report attests to the IWM’s excellent strategic develop-ments and research achievements. The committee of independent academics was also impressed by the institution’s wide range of transfer activities. The expansions that have already been initiated and those planned for the future were expressly welcomed.
