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Science Talks: Science and democracy in times of fake news & co.

22 Dec 2022

The sixth of our Science Talks is titled “Science and Democracy: Conspiracy Narratives and Social Division".

After three years of the pandemic, accompanied and fueled by authoritarian political developments, social division driven by populism, fake news, and conspiracy narratives is sometimes seen as the foremost threat to democracy.

In this situation, scientists can put forward analyses and explanations. But increasingly they also have to defend themselves against public attacks. How, then, should researchers position themselves in public? And could academic study of such attacks offer valuable insights?

These questions will be discussed by our panelists on 10 January 2023 as part of LMU’s “Science Talks” series.

Panel discussion

“Science and Democracy: Conspiracy Narratives and Social Division”

Tuesday, 10 January 2023

7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

at the Great Aula, LMU main building and as a livestream. Registration is not required to attend the event in person.

Register for livestream

Further information on the Science Talks

Contact: ringvorlesung@lmu.de

The Science Talks are being held in German. A recording with English subtitles will be published on YouTube a week after the event date.

Panelists

Prof. Carsten Reinemann | © LMU

Professor Carsten Reinemann

“Does science need democracy? That depends on what kind of science we’re talking about. Science can deliver outstanding achievements even in authoritarian and dictatorial regimes. But free, autonomous, richly varied science with a lively culture of contradiction and debate – that requires open democratic societies.”

Carsten Reinemann, Professor of Political Communication at LMU Munich.

Professorin Ursula Münch. | © Jan Roeder foto@janroeder.de

Professor Ursula Münch

“Does science need democracy? Clearly yes. Science is based on the willingness and ability to verify its results and correct them accordingly. This requires freedom above all else. And this exists only in pluralist democracies, never in autocracies.”

Ursula Münch, Professor of Political Science at Universität der Bundeswehr München (University of the Federal Armed Forces in Munich) and Director of the Academy for Political Education in Tutzing.

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