Who inspires the audience and jury with their research topic? Who manages to present their complex subject matter in an unadorned way? The LzO Prize for Science Communication calls for comprehensible expression. Sounds simple - but it's not.
Whether complex methods and correlations, formulae, models or technical terms: the language of science is understood in one's own "community", but the interested layperson is often left baffled. It is true that a culture of science communication has increasingly developed in recent years. Nevertheless, the public, politicians and industry continue to press for more transparency regarding the use of taxpayers' money - and want scientists to communicate their research results in a way that is generally understandable.
The Landessparkasse zu Oldenburg (LzO) took up the issue in 2010 and awarded the "groschen" for the first time: the LzO Prize for Science Communication. The prize has now been announced again: Young scientists from the Universities of Oldenburg and Vechta and the Jade University of Applied Sciences have until 15 April to submit their Master's thesis or dissertation. Junior professors can also take part with a research project. All theses must have been completed in 2010 or 2011. The prize is endowed with 10,000 euros. The LzO wants to motivate young scientists in the region. People who are not involved in science on a daily basis should literally "drop the penny".
The application procedure has two stages. Firstly, the young scientists must win over the jury in favour of their field of research. To do this, they submit a generally understandable presentation of their work of no more than three pages. The finalists will then be selected from all the submissions. They will take to the stage at an event on 12 July - and have exactly eight minutes to convince the jury and audience of their research topic. In addition to the main prize, an audience prize will also be awarded.
The jury, chaired by Martin Grapentin, Chairman of the LzO Executive Board, consists of: Prof Dr Babette Simon, President of the University of Oldenburg, Prof Dr Marianne Assenmacher, President of the University of Vechta, Dr Elmar Schreiber, President of Jade University, Dr Corinna Dahm-Brey, Head of Press and Communication at the University of Oldenburg, Jürgen Lehmann, Managing Director of the Oldenburg Employers' Association, Dr Joachim Peters, Managing Director of the Oldenburg Chamber of Industry and Commerce, and Rolf Seelheim, Editor-in-Chief of the Nordwest-Zeitung.
