Science to listen
The first episode of the joint podcast series of the 57 Clusters of Excellence in Germany: "Exzellent erklärt – Spitzenforschung für alle" has been published. The podcast on current scientific topics reflects the research diversity of the Clusters of Excellence: from A for Africa Studies to Z for Zukunft der Medizin. In each episode, listeners can expect insights into the interdisciplinary work of a research network. The scientists of the clusters of excellence talk to podcaster Larissa Vassilian about how they want to find scientifically sound answers to relevant topics of our time.
Ten science communicators from various clusters of excellence worked together for several months to develop the concept for the new podcast series. "We want to make cutting-edge research visible and tangible for everyone," explains Doreen Böttcher, responsible for public relations at the Cluster of Excellence "Centre for Tactile Internet with Human-in-the-Loop" (CeTI) at the Technische Universität Dresden (TUD) and a member of the project team for the new science podcast "Exzellent erklärt – Spitzenforschung für alle" The project team's common goal: to inform a broad public about the topics and working methods of the research it funds. With its 57 clusters of excellence, the German Research Foundation (DFG) funds outstanding fields of research at German universities and other scientific institutions. The federal and state governments together provide a total of 385 million euros annually for all clusters of excellence combined.
The first episode of the new podcast "Exzellent erklärt – Spitzenforschung für alle" is all about the tactile Internet with collaboration between humans and machines. "When I'm at home in my old age and have trouble getting up out of my chair - can't my pants get up with me?" asks Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dr. h.c. Frank H. P. Fitzek, spokesman for the CeTI Cluster of Excellence at the TUD in an interview. At CeTI, scientists from fields as diverse as electrical engineering, psychology, medicine, computer science and mechanical engineering are collaborating to explore a wide range of possibilities for the tactile Internet. Intelligent clothing is designed to help people stay independent as they age or to assist them in learning new skills, such as playing the piano, at a young age. In the near future, it should be possible to send not only images and sound but also touches via the Internet.
Further episodes of the podcast series, which is aimed at a broad public interested in science, have already been produced. Listeners can look forward to the exciting topic of educational equity from the ECONtribute cluster of excellence - in other words, the question of whether there are equal opportunities for all. In the third episode, everything will revolve around the research topic of Alzheimer's disease from the Cluster of Excellence SyNergy at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich. Every month, a new episode provides insight into the world of cutting-edge research. The podcast is available on all popular portals - such as Apple Podcasts as well as Spotify. The podcast website with show notes and further background information can be reached at www.exzellent-erklaert.de.