Science Communication as a Field of Work

Are you wondering what comes next after your postdoc? Our lunch talk series Career Perspectives: Beyond the Postdoc offers insights into diverse career opportunities beyond postdoctoral research.

In our next session, we are pleased to welcome Dr. Patrick Honecker, Chief Communication Officer at the extended Executive Board of the TU Darmstadt. He introduces participants to science communication not just as a skill, but as a diverse field of professional practice. 

Science communication is more than simply explaining research results – it is an evolving professional field at the intersection of science, society, media, and policy. As the public’s demand for reliable scientific information grows and institutions increasingly recognize the value of strategic outreach, opportunities in science communication are expanding across academia, research organisations, NGOs, and industry.

Join the lunch talk to discuss a broad range of topics with our guest, e.g.:

• What science communication is – its goals, methods, and impact in bridging science and society,
• core professional domains within science communication, from institutional outreach and media relations to engagement strategy, digital content, and public dialogue,
• career trajectories and opportunities – roles within universities and research organisations,
• challenges and emerging trends in the field, including the interplay between academic research and public engagement, and the evolving expectations for researchers to communicate beyond traditional scholarly audiences.

Speaker:

Dr. Patrick Honecker

Dr. Patrick Honecker is as Chief Communication Office member of the TU Darmstadt extended executive board. In this role, he is responsible for strategic science communication and brand management. Previously, the trained journalist and science manager built up the communication and marketing division at the University of Cologne and headed a department at the Federal – Federal States Commission for Educational Planning and Research Funding.

Patrick Honecker is a fellow of Donors’ Association for the Promotion of Sciences and Humanities in Germany, a winner of the German Rectors’ Conference’s Higher Education Communication Award and a board member of the Center for Science & Research Management. He occasionally works as a reviewer for the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the Volkswagen Foundation.

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