The Humboldt Foundation's flagship project
Science & Media
Strategic consulting for the dialogue between science and journalism
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Since 2020, Ellery Studio has been co-designing the Communication Lab of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. Up to twice a year, international tandems of researchers and journalists develop innovative media projects on global themes. Ellery’s contribution: strategic process facilitation, digital event concepts, and co-creative workshop formats.
The Challenge
Communicating complexity in times of disinformation
The Communication Lab of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation responds to a central challenge of our time: how can science and the public communicate better with each other? In a world full of disinformation and growing complexity, new bridges between research and society are needed. ComLab creates exactly these connections by bringing internationally renowned researchers together with experienced journalists. Since 2020, up to twice a year, innovative media projects have emerged that make complex topics accessible and convey scientific excellence.
Outcome and Services
How co-creation between researchers and journalists succeeds
By combining participatory design with strategic communication, we create a framework where genuine co-creation happens. The results speak for themselves: from podcasts to interactive platforms to citizen science initiatives, media projects emerge that set new standards. Our modular concept of analog and digital workshop formats, informal spaces for encounter, and structured collaboration phases enables complex international cooperation.
1
Strategic event design
Development of a holistic concept for multi-day digital events with up to 40 international participants. Identifying and integrating various platforms and tools for optimal collaboration.
2
Co-creative workshop formats
Designing participatory formats that support tandems of researchers and journalists in joint project development using methods from design thinking, foresight, and Liberating Structures.
3
Visual identity and communication design
Development of a flexible key visual system that gives each ComLab edition its own thematic identity while strengthening the ComLab brand.
4
Digital experience worlds
Building and managing complex virtual environments with various spaces for interaction, from informal networking areas to workspaces designed for focused collaboration.
What the project achieves
Participants become ambassadors
ComLab creates lasting connections between two worlds that often talk past each other. Researchers gain a new understanding of how their work can be communicated in a socially relevant way, while journalists gain access to cutting-edge research and learn to present complex topics with expertise. The resulting media projects reach new audiences and contribute substantially to an informed public. At the same time, participants become ambassadors for ambitious science communication.
Tandem work as an innovation driver
Deliberately pairing researchers with journalists creates a unique dynamic. Scientists are often caught up in their specialist language, while media professionals know how to adapt complex content for different audiences. Through targeted facilitation, this tension becomes productive. Ellery creates structured spaces for this exchange and helps both sides recognize and combine their respective strengths. The result goes beyond pure science communication and classic journalism – new forms of knowledge transfer emerge.
