PROGRAM

The program for WISSENSWERTE and the European Conference of Science Journalism (ECSJ) 2026 will be available here soon.

HOW THE WISSENSWERTE PROGRAM IS CREATED

The WISSENSWERTE program is planned in cooperation between the Chair of Science Journalism at TU Dortmund and the Science Press Conference (WPK): Program planner Holger Hettwer from the WPK collects topic ideas throughout the winter – also in dialogue with the science journalism associations WPK and VMWJ. For example, in January/February there are regional WPK get-togethers where ideas for the conference are discussed. (Incidentally, this is the best time to submit your own topic suggestions – you are also welcome to contact the program planner directly.)

By March/April, a list of topics around 15 pages long has been compiled, which the WISSENSWERTE program advisory board discusses in detail and prioritizes at its annual meeting. The program advisory board is made up mainly of experienced staff and freelance science journalists from all media sectors and science journalism departments, but also includes communicators from research institutions, foundations, and companies that are involved in sponsoring the conference. The final decision on the topics is made by the program planners.

This complex process guarantees maximum independence in program planning. At the same time, our diverse contacts in various target groups ensure that program planning remains closely linked to current challenges and developments that are essential to science journalism.

We are convinced that both intensive content preparation and continuous professional observation of science journalism are central prerequisites for being able to make high-quality program proposals that reflect in depth and breadth what the WISSENSWERTE target groups expect from this industry platform, which is unique in Europe. Since its premiere in 2004, the program office has attracted well over 1,000 speakers from all over the world to WISSENSWERTE – a unique international network dedicated to science journalism.

PROGRAM ADVISORY BOARD

  • Karin Bauer-Leppin (FU Berlin)
  • Dr. Thomas Bleich (ZDF/VMWJ)
  • Holger Dambeck (SPIEGEL ONLINE)
  • Isa Fünfhausen (Klaus Tschira Stiftung)
  • Dr. Veronika Hackenbroch (SPIEGEL)
  • Christoph Herbort-von Loeper (Leibniz-Gemeinschaft)
  • Dr. Rolf Hömke (vfa)
  • Julia von Hummel (MC Services)
  • Daniele Jörg (WDR Quarks)
  • Holger Kapp (BASF)
  • Christoph Koch (stern)
  • Nicola Kuhrt (WPK)
  • Prof. Dr. Annette Leßmöllmann (KIT)
  • Dr. Daniel Lingenhöhl (Spektrum)
  • Vanessa Marquardt (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
  • Dr. Irene Meichsner (Freie Journalistin)
  • Christina Merkel (Nürnberger Zeitung)
  • Jens Rehländer (VolkswagenStiftung)
  • Christina Sartori (Freie Journalistin)
  • Stefan Schmitt (ZEIT)
  • Volker Stollorz (SMC)
  • Andreas Schütz (DLR)
  • Prof. Holger Wormer (TU Dortmund)

PROGRAM PLANNING & CONTACT

WPK – Die Wissenschaftsjournalisten
Wissenschaftspressekonferenz e.V.
Iris Proff | Freelance journalist
Holger Hettwer | Managing Director
Rosenstr. 42-44, 50678 Köln
T 0221 / 33 77 17-11 M 0160 / 70 950 51
holger.hettwer@wpk.org

PROGRAM OVERVIEW 2025