Exzellent gefragt!

Ask researchers all the questions you can think of: What exactly is swarm intelligence? How do politicians make decisions, and how do animal swarms? Can the use of AI in the workplace succeed? On July 18, 2024, scientists from the two Konstanz Clusters of Excellence will answer your questions.

Have you ever experienced this: You read an article in the newspaper about a new study, the news refers to “scientifically proven findings” and you would love to know what exactly and, above all, who is behind it? On 18 July from 5pm to 8pm, you have the chance to find out. Scientists from the Clusters of Excellence “Collective Behaviour” and “The Politics of Inequality” at the University of Konstanz will come to the harbour (in front of the Spiegelhalle) of Konstanz and answer your burning questions.

One of the researchers who will be on site is Maj-Britt Sterba: “We are investigating what political decision-makers think about inequality in the population and how this information then influences their policies,” explains the postdoctoral researcher at the Cluster of Excellence “The Politics of Inequality.” “This is, of course, a very interesting question, especially in the context of elections.”

You also have choices elsewhere – for example, when it comes to food. “When we think of food, we first think of nutrition or our health. But food is much more. It is, above all, something that brings people together at the table, fostering connections and sparking conversations,” explains PhD student Jana Straßheim. As part of the Psychological Assessment and Health Psychology group at the Cluster of Excellence “Collective Behaviour,” she studies how eating together influences our relationships, behaviour, and experiences.

Ten research teams will be on hand to answer your questions in a personal dialogue. To give you a first idea of the topics, the Clusters of Excellence have hired an artist to illustrate the scientifically complex content on posters and make it tangible. Take a look at the posters and then – let your questions take the stage.

"Exzellent gefragt! Your Questions for the cutting-edge research " is an event organized by the two Clusters of Excellence "Collective Behavior" and "The Politics of Inequality" at the University of Konstanz. The citizen dialogue is supported by forum.konstanz. The Cluster of Excellence Collective Behavior is a world-leading top research center for the study of swarm behavior. The Cluster of Excellence "The Politics of Inequality" investigates the political causes and consequences of inequality from an interdisciplinary perspective. forum.konstanz is a key project in the overall strategy "University of Konstanz – creative.together," which brings together people and ideas, top-level research and society. The planned new building project forum.konstanz will provide space for encounters between the university and society starting from 2030.

This event is funded by forum.konstanz