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Science Slam

search in short 10-minute talks that are not just
informative but also entertaining and accessible
to the general public. These events often take
place in cultural centres, theatres, cinemas, etc.

Originating in Germany in 2006, the first science
slam was held in Darmstadt (Science Slam, n.d.).
It quickly gained momentum, with events in cities
like Braunschweig and Hamburg. Over time, sci-
ence slams have become an integral part of sci-
ence communication in Germany and have begun
spreading to other European nations, culminat-
ing in the first European science slam in Copen-
hagen in 2014. Science slam primarily caters to
young scientists, often presenting their PhD pro-
jects. It is a departure from textbook knowledge,
with scientists focusing on explaining specific as-
It is a common stereotype that scientists are not pects or fundamentals of their research, enabling
inherently skilled at communicating their work the audience to experience science as it unfolds.
to a general audience. While it is not universally In 2021, a science slam was also organised in Slo-
true for all scientists, there is some hard evidence venia as part of the European Researchers’ Night
for this perception (Sutter, 2022). Miro Pušnik, di- (Znanstveni slam v sklopu Evropske noči razisko-
rector of the Central Technical Library at the Uni- valcev 2021, n.d.).
versity of Ljubljana, commented recently (2023):
‘We are observing that scientific literacy in Slove- What sets science slam apart is its emphasis on
nia is poor. The communication of science should direct interaction between scientists and the au-
be supported at all levels of education, from pre- dience. This engagement encourages scientists
school through primary and secondary school to to present their work in a relatable and engag-
the third phase of life. Even children in kindergar- ing manner, creating a window into the world of
ten can be researchers.’ How can we improve sci- research that is seldom revealed to the general
ence communication? public. Live experiments and creative visual pres-
entations are actively encouraged, making these
Science slam (‘Science Slam’, 2025) is an inno- events highly interactive and enjoyable.
vative science communication format that has
gained popularity, primarily in Germany and sev- The audience plays a central role in the success of
eral European countries. The essence of a science science slams, acting as judges by voting for the
slam lies in (young) scientists presenting their re- best presentations. This element not only drives

20 2023 projekti/projects