Research areas
Research is one of the core pillars of our work.
We research how media, communications, technology and the information environment affect people, institutions and society.
From research to practice
Research is one of the core pillars of our work. We research how media, communications, technology and the information environment affect people, institutions and society, how information and public narratives are created and transmitted, and how they influence trust, decision-making and participation in public life. We are particularly interested in the changes brought by digital platforms, artificial intelligence and new communication practices, and their impact on media, public debate and democratic processes.
Our research work is organised into six interconnected areas. They cover futures literacy and media literacy, media and journalism, information disorders, strategic communications, political communication, and science and environmental communication. We do not look at these areas in isolation, because contemporary communication and social challenges increasingly overlap. Questions of trust, disinformation, technology, the public interest, institutional communication and civic participation call for a broader, interdisciplinary approach.
For us, research does not end with an analysis or a scientific paper. We turn findings into recommendations, educational programmes, methodologies, communication approaches, training and practical resources. In this way we connect academic knowledge with practice and create results that can be used by media, institutions, civil society organisations and the wider public.
The six areas at the focus of our research
1. Futures literacy and media literacy
We research how people understand information and the changes around them, how they imagine possible futures, and how media, technology and artificial intelligence affect critical thinking, decision-making and participation in society.
2. Media and journalism
We research how media and journalism are changing under the influence of digital technologies, new audience habits and artificial intelligence, with a focus on the public interest, media pluralism and professional and ethical standards.
3. Information disorders
We research how disinformation, manipulative narratives and other forms of information influence emerge and spread, which actors and channels drive them, and how they affect trust, information integrity and democratic processes.
4. Strategic communications
We research how institutions and organisations understand their audiences, plan their communication and build trust and long-term relationships with the public, especially in times of digital change, crisis and declining trust.
5. Political communication
We research how political messages, public narratives and institutional communication affect public debate, trust and civic participation, and how transparently and accountably institutions communicate their policies and decisions.
6. Science and environmental communication
We research how scientific, climate and environmental topics are communicated and understood, what affects trust in science, and how complex findings can become more accurate, understandable and useful for the public and for decision-making.