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In science we trust? – Course and Conference Office

EMBL Science and Society Conference

In science we trust?

Overview

This conference will take place as an in-person meeting on-site at EMBL Heidelberg.

Conference overview

We live in an era characterised by dazzling scientific and technological progress on an unprecedented scale. From the application of new gene editing techniques, pioneering stem cell research, or rapid vaccine development to emerging technologies such as AI or organoid research, advances in life sciences offer a myriad of potential benefits to society.

However, these scientific endeavours exist against a backdrop of misinformation and disinformation in the scientific arena, which have the potential to cast a shadow on the public perception of science. From attitudes surrounding scientific issues in the pandemic, highly publicised cases of scientific fraud and misconduct, or ethical issues in research which may cross into the realms of science fiction, the issue of societal trust in science is never far from the public consciousness.

How have scientific developments over the past 100 years shaped the public view of science, what responsibility do scientists have towards society, and what does the future hold for the indivisible relationship that exists between science and society? This conference will analyse the importance of public trust in science in a ‘post-truth’ society, from public involvement to implications on funding and resource allocation, and the political consequences of losing societal trust and buy-in. Above all, it will ask what role we can all play in shaping the future path of increased societal trust in science.

Speakers

Keynote speakers

Ralf Bartenschlager

Heidelberg University

Germany

Maura Hiney

University College Dublin, Institute for Discovery

Ireland

Speakers and panelists

Ulrike Beisiegel

University of Göttingen

Germany

Ben Bleasdale

Campaign for Science and Engineering

United Kingdom

Perihan Elif Ekmekci

TOBB University of Economics and Technology

Turkey

Caitjan Gainty

King’s College London

United Kingdom

Margaret Gold

Leiden University

The Netherlands

Giorgia Guglielmi

Freelance Science Journalist

Switzerland

Andreas Kosmider

Falling Walls Foundation

Germany

Resham Kotecha

Open Data Institute

United Kingdom

Mihalis Kritikos

European Parliament

Belgium

Rebecca Lawrence

F1000

United Kingdom

Marcus Munafo

University of Bristol

United Kingdom

Henriikka Mustajoki

Open Science

Finland

Malvika Sharan

The Alan Turing Institute

United Kingdom

Veli Vural Uslu

TAP (The Awesome Potatoes) Science Theater Heidelberg

Germany

Victoria Tianjing Yan

EMBL Heidelberg

Germany

Hub Zwart

Erasmus School of Philosophy

The Netherlands

Committee

Bianca SchmittEMBL Heidelberg, Germany
Jürgen DekaEMBL Heidelberg, Germany
Geoffrey BarnettEMBL Heidelberg, Germany
Maria PapanikoaouEMBL Heidelberg, Germany
Natalia KretEMBL Heidelberg, Germany
Ruairi McEvoyEMBL Heidelberg, Germany
Briony JacksonEMBL-EBI Hinxton, United Kingdom
Victor Secco Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Italy
Ernesto de la Cueva BuenoEMBL Heidelberg, Germany
Gemma WoodEMBL-EBI Hinxton, United Kingdom

Organisers

Flavien Affaki

EMBL Heidelberg

Germany

Sandra Bendiscioli

EMBO

Germany

Thomas Keane

EMBL-EBI Hinxton

United kIngsom

Bernd Pulverer

EMBO Press

Germany

Giorgia Renne

EMBL Heidelberg

Germany

Lucia von Bredow

EMBL Heidelberg

Germany

Conference organiser

Nathalie Sneider

EMBL Heidelberg

Germany

Preliminary programme

Are you on social media? Post using #SciSoc2025 and don’t forget to tag @EMBLEvents.

This conference will take place as an in-person meeting on-site at EMBL Heidelberg.

Please note that the programme is subject to change. Some speakers may need to join virtually to give their talk.

Day 1 – Monday 16 June 2025

Time (Europe/Berlin)Speaker
12:10-13:30Arrival and registration
Light refreshments available
13:30 – 13:45Welcome remarks and housenotes
13:45 – 14:30Keynote lecture 1
Evolution of trust in science during the Covid-19 pandemics: A virologists’ experience – Ralf Bartenschlager – Universitatklinikum Heidelberg, Germany
14:30 – 15:30Session 1
14:30 – 15:00The evolution of (dist)trust in science from the late 20th century to the present
Caitjan Gainty – Kings College London, United Kingdom
15:00 – 15:30How – and how much – does public trust affect scientific and technological research?
Ben Bleasdale – Campaign for Science & Engineering, United Kingdom
15:30 – 16:15Coffee Break including Poster viewing
16:15 – 17:15Session 2
16:15 – 16:45Understanding the issues with reproducibility in scientific research
Marcus Munafo – University of Bristol, United Kingdom
16:45 – 17:15Issues of the research system: research assessment, pressure for HIF publications, etc.
Rebecca Lawrence – F1000/Wellcome Open Research, United Kingdom
17:15 – 18:00Panel discussion 1 : Focus on AI

Panelists:
Perihan Elif Ekmekci – TOBB University, Turkey
Resham Kotecha – The Open Data Institute, United Kingdom
Mihalis Kritikos – European Parliament, Belgium
18:00 – 18:15Closing remarks of Day 1
18:15 – 19:15Meet the speakers of Day 1 and Poster viewing
with pre-dinner drinks
19:15 – 21:15Dinner in the EMBL Canteen
Day 2 – Tuesday 17 June 2025

Time (Europe/Berlin)Speaker
09:00-09:45Keynote lecture 2
How can policy contribute to trustworthy science: Insights from developing the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity
Maura Hiney – University College Dublin, Institute for Discovery, ireland
Session 3
09:45-10:15Mini-panel: Trust as a resource: the benefit of citizen and participatory science

Hub Zwart – Erasmus School of Philosophy, The Netherlands
Margaret Gold – Leiden Univeristy, The Netherlands
10:15-10:45Mini-panel: How to communicate science effectively and creatively (with EMBL Alumni)

Panelists:
Giorgia Guglielmi – Freelance Science Journalist, Switzerland
Veli Vural Uslu – TAP (The Awesome Potatoes) Science Theater Heidelberg, Germany
10:45 – 11:30Coffee Break including Poster viewing
11:30 – 12:30Session 4 – Bridging the gap between science and society
11:30 – 12:00Role of Ombudsperson in research integrity and beyond
Ulrike Beisiegel – Goettingen University, Germany
12:00 – 12:30Falling the walls of mistrust in science
Andreas Kosmider – Falling Walls Foundation, Germany
11:30 – 12:00Session 5
12:30 – 13:15Panel discussion – Focus on Open Science
Panelists:
Victoria Yan – EMBL Heidelberg, Germany
Henriikka Mustajoki – Open Science, Finland
Malvika Sharan – Alan Turing Institute
13:15 – 13:30Closing remarks
Edith Heard – EMBL Heidelberg, Germany
13:30 – 14:30Light lunch and Meet the speakers from Day 2
14:30Bus downtown

Practical information

Registration fees and abstract submission

On-site registration fees include admission, conference materials, meals, and coffee breaks. Participants are expected to book and pay their own accommodation and travel expenses.

Standard€40
Student €20

If you are under 18 years of age and interested in attending this event, please contact us directly to ask about registration options first.

EMBL staff interested in attending this event should register using the staff registration page available on the intranet.

Confirmation and payment

Registration will be on a first come, first served basis. Your place can only be confirmed after payment of the registration fee. If you are added to our waiting list, please consider taking advantage of our offerings to participate virtually.

Types of payments accepted are international bank transfers and credit card payments. 

Poster abstract submission

Please find more details under the ‘Call for posters’ tab.

Accommodation and travel

Accommodation is not included in the conference registration fee.

A list of our partner hotels where rooms have been blocked for conference participants will be published here soon.

Travel information

For travel information, please see here.

If you are travelling to the conference within Germany then you are eligible for the Deutsche Bahn ‘Event Ticket’ (called the ‘Veranstaltungsticket’ in German). This will result in a lower ticket price if your travel distance to Heidelberg is more than 100 km. You need to provide proof of your event attendance when purchasing the ticket.

For more information in English see here or in German see here.

You can book your ticket here.

Conference shuttle buses

Conference shuttle buses are free of charge for participants, and depart from designated bus stops near the hotels to EMBL and back, mornings and evenings.

The bus stops for this conference will be published ahead of the event.

View Conference shuttle bus stops and hotels in a larger map. Please note that not every bus stop will be used for every event.

Further details

Address: EMBL, Meyerhofstraße 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany.

For more information about accommodation and travel, please refer to the FAQ page.

On-site information

Catering

All meals and coffee breaks are included in the registration fee. Our catering staff will prepare a wide variety of vegetarian meals, meat and fish dishes, soups, pasta, fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as a variety of desserts.

Please wear your badge at all times when serving yourself.

No food or drinks are allowed in the auditorium.

Charging lockers

There are lockers available next to the stairs leading down into the Auditorium. You will find some of those equipped with sockets to charge your smartphone/tablet etc.

Electricity and charging station

In most places the electricity is 220 volts AC (50 cycles). An adaptor and a plug that fits the German socket may be needed for your appliances/laptop (i.e. American, Japanese, etc.). A USB charging station for electronic devices is available at the registration desk.

EMBL merchandise

If you are interested in purchasing EMBL merchandise (products presented in the glass display in the registration area), please email the EMBL shop to place an order or get in contact with your Course Organiser.

Kindly note the EMBL shop is only open upon request and all purchases must be made in cash (Euros only).

Health and safety notes

Please read EMBL’s COVID-19 safety policy for on-site events.
Do not smoke in any EMBL building.
Eating and drinking is prohibited in the Auditorium and all laboratories.
Do not enter any restricted areas or the laboratories unless instructed to do so.

If first aid is required …

  • The first aid room is located next to the ATC Registration Desk (room 10- 205).
  • Dial the Emergency number 222 from any EMBL internal phone only.
  • Where is the accident? What happened? How many injured?
  • Emergency number 06221-387 7821 from mobile phones.
  • Please report all accidents to the conference officer at the registration desk.

In case of fire …

  • Press the nearest fire alarm button or the Emergency number 222 from any internal phone.
  • A loud fire alarm will go off if an evacuation is required. On hearing the alarm leave the building immediately following the escape route and fire wardens and head to one of the meeting points
  • Do not use the lifts.

Beyond first aid…

Please remember to bring your own medication, if needed, to the conference. Note that the next pharmacy is a 4-minute drive from the EMBL, but for many medications you will be required to see a doctor to get a prescription.

Ensure in advance that your medical insurance will cover you during your visit in the event that you do need to see a doctor while in Heidelberg. In any case, the EMBL Course and Conference Office will assist you to get to the pharmacy and a doctor of your choice if necessary.

Internet

Wi-Fi is available on campus using the EMBL-Events network and the event specific password, which will be provided on site. The eduroam network (secure, worldwide roaming access service developed for the international research and education community) is also available.

Lost and found

‘Lost and Found’ items are kept at the registration desk until the end of the conference.

Luggage

There are lockers available on-site to store your luggage, which require a 2 EURO coin to operate. There is another luggage room on level E0, which is free to use but remains unlocked during the conference.

Nursing room

There is a nursing room available in the ATC Rooftop Lounge on level A29.

Photography

During the conference, an EMBL Photographer may be taking photos. If you would not like to appear in these, please inform the photographer or a member of the Course and Conference Office.

Printing

We can help to print your boarding pass/train ticket. Please send it to events@embl.de and collect your print-outs at the registration desk.

Room for prayer, yoga, and meditation

There is a room for prayer, meditation and yoga located on level E0 behind the Auditorium. Please be respectful of others using the room.

Sightseeing

A variety of activities in Heidelberg can be found on the website of Heidelberg Marketing.

Travel to and from the venue

During the event, we provide conference shuttle buses to and from EMBL. In addition, there is the public bus 39A that serves the EMBL campus and taxis can be easily booked at any time. Information on the conference shuttle buses can be found on the individual event website and more detailed information on travelling to EMBL can be found on our Travel Information page.

Useful German expressions

HelloHallo
GoodbyeAuf Wiedersehen (formal)
Tschüss (informal)
Good morningGuten Morgen
Good afternoonGuten Tag
Good eveningGuten Abend
Good nightGute Nacht
I’m sorryEs tut mir leid
Excuse me…Entschuldigen Sie
How are you?Wie gehts?
I’m fine thanks. And you?Mir geht es gut , danke. Und Dir/Ihnen?
What is your nameWie heißen Sie? (formal)
Wie heißt Du? (informal)
My name isIch heiße…
Do you speak EnglishSprechen Sie englisch?
I don’t understandIch verstehe nicht
Please speak more slowlyKönnen Sie bitte langsamer sprechen
Thank youDankeschön
Where is the toilet?Wo ist die Toilette?
Please call me a taxiBitte rufen Sie mir ein Taxi
How do I get to….?Wie komme ich zum/zur…..?
A beer/two beers pleaseEin Bier/zwei Bier bitte
A glass of red/white wine pleaseEin Glas Rot/Weisswein bitte
The menu, pleaseDie Speisekarte, bitte
Is there a local speciality?Gibt es eine Spezialität aus dieser Gegend?
I’m vegetarianIch bin Vegetarier
It was deliciousEs war hervorragend
The bill, pleaseDie Rechnung, bitte
I have a headacheIch habe Kopfschmerzen
I have a sore throatIch habe Halsschmerzen
My stomach hurtsIch habe Magenschmerzen
I’m allergic toIch bin allergisch gegen
I need a doctor who speaks EnglishIch brauche einen Arzt, der englisch spricht
Additional information

Please find additional information including FAQs, terms and conditions, COVID-19 safety policy and travelling to EMBL on our Information for participants page.

COVID-19 related questions

COVID-19 information for on-site events at EMBL Heidelberg can be found in our COVID-19 FAQs.

Call for posters

The “In Science We Trust?” Conference, organised by EMBL Bioethics Services within its Science & Society Programme, aims to explore the evolution of trust within the research landscape and address the emerging challenges facing the research community today. 

We encourage submissions from researchers, scholars, life sciences students, as well as policymakers, science educators, and communicators engaged in fostering trust, integrity, and transparency in research. The conference seeks to facilitate interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration among stakeholders invested in promoting trustworthiness across all domains of research.

The conference will include dedicated time for viewing posters and for poster presenters to showcase their work and engage in meaningful discussions with peers from diverse fields.

Poster focus areas

We welcome poster submissions that explore:

  1. Projects in science communication and science education that actively work to improve public trust in scientific knowledge, institutions, and processes.
  2. Initiatives within research projects that prioritise integrity, transparency, and ethical practices, aiming to strengthen trust within the scientific community.
  3. Innovative methods or approaches that address misinformation and disinformation in science, with the goal of restoring or protecting public trust.
  4. Collaborative efforts between researchers and communities that promote open science practices or encourage citizen science as a means of enhancing transparency and trust.
  5. Exploration of how artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can be responsibly integrated into research and communication, ensuring transparency, fairness, and trustworthiness in their applications.

We encourage submissions that showcase real-world applications, collaborative approaches, and measurable outcomes that contribute to building and sustaining trust in the research landscape.

Submission guidelines:

  • All posters should reflect the conference theme and address relevant issues related to trust in research.
  • Proposals must be submitted online through the conference abstract submission portal by Monday 17 March 2025.
  • Submissions should adhere to the specified word limits and formatting guidelines outlined below. Candidates should provide all the information requested to complete their submission. Incomplete submissions will not be reviewed.
  • Each submission must include a brief biography (100 words) for all presenters.
  • All presenters are required to complete a registration form, pay the registration fee, and cover all travel and personal expenses.

All this information should be included in the proposal to be considered complete: 

  • Title
  • One or more ‘Focus areas’
  • Abstract (250 words)
  • 2-3 Learning objectives
  • 1-3 Keywords
  • Presenter information:
    • Name
    • Institutional Affiliation (city and state)
    • Email address
    • Brief biography

Review Process:

  • Submissions will undergo a review process conducted by the EMBL Bioethics Services.
  • Criteria for evaluation include relevance to the conference theme, clarity of presentation, scholarly rigor, and potential contribution to the field.
  • Submitters will be notified of the results of the review by the end of April.

Communication and timeline:

  • Call for proposals opens: November 2024
  • Deadline for proposal submissions: 17 March 2025
  • Authors notified of acceptance decision: 14 April 2025
  • Trust in Research Conference: 16 – 17 June 2025

Contact Information:

For enquiries regarding the call for proposals or conference logistics, please contact Nathalie Sneider.

We look forward to receiving your innovative proposals and fostering meaningful discussions on the evolving landscape of trust in research.

Sponsors

Media partners

ChemBioChem, a Wiley journal

EMBO Reports, an EMBO Press journal

International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Medinformatics, a Bon View Publishing journal

Open Biology, a Royal Society journal

Sponsorship opportunities

We offer a variety of event sponsoring possibilities, with the flexibility to select a set sponsorship package or combine individual sponsorship options to suit your event budget. Discounts are available for companies sponsoring multiple events at EMBL Heidelberg. View other conferences, or contact sponsorship@embl.de for further information on sponsoring possibilities.

If you are interested in becoming a media partner of this event, please visit our media partnerships webpage.

Warning

EMBL wishes to warn sponsors of EMBL conferences and courses of fraudulent schemes purporting to offer sponsorship opportunities on behalf of EMBL or affiliated with EMBL officials. One current scam campaign of which we are aware is conducted using the name ‘Judy Eastman’ (judy@gopcontact.a2hosted.com) and entails approaches to sponsors offering sponsorship opportunities on EMBL’s behalf. Please be kindly advised that all relevant communication regarding sponsorship of EMBL conferences, symposia and courses is handled by EMBL directly and is sent from an official EMBL account. EMBL does not work with any external providers on sponsorship acquisition.

Please also note that:

  • EMBL never provides attendee lists for purchase. Any offers of such are fraudulent.
  • EMBL will never call or email you to ask for your credit card details or to request a payment.
  • All payments are on invoice.

Suspicious communications purportedly from, for or on behalf of EMBL should be reported to EMBL at the following email address sponsorship@embl.de.

Media kit

Want to let others know you’re attending this event? Take a look at our shareable media and feel free to use them in your social media channels or presentations.

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Date: 16 - 17 Jun 2025

Location: EMBL Heidelberg

Venue: EMBL Advanced Training Centre


Deadline(s):

Abstract submission: 17 Mar 2025

Registration: 5 May 2025

Registration: If you are under 18 years of age and interested in attending this event, you must contact us directly to ask about registration options first.


Organisers:

  • Flavien Affaki
    EMBL Heidelberg, Germany
    • Sandra Bendiscioli
      EMBO, Germany
      • Thomas Keane
        EMBL-EBI Hinxton, Germany

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