The event will be moderated by Prof. Dr. Susanne Boshammer, Professor of Practical Philosophy at the University of Osnabrück.

In recent decades, trust in science has demonstrably declined and fundamental criticism of science has noticeably increased: This development has been particularly alarming since the COVID-19 pandemic, for example in the context of the spread of various conspiracy theories or the ban on the teaching of the theory of evolution in various countries around the world. Scientists who conduct research on certain topics and are present in the media sometimes experience targeted hostility and hatred. Trust in science is also deliberately shaken and undermined by political actors - the anti-science rhetoric of the President-elect of the USA is an example of an attempt to fundamentally question the nature of science. At the same time, it can be observed how science is increasingly being appropriated and put at the service of economic interests, from the pharmaceutical and tobacco industries to the raw materials industry.

In the context of the event, the Peace Talks will address this area of tension between skepticism and enslavement in order to talk about the nature, causes and consequences of science denial and manipulation. How can the scientific system defend itself against these dangers? What is the appropriate function and role of science in modern societies?