Final event of the Young Marsilius Fellows 2025/26 Science (in) Crises?

We seem to live in an age of overlapping crises: the pandemic, the climate emergency, and conflicts such as wars and the erosion of democracy. In each case, science is invoked as part of the solution — as the source of vaccines, of climate models, of reliable knowledge. At the same time, science itself appears to be in crisis, facing questions of public trust, reproducibility, funding, political pressures, and contested legitimacy. Is science part of the solution — and part of the problem?

As Young Marsilius Fellows, we do not want to present simple answers or ready-made solutions. Instead, we would like to open a space for discussion and for sharing perspectives across disciplines. The symposium will explore the past, present, and future role of science in society. It will connect theoretical reflections with real-world examples and current challenges. Most importantly, it aims to bring together different perspectives in order to reflect on what we have learned, where interdisciplinary dialogue can help, and which questions still remain unanswered.

Booklet YMF-Symposium