As part of their policy dialogue programs, the Rhine-Main Universities (RMU) have organized more than 3,000 expert talks between representatives from science and institutions in the practical fields. The strategic alliance of Goethe University Frankfurt, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and Technical University of Darmstadt reached this milestone in November.

Since 2016, The RMU has offered interdisciplinary dialogue formats for researchers and employees from ministries and their subordinate agencies, the European Commission and international organizations, the media and non-governmental organizations. In face-to-face talks, members of institutions in the practical fields gain scientific expertise on topics relevant to their everyday working lives. At the same time, the participating scientists get to know a practical perspective on their research topics. In total, 420 members of participating institutions have held about 3,100 expert talks with more than 750 researchers in the Rhine-Main area.

Prof. Dr. Georg Krausch, President of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and current RMU spokesperson, points back to the start of the program: “In 2016, we started the Mercator Science-Policy Fellowship-Program at the Rhine-Main Universities in cooperation with Stiftung Mercator. As part of the program, senior professionals from various institutions came to visit us and held talks with researchers. Over time, we tested other formats and extended our target groups. Our newest format is the Rhine-Main Science Dialogue, where our researchers hold face-to-face talks in the various departments of the state governments in Mainz and Wiesbaden. This format, too, is well received.”

Krausch further emphasizes: „Together, the three Rhine-Main Universities can offer scientific expertise on a broad spectrum of topics. This is particularly important to institutions in the practical fields, because topics such as how to address climate change or the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic constitute very complex challenges where different perspectives need to be taken into account.”

The RMU continuously works on the further development of its exchange formats. For example, new dialogue formats for employees of EU institutions are currently being developed jointly with partner institutions at the European Union. The insights gained will, in turn, be made accessible to scientific institutions in Europe via the EU project ENGAGEgreen.

The policy dialogue programs of the Rhine-Main Universities are funded by Stiftung Mercator and the European Union’s Erasmus+ program.