Why is the energy transition so important? How can stored energy from wind and sun be used more efficiently? What is the role of local wind power and how does energy production by ecological hydrogen work? Prof. Dr. Karl-Heinz Pettinger from Landshut University of Applied Sciences answered these and many other questions last Wednesday in the middle of Landshut city centre. The Scientific director of Landshut University of Applied Sciences Energy Technology Centre (TZ Energie) took a seat on a bench next to the town hall. Anyone who wanted to could sit down and talk to the expert about the energy transition. Questions about e-mobility were also high on the agenda.
Just like last year, the campaign was very well received by the citizens of Landshut. Many passers-by took the time to talk to the professor. Ludwig Zellner, a member of Landshut City Council, also sat on the Science Bench on behalf of Lord Mayor Alexander Putz. “The Science Bench format is very contemporary. Anyone who is interested has the opportunity to speak to a top-class expert – and in the middle of the city,” says Zellner enthusiastically. Pettinger is pleased with the response: “I enjoyed casually chatting about socially relevant issues with the passers-by,” says the university professor, who is a leader in energy research with TZ Energie. “With this campaign, I was also able to find out first hand which issues are preying on people’s minds.”
Bringing science closer to the people
Researchers from the East Bavarian TRIO universities took their seat on the Science Bench in the week from 4 to 8 July 2022. The discussions with citizens in Deggendorf, Landshut, Regensburg and Passau revolved around digital, mobility, health or climate topics under the heading “Progressive Province”.
The Science Bench is a communication format based on an idea from Prof. Katja Becker, President of the German Research Foundation. The charm of this kind of science communication is the personal closeness created between people on the street and researchers. With this format, the TRIO organisational team from the six universities hopes to reach people in East Bavaria’s city centres who do not or only rarely come into contact with science.
Photos: Landshut University of Applied Sciences
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