IfMK cooperates with the SETI Institute
Master students develop professional communication concepts to increase interest in astrobiology and the scientific search for extraterrestrial life.
This winter semester, the IfMK offers an exciting cooperation to the Master students of Media and Communication Science. They will develop concepts for international public relations for the SETI Institute in California.
The cooperation takes place in the context of the master seminar "PR & Communication in the Context of Globalization" under the direction of Dr. Andreas Schwarz from the department of PR and Technology Communication. Everything starts with the first information event of the SETI Institute on October 26. The approximately 30 students will then work in six competing "junior PR agencies". There they will develop professional communication concepts until the end of the semester. The aim is to increase young girls' fascination with natural sciences, such as astrobiology, in various countries so that they will pursue scientific careers in this field in the future. It also aims to increase awareness of the serious and scientifically based search for technologically advanced life beyond Earth through the SETI Institute.
Rebecca McDonald, director of communications, and Dr. Simon Steel, director of education and STEM programs at the SETI Institute, are the principals of the students. They will provide briefings and, as part of the judging panel, decide whether and to what extent the winning concept will be put into practice. "This exciting partnership with TU Ilmenau gives us the opportunity to work with students from Germany and around the world to find ways to engage and inspire new global audiences," Steel says of the collaboration.
Dr. Andreas Schwarz says "The seminar is the best preparation for students for future jobs in the increasingly internationalized communications industry, where NGOs are also becoming more and more important. By collaborating with the SETI Institute, the research group strengthens and modernizes PR education in Ilmenau."
Founded in 1984, the SETI Institute is a non-profit, multi-disciplinary research and educational organization whose mission is to explore, understand and explain the origin and nature of life in the universe and the evolution of intelligence. It is a respected research partner to industry, academia, and government agencies, including NASA and NSF.
Information about the SETI Institute: www.seti.org
