A Bridge between Science and Society
The Office for Public Engagement and Knowledge Exchange with Society is the central point of contact at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin for methods, questions and programmes of transdisciplinary and participatory research and practice as well as internationalization in the field of public engagement.
We define knowledge exchange with society as an equal exchange, allowing space for questions and integrating living knowledge and experiences from society into research and teaching. Our aim is to learn from variouscommunity actors and to tackle pressing societal issues together with civil society, culture and politics.
As a team, we support researchers, students and staff across disciplines in addressing scientific issues in collaboration with society in order to enrich their research and contribute to overcoming social challenges together. We offer a range of project counselling and training services for the implementation of knowledge exchange with society in research and teaching, provide support with funding opportunities and facilitate networking with other projects and community actors.
Grant Application Advising
Engagement with society in its various forms is becoming increasingly important in research funding and in requirements of funding organisations. The Office for Public Engagement and Knowledge Exchange with Society offers consulations on questions related to this topic in funding applications. If you would like a more extensive collaboration with the Office for your project or grant application, we look forward to hearing from you at an early stage in your project and, depending on availability, to participating as a project partner.
Public Engagement Training
Training programmes provide researchers with skills, methods and experience to shape academic questions and research in collaboration with society. Through a partnership with the ‘Berlin School of Public Engagement and Open Science’ memebers of Humboldt-Universität have access to an annual public engagement training. Registration is available through the Office for Public Engagement and Knowledge Exchange with Society. Please be in touch via email if you are interested in joining a training program.
"HU Meetup: Knowledge Exchange with Society" Network
The “HU Meetup: Knowledge Exchange with Society” is a university-wide network for members of Humboldt-Universität who work in this field and wish to connect. The network meets three times per semester and is coordinated by the Office for Public Engagement and Knowledge Exchange with Society. If you are interested to join, please get in touch via email.
Society Engagement for Open Science
Knowledge exchange between the university and society in its various forms is a key part of the Open Science goals of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and the Berlin University Alliance. Therefore, Zentrum für Kulturtechnik appointed two BUA Open Science Ambassadors for 2025/2026 who champion and promote open science through engagement with community partners and participatory research and teaching: Dr. Alia Rayyan (Researcher, Chair of “Theory and Practice of Curating”) and Xenia Muth (Coordinator, Office for Public Engagement and Knowledge Exchange with Society).
Public Engagement in Circle U. Network
Knowledge exchange between university and society is a key theme in international networks and partnerships of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Within the Circle U. Network, HU's Office for Public Engagement and Knowledge Exchange with Society coordinates the “Public Engagement and Outreach” Community of Practice, a working group that facilitates networking amongst the European partner institutions around this topic.
Public Engagement with University of Oxford
The Office for Public Engagement and Knowledge Exchange with Society established a collaboration with University of Oxford as part of the “Flexible Funds” program, a funding program supporting strategic partnership projects at HUmboldt-Universität. In 2026, the collaboration with The Oxford Research Centre for the Humanities (TORCH) focuses primarily on exchange between the public engagement hub ‘Embodied Futures: Knowledge and Movement’ and the TORCH Research Hubs.
Contact
Area of expertise: Knowledge exchange with society
Contact persons
Xenia Muth
