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Latest News

Job Opening: Professorship in Computational Social Science within SCOPE at RPTU SCOPE at the OPINION COST Matters Panel: From Silence to Influence in the Digital Space SCOPE Research and International Collaborations Presented at the COST OPINION Conference in Zagreb Empowering Social Science Research: Highlights from the INTERACT Machine Learning workshop. SCOPE Affiliates Presents Research at the ICA in Cape Town and Wins Top Paper Award

Latest Publications

Systemische Effekte der Kanzlerdebatten im Bundestagswahlkampf 2025 und die Rolle des Debattenformats. News under pressure? Politicization of scientific expertise in German mainstream news during COVID-19 Grievance forums in autocracies: Surrogates for protest or instruments of control? Digital echoes of cultural values: Cross-cultural differences in online norm-enforcement Evidence in the service of dissent: strategic communication of science by German corona-protest movements

The SCOPE (Societal COmmunication in times of PErmacrisis) initiative at RPTU investigates how enduring crises—such as climate change and migration—impact citizens' information behavior, social coexistence, and political decision-making. As audiences increasingly shift from traditional journalism to social media, our research examines how different population groups access critical information and interact with misinformation or conspiracy theories. To address these complex challenges, our interdisciplinary consortium of 22 scientists bridges communication, political science, psychology, sociology, environmental science, and computer science. By integrating advanced approaches like Computational Social Sciences, we explore the societal consequences of these modern media diets, including polarization and the erosion of public trust. Ultimately, SCOPE aims to develop targeted educational interventions that rebuild social cohesion and strengthen democratic resilience, further advancing RPTU’s strategic focus on sustainable development and digital transformations.

Interdisciplinary

Combining several disciplines, including communication and political science, psychology, sociology, environmental science, and computer science, to comprehensively analyze the impact of permacrises.

Innovation

Leveraging the latest advancements in Computational Social Sciences (CSS) through a strategic partnership with the Department of Computer Science enables more advanced analysis and deeper insights into crisis communication and behavior.

Resilience

Focusing on how different actors communicate crisis aspects, the susceptibility of certain groups to misinformation, and the potential of media education and interventions to improve trust, social cohesion, and support for democracy.