The future needs knowledge - Appeal to the future ORF Directorate General to strengthen science at ORF

The future needs knowledge - to the future ORF General Management!

In a world in which we are confronted with increasingly complex issues and enormous social and political challenges - from the Covid-19 pandemic to climate change - science is of great importance. With its public service mandate, ORF plays a key role for Austria's universities, colleges, research centres and research sponsors in communicating their findings. Its editors provide millions of people with access to science and research, classify new findings and use their scientific expertise to provide explanations for socially relevant topics.

Science reporting on ORF not only fulfils a growing need for information among the population, but also strengthens trust in science as a whole. In this way, ORF contributes to an enlightened society with self-determined and well-informed citizens. The coronavirus pandemic has shown us just how great the need for credible, fact-based information is.

As institutions from science and research, we are aware of our responsibility and appeal to the future Directorate General to further expand independent and high-quality science reporting in ORF programmes and to provide it with significantly more resources. In addition to attractive broadcasting slots, we will also need varied formats for a wide range of target groups in the future.

In the future, science must remain anchored alongside information, entertainment, culture and sport as the main pillar of ORF's reporting. Only in this way can ORF make its valuable contribution to a knowledge-based society and strengthen Austria's role as a forward-looking centre of science and innovation.

With best regards and best wishes

Christian Doppler Research Association (CDG)
Martin Gerzabek

University of Applied Sciences Conference (FHK)
Kurt Koleznik, Raimund Ribitsch

Fund for the Promotion of Scientific Research (FWF)
Christof Gattringer

Helga Nowotny (ad personam)

Institute of Science and Technology Austria (IST Austria)
Thomas Henzinger

Ludwig Boltzmann Society (LBG)
Freyja-Maria Smolle-Jüttner

Austrian University Conference (uniko)
Sabine Seidler

Austrian Science Council (ÖWR)
Antonio Loprieno