Panel Discussion: "Between Science and Gut Instinct – Decision-Making During the Pandemic"

Lockdowns, school closures, vaccination campaigns: the COVID-19 pandemic was not only a health and political crisis, but also a social one. Decisions that fundamentally altered the lives of many people had to be made amid a great deal of uncertainty. What underpinned these far-reaching decisions – scientific evidence, political considerations, or even intuition? And what consequences did they have for trust, communication and social cohesion? The panel discussion brings together perspectives from academia, politics, the media and the field. Together, the panellists reflect on the experiences of the pandemic and ask what we can learn from them: for future crises – and not least for social cohesion in times when loneliness is on the rise.

The discussion will be based on the research project “LoneCovid – The Development and Significance of Social Relationships in the Context of the Covid-19 Pandemic” at the Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences (GESIS). It examines how social relationships have changed during and after the pandemic and what role they play in individual well-being and social dynamics. It is led by Dr Lydia Repke, an alumna of the Young Academy | Mainz and a graduate of the WissKomm Academy.

To kick things off, Theresia Ell will provide insights into key findings of the study. She will then discuss these findings with Clemens Hoch (Minister for Science and Health of the State of Rhineland-Palatinate), Céline Lauer (science journalist and communicator) and Dr Peter Tinnemann (Head of the Public Health Department of the City of Frankfurt am Main). The event will be moderated by Dr Lydia Repke (Head of the research project “LoneCovid – Development and Significance of Social Relationships in the Context of the Covid-19 Pandemic”).

The panel discussion is being held in collaboration with the WissKomm Academy and GESIS.

Entry is free. Please register in advance here.

Invitation flyer