Science That Packs a Punch: Science Slam on January 22 in the RPTU Grand Hall

When research meets punchlines, when complex topics are brought to the stage in just 10 minutes in a way that’s clear, witty, and surprising – that’s a Science Slam!

On Thursday, January 22, ZKW and ZGAPL invite you to a Science Slam in the RPTU Grand Hall. The evening will be hosted by experienced science slammer Markus Becherer, who will confidently guide the audience through the program as usual.

The audience can look forward to a colorful journey through science – from fungi and ants to intrigue and language, all the way to ecosystems and human communication.

The line-up – research with entertainment value:

Vera Tkocz, a graduate in environmental sciences, расска… (and sings!) about her arduous experiences with mushroom cultivation. Using humor and music, she addresses the destruction of nature – where science meets singer-songwriter performance.

Verena Riffel, a doctoral researcher in German studies, takes the audience into the world of intrigue. Although her research focuses on literature around 1800, she shows that intrigue is timeless – and just as gripping today as in Game of Thrones.

Allyssa Hinkle, an ecologist, explores the astonishing world of leafcutter ants and their multimillion-year-old partnership with fungi and microbes. She explains how this finely tuned system responds to human-driven environmental change – and why ants are true ecosystem engineers.

Ann Biedermann dismantles persistent misconceptions surrounding gender-sensitive language. From the generic masculine to alleged “language bans,” this slam informs without lecturing.

Felipe Barreto-Storandt takes a critical look at human communication: despite countless studies, we know surprisingly little about how communication actually works in large parts of the world.

PD Dr. Katherine Muñoz Sepúlveda dives deep into the world of mycotoxins – toxic substances produced by fungi that affect soil, plants, and humans. Her slam connects environment, health, and everyday life, showing why these invisible compounds matter to all of us.

Dr. Giselle Anahi Berensteinis an Argentinian researcher working at RPTU in the Environmental and Soil Chemistry group. She studies interactions between plastics and pesticides in soil systems, focusing on how plastics influence the environmental behavior of pesticides.

Whether students, researchers, or simply the curious:

This Science Slam proves that science is anything but dry.

When and where?
January 22,  07:00 pm 

Landau, Bürgerstraße 23,  Grand Hall (2. Floor)

Drop by, be amazed, laugh – and experience science in a whole new way!

Admission is free; donations are welcome.

This event is a cooperation of the  Centre for Cultural and Knowledge Dialogue (ZKW) and the Centre for Graduate and Academic Staff Development Landau (ZGaPL).