Date: May 5, 2025
Location: KARL9, Karlsruhe
Hosted by: Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
What happens when facts no longer speak for themselves? When deepfakes blur reality, the media face growing pressure, and scientists are called upon not just to research—but to justify their credibility?
These are the pressing questions explored in the interactive exhibition “Can You Trust Me? Navigating Skepticism and Certainty in Science”, opening on May 5 in KARL9, a collaborative cultural space in the heart of Karlsruhe, Germany. The exhibition is curated and presented by Dr. Dana Mahr (ITAS/KIT) and forms part of the EU Horizon Europe research project IANUS – Inspiring and Anchoring Trust in Science.
A Hands-On Exploration of Trust in Science
Rather than presenting ready-made answers, Can You Trust Me? invites visitors to take part in the ongoing conversation around trust, credibility, and science in digital societies. With six interactive stations, the exhibition creates space for reflection, participation, and dialogue – on topics ranging from misinformation and digital manipulation to the public’s role in scientific accountability. The exhibition opens with a keynote by Dr. Dana Mahr, who will offer a thought-provoking introduction to trust as a form of currency in contemporary society – and how it is continuously negotiated at the intersection of research, media, politics, and public life.
Exhibition Highlights
The exhibition includes six carefully curated thematic stations:
- Science & Society: How can scientific communication be improved? What responsibilities do researchers and journalists share?
- Trust & Control: Who should oversee scientific quality – peer reviewers, journalists, the public, or independent institutions?
- Echo Chambers & Filter Bubbles: How does our digital environment shape what we believe—and how can we break out of self-reinforcing information loops?
- Fake News & Deepfakes: Can we still tell truth from fiction? What tools help us recognize digital manipulation?
- Voices from the Field: A curated series of interviews with scientists, journalists, and media professionals offers behind-the-scenes insights into the struggle for public trust.
- What Do You Take With You? Visitors are invited to reflect on what trust means to them and how their own perceptions may have shifted through the exhibition.
A Dialogue-Based Approach Rooted in Research
This exhibition stems from a February 2025 IANUS workshop in Berlin, where researchers, journalists, and civil society actors gathered to discuss the current state of trust in science and media. Many of the questions raised during that event have found a second life here – transformed into visual experiences, interactive elements, and opportunities for co-creation with the public. The graphic recording from the Berlin workshop, created by illustrator Miriam Barton, will be displayed as a large-format visual centerpiece. It captures many of the key impulses that gave rise to the exhibition concept.
Trust, Participation, and the Future of Science
The exhibition is part of IANUS broader mission: to understand how trust in science is built, challenged, and maintained across Europe. As part of its public engagement work, IANUS supports local and transnational initiatives that invite citizens to critically engage with science in everyday life. KARL9, the venue for the exhibition, is itself a symbol of collaboration and creative civic dialogue – an ideal setting for exploring questions that affect us all.
Vernissage Schedule – May 5, 2025
- 17:00 Doors open
- 17:10–17:30 Welcome & Opening Talk by Dr. Dana Mahr
- 17:30–19:00 Reception with Butter Pretzels & informal discussion