Tackling hostility towards scientists. Five complementary educational resources to equip institutions and individual researchers with knowledge and skills.

In an era marked by misinformation and populist narratives, science communication plays a crucial democratic role in bringing expert knowledge into public debates. Yet scientists must navigate polarised environments and may face hostility ranging from criticism and harassment to physical threats, sometimes leading to self-censorship that limits diverse perspectives in public discourse. That is why the Capacities and Competencies in Dealing with Hate Speech and Hostility towards Science (KAPAZ) project brought together researchers and practitioners from eight different organisations. Over three years, they investigated these challenges and developed practical strategies to counter attacks on scientists. One of its key insights offers cautious optimism: while attacks are a real concern, severe incidents remain the exception. With the right preparation, institutional support and training, much can be done to address hostility effectively. 

To this end, the KAPAZ project has brought together its key findings in this collection as a lasting knowledge base for the science system. The document, together with its five supplementary educational resources, provides an empirical foundation and offers a legal perspective on hostility. It also includes hands-on exercises to expand the capabilities of researchers when dealing with attacks. Whether you are a researcher engaging with public discourse, an institution developing support structures, or a science communicator looking for practical tools, browse the resources below to find what you need.

This set of educational resources is edited by Nataliia Sokolovska (KAPAZ project lead):

Sokolovska, N., Holscher Blackman, K., Henkes, L. M., & Kuper, F.: Preface. Equipping researchers and institutions with knowledge and skills. (pp. 3-5)

Blümel, C., Fähnrich, B., Fecher, B., Sokolovska, N., & Brandt, E.: Understanding hostility towards researchers. A collection of empirical insights into science hostility and attacks on the integrity of researchers (pp. 6-11).

Küter, K., & Wandt, J.: Fortify research institutions. A set of guidelines for increasing institutional capacity to prevent and address hostility in science communication. In Tackling hostility towards scientists. (pp. 12-19).

Küter, K., & Wandt, J.: Equip researchers. A set of guidelines to equip researchers with resources to handle attacks in science communication. pPp. 20-27).

Ollig, C., & Schulz, W.: Know your rights. A set of legal guidelines on anti-scientific acts to understand the possibilities of countering science hostility with legal tools. In Tackling hostility towards scientists. (pp. 28-33).

Geigenmüller, I., Shennan, V., & Krohn, F.: Practicing support strategies. This toolkit is a collection of practical exercises aimed at developing support strategies to prevent and reduce hostility against researchers, on an individual and institutional level. (pp. 34-46).