Capacities and competencies in dealing with hate speech and hostility to science (KAPAZ)

The KAPAZ project (“Capacities and Competencies in Dealing with Hate Speech and Hostility to Science”) responds to a pressing question: How can academia better protect and support researchers who face hostility when engaging with the public? In recent years, researchers in Germany and across Europe have become increasingly aware of the risk of online harassment, public attacks, and reputational threats, particularly when working on socially and politically sensitive topics. Such hostility not only affects individuals but also poses a challenge to open scientific exchange and democratic discourse. 
At the same time, research policy encourages stronger dialogue between research and society. KAPAZ addresses this tension by strengthening resilience to hostility at both individual and institutional levels. The project is a joint initiative of seven partners from research and practice, including the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin through its Berlin School of Public Engagement and Open Science, and is coordinated by the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society. 

The core aim of KAPAZ is to strengthen the resilience of the science system to hostility toward science by: 

• Building knowledge about the nature, prevalence, and effects of hostility toward researchers 
• Developing practical support structures within research institutions 
• Equipping individuals and organisations with competencies to anticipate and respond to hostile interactions 

A key desired outcome is an academic environment where researchers feel confident and supported in engaging with society, with clear institutional pathways and resources available when challenges arise. KAPAZ also seeks to influence broader awareness among science managers, policymakers, and communication professionals. 

KAPAZ is organised into interconnected work packages that combine research, development, training, communication, and evaluation: 

• Empirical Foundations: A large-scale survey of German researchers and a legal report on hostile behaviour create a robust knowledge base about experiences and legal contexts. 
• Capacity Building Support Structures: Based on this evidence, KAPAZ developed guidelines for institutions and contributed to Scicomm-Support, a national help-desk service that offers advice and resources for researchers and communication professionals facing hostility. 
• Competence Building: Targeted training for researchers and research support professionals equips individuals and institutions with strategies for safe and confident in their communication and engagement.  

Across these strands, KAPAZ blends quantitative and qualitative research with participatory design, stakeholder engagement, and open-access resource development. 

Work Package 3, led by the Berlin School of Public Engagement and Open Science at the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, focuses on building practical competencies among researchers and the professionals who support them. 
Between 2023 and 2025, WP3 delivered two complementary training formats: 

• A Train-the-Trainer programme for communication and research support professionals (five workshops with 62 participants), designed to strengthen institutional capacity and proactive support 
• Two editions of a Summer School for early career researchers (41 participants), where participants explored strategies for safe and confident public engagement.

These activities put into practice KAPAZ’s emphasis on linking individual resilience to organisational preparation. 

Partners

Funded as a Pioneer Project of the Volkswagen Foundation, KAPAZ brings together a consortium of research and practice organisations, including the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin represented by the Berlin School of Public Engagement and Open Science, Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society, Freie Universität Berlin, Wissenschaft im Dialog, Bundesverband Hochschulkommunikation, Leibniz Institute for Media Research│Hans‑Bredow‑Institut, and the German Centre for Higher Education Research and Science Studies.