FB Wirtschaftswissenschaft

Professur für Empirische Wirtschaftsforschung und Gender

Lukas Harder, MSc
Piotr Paweł Larysz, MSc
Boltzmannstr. 20
14195 Berlin
E-Mail:
lukas.harder@fu-berlin.de
piotr.larysz@fu-berlin.de

Summer term 2026
Master Public Economics
Modul: Knowledge Transfer

(a) Course Description
Learning Objectives:

Students will develop the ability to communicate and convey empirical economic research to a variety of audiences, including policymakers, journalists, and to the general public. The focus is on transferring academic insight into clear, compelling narratives that inform and influence real-world decision-making. By the end of the course, students will be able to:
(a) Translate empirical research into accessible, practice-oriented communication.
(b) Create and present scientific policy briefs and engaging multimedia communication formats.
(c) Collaborate in teams to present academic evidence to a wider audience.

Content:
This course offers hands-on training in translating complex economic research into engaging, non-technical formats for diverse audiences. Students will practice how to:
(a) Write and present in a clear and relatable way using current topics in economic policy.
(b) Use digital communication tools, e.g., podcasts, infographics, and short videos.
(c) Gain insights into professional knowledge transfer through excursions and guest sessions with experts from leading research and policy institutions — including DIW Berlin, WZB Berlin Social Science Center, journalists and public stakeholders.
(d) Experiment with different storytelling formats and visualization techniques.

Through a mix of lectures, practice sessions, and excursions, students will acquire both the theoretical understanding and the practical toolkit to bridge the gap between research and society. This course is about learning how to make knowledge matter, in the media, in policymaking, and in public debate.
FB Wirtschaftswissenschaft
Professur für Empirische Wirtschaftsforschung und Gender
Knowledge Transfer
Lukas Harder, MSc
Piotr Paweł Larysz, MSc

Registration:
The registration takes place via email to the course instructor at the address piotr.larysz@fu-berlin.de Please provide a current transcript of records.
The registration deadline is on April 10, 2026 (12:59 PM)

(b) Course prerequisites:
No prerequisites.

(c) Detailed Course Schedule:

Date	Room	Time
April 10, 2026  (Friday)	Boltzmannstr. 20, 14195 Berlin Kaminzimmer (Raum 202)	12:00 - 17:00
April, 17, 2026 (Friday)	tba	10:00 - 17:00

May 8, 2026, (Friday)	Boltzmannstr. 20, 14195 Berlin Kaminzimmer (Raum 202)	12:00 - 16:00
Juni 5, 2026, (Friday)	Boltzmannstr. 20, 14195 Berlin Kaminzimmer (Raum 202)	12:00 . 17:00       PM

(d) Active Participation

Active participation is required. Groups of two students will be assigned a research paper authored by a researcher from Freie Universität Berlin. Each group will analyze the assigned paper and translate its academic insights into accessible communication formats.
The project consists of three components, each designed to target a different audience and communication style:
Policy Brief
• Length: 1 page
• Objective: Summarize key findings and implications of the research in a concise, policy-oriented format.

Social Media Campaign
• Objective: Design a short, engaging social media campaign in a preferred format (e.g., podcast, video, etc.) that       communicates the essence of the research to a broader public audience.

• The campaign should include:

o A clear message or theme
o A sample social media post marketing the chosen format
o A short social media campaign in a preferred format (e.g., podcast, video, etc.)

Final Presentation
• Objective: Present the key elements of your policy brief and social media campaign to the class.
• Presentation format: 20-minute group presentation followed by a 10 Q&A.