During my time in international research marketing, including a project for the former Federal Ministry of Education and Research, I often saw how crucial international visibility is. Excellent research can only have an impact if it is seen.
And those who show themselves are seen.

In the field of materials science and engineering in particular, this “showing oneself” is not yet a matter of course. Our discipline provides key answers to the big questions of our time: How do we design sustainable materials? How do we ensure resource efficiency in the future? And how can Germany remain competitive as a location for innovation?

But outside the specialist community, the field of materials science often remains under the radar. This is not due to a lack of relevance, but to a lack of visibility. And this applies not only to topics, but also to people.

Who Speaks for Research?

When I look at international conferences or media formats, I notice time and again that it is often the same faces that represent scientific excellence in Germany. Many others who do equally outstanding work remain invisible. Sometimes this is due to reticence, sometimes because they lack the structures that enable visibility in the first place.

Female researchers in particular tell me that they find it more difficult to present their work proactively or to take a public stand. This has less to do with a lack of self-confidence and more to do with a system that does not make visibility a matter of course.
That is why we need both courage and the right conditions.

Visibility does not happen by chance; it requires communication training, mentoring, appreciation, and spaces where researchers can be heard. Only then can the entire spectrum of scientific achievement become visible, diverse, competent, and credible.

Visibility in the Digital Space

This pattern is also evident on platforms such as LinkedIn. It is mostly male researchers who are active in groups, sharing posts, or leading discussions. Female voices are less visible, even though they have just as much to say.
I am familiar with this tension from my own experience. Making yourself visible is not always easy.

It takes effort to speak up for yourself instead of just for projects or institutions. But it is precisely this personal visibility that is crucial if we want to change the perception of research in the long term.

Our Way Forward

The DGM will continue to work on strengthening visibility in the field of materials science and engineering, both nationally and internationally. This includes new communication formats, more targeted networking, and projects that focus on researchers, especially female researchers. After all, visibility determines whether research is perceived as a driving force or merely a footnote. It is the key to bringing innovation to society.

My Personal Motivation

I am driven by the conviction that good research not only creates facts, but also shapes the future. And the future is created where people have the courage to become visible.

Visibility is not an end in itself. It is an act of responsibility towards one's own work, the scientific community, and our society as a whole.

Sina Stephan
DGM PR Manager