Jeanne Rubner

Jeanne Rubner is an Honorary Professor at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) since 2024, affiliated with the TUM School of Social Sciences and Technology. She serves as the Vice President of Global Communication and Public Engagement at TUM since April 2022, leading the Corporate Communications Center. Prior to this role, she had a distinguished career in journalism, heading the science and education desk at Bayerischer Rundfunk from 2012 to 2022 and working as a senior editor at Süddeutsche Zeitung.

Dr. Rubner's educational background includes:

• Studied physics in Regensburg, Strasbourg, and Seattle, USA
• Received her Ph.D. in theoretical biophysics from TUM in 1989

Jeanne Rubner's expertise spans science communication, journalism, physics, and brain research. Her work focuses on making complex scientific concepts accessible to the general public, bridging the gap between academia and society. She has particular expertise in communicating about energy policy, neuroscience, and the intersection of science and politics, with a career that evolved from theoretical physics research to science journalism and academic communication leadership.

Her publications demonstrate consistent focus on translating scientific knowledge for broader audiences, with a progression from technical scientific writing to accessible science communication. Her work shows particular strength in neuroscience communication, energy policy analysis, and political systems explanation, reflecting her dual background in physics and journalism.

Dr. Rubner has received numerous prestigious awards for her contributions to science communication:

• Universitas Prize for Science Journalism from Hanns-Martin-Schleyer Foundation (2009)
• Medal for Science Writing from the German Physical Society (2019)
• Digital Journalism Fellowship from Hamburg Media School (2020/21)
• Medal Bene Merenti from the University of Regensburg (2007)

As Vice President of Global Communication and Public Engagement at TUM, Dr. Rubner leads initiatives to enhance the university's public outreach and engagement. She has been teaching science communication at the Hochschule für Politik since 2017, mentoring emerging science communicators. Her leadership focuses on shaping TUM's strategic communication direction and building stronger connections between academic research and public understanding.

While specific laboratory affiliations aren't mentioned in her current role, Dr. Rubner collaborates extensively with researchers across TUM to translate scientific findings for public consumption. Her work bridges multiple disciplines and focuses on creating effective communication channels between academic research and the broader public, positioning her as a key figure in contemporary science communication in Germany.