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REFRESH 2025: Communication research meets practice

News from 09/04/2025

On Friday the 2025-04-04, the Leuchtenbau in Leipzig was transformed into a meeting place for communication management: numerous experts, students, alumni and interested parties came together for the annual REFRESH 2025 conference to discuss the latest research findings and exciting future trends. The event, organized by the Institute of Communication and Media Studies at Leipzig University, offered a top-class programme with current topics and innovative perspectives.

[Translate to English:] Die Preisträgerinnen des Günter-Thiele-Preises und des Forschungsstipendiums 2025 (Foto: Nick Stütz)

Deepfakes, neurotechnology & sustainability communication - on the pulse of the times

Professor Dr. Alexander Godulla kicked off the event with an impressive presentation on the dangers of synthetic media. He used current research on deepfakes to show why we often believe visual content without checking it and how our perception can be manipulated.

This was followed by forward-looking impulses from Dr. Michelle Wloka and Professor Dr. Ansgar Zerfaß on the use of neurotechnologies in corporate communication - a topic that used to be science fiction but is already finding its first practical applications today.

In another highlight, Sandra Binder-Tietz and a team of students shed light on the opportunities and challenges of the new EU Sustainability Reporting Directive CSRD. Using concrete practical examples, they showed how companies (have to) rethink their reporting.

Promoting young talent & fresh perspectives

Once again this year, special attention was paid to young academics: the Günter Thiele Prize and the Günter Thiele Research Scholarship were awarded at a ceremony. The award-winning master's and doctoral projects provided exciting insights into the strategic communication of the future.

Further information can be found here.

The program was rounded off by presentations on board communication by Lea Waskowiak and a pilot study on an AI literacy test, which students presented together with Jana Brockhaus. This deals with communication skills in dealing with artificial intelligence - an increasingly relevant topic in the industry.

Conclusion: REFRESH is more than just an event - it is a source of inspiration

Whether research, practice or networking - REFRESH 2025 offered everything that makes for an inspiring exchange of ideas. Leipzig University once again confirmed its reputation as a think tank in communication management. The next edition can come - we are looking forward to it!

Created by: Cornelia Böhland