Arte Wissenschaft

Editorial tone

Engaging, factual, humorous. Make science accessible without dumbing down. Never dramatizing or alarmist. Topicality and practical relevance come first. Social and ethical aspects of research are considered. Entertaining, but never silly. Educational in the best sense.

What this format covers

• ●Current research findings and their practical significance
• ●Medicine, health, neuroscience
• ●Environment, climate, sustainability — scientifically grounded
• ●Technological innovation and its societal consequences
• ●Social and ethical dimensions of scientific research
• ●Nutrition, psychology, behavioral research
• ●Research in action — scientists at work

What this format does NOT want

• ●Auteur films or essayistic features
• ●Purely historical history of science without contemporary relevance
• ●Specialist-audience formats with high prerequisite density
• ●Dramatizing or alarmist portrayals
• ●Esoteric or pseudoscientific topics
• ●Pure natural history films without scientific inquiry

Visual expectations

High visual execution is mandatory. CGI and 3D animation for micro and macro processes. Extensive archive material. Lab footage, field research, experiments. Infographics and data visualization. Clear, bright aesthetic. Science must be VISIBLE. No talking-head aesthetic. Reference: Quarks, but more cinematic.

Expected exposé structure

1. Title + subtitle (curiosity-inducing, not academic)
2. Logline (2–3 sentences: what research, why relevant, what surprises)
3. Exposé body text with clear scientific question
4. Protagonist(s) — researchers with concrete work
5. Scientific state of the art and source base
6. Visual execution / CGI concept
7. Production company, author, contact

Example productions

• Unser Hirn ist, was es isst
• Xenius — Die Wissens-Sendung von ARTE
• Die Macht der Viren
• Mikroplastik — Unsichtbar, aber überall
• Schlaf — Das große Rätsel