idw – Informationsdienst Wissenschaft
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Numerous academic institutions from the German-speaking world left Platform X in January 2025 following a widely recognised public appeal. By now, more than 120 universities and research institutes have joined the call to cease communication on X. This collective withdrawal underscores the scientific community’s commitment to values such as diversity, freedom, and academic integrity.
The decision for the joint "SciXit" is based on the assessment that the platform no longer meets the requirements for factual and respectful communication. Furthermore, scientific organisations emphasise the importance of resource efficiency: the time and energy spent on X can be used more effectively on other social networks to share research findings. Major institutions within the German Alliance of Science Organisations, including the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), and the German Science and Humanities Council, have also completed their withdrawal from X.
By taking this step, the participating institutions are sending a strong signal in favour of an open and constructive discussion culture and reaffirming their commitment to fact-based communication. Decentralised social media platforms such as Bluesky and Mastodon are often cited as alternatives to the former Twitter network. The non-profit "OpenPortability" platform (openportability.org) facilitates the transfer of user data from X, making it easier to transition to open platforms.
Participating Institutions:
Academy of Fine Arts Nuremberg
Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences
Anhalt University of Applied Sciences
Bauhaus University, Weimar
Berlin University of the Arts
Berliner Hochschule für Technik
Bielefeld University
Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg
Braunschweig University of Art (HBK)
Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design
Catholic University of Applied Sciences North Rhine-Westphalia
Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt
Center for Advanced Internet Studies (CAIS)
City University of Applied Sciences Bremen
Cologne University of Applied Sciences
Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences
European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder)
Fachhochschule Dortmund
Ferdinand-Braun-Institut, Leibniz-Institut für Höchstfrequenztechnik (FBH)
FernUniversität in Hagen
Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences
Free University of Berlin
Friedrich Schiller University Jena
Furtwangen University
German Association for Palliative Medicine
German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke (DIfE)
German Ornithologists' Society
German Sport University Cologne
Goethe University Frankfurt
Hamburg University of Applied Sciences
Hamburg University of Music and Drama
HAWK University of applied sciences and arts Hildesheim/Holzminden/Göttingen
Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf
Hochschule Bochum
Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg
Hochschule der Bildenden Künste Saar
Hochschule für nachhaltige Entwicklung Eberswalde
Hochschule für Philosophie München
Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Umwelt Nürtingen-Geislingen
Hochschule Landshut
Hochschule München University of Applied Sciences
Hochschule Neubrandenburg
Hochschule Osnabrück
Hochschule RheinMain
Humboldt University of Berlin
Ilmenau University of Technology
Institute of Avian Research
Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB)
IU International University of Applied Sciences
Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
Justus-Liebig-Gesellschaft
Kempten University of Applied Sciences
Kiel University
Konstanz University of Applied Sciences
Leibniz Center for Literary and Cultural Research
Leibniz Centre for Contemporary History Potsdam (ZZF)
Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT)
Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy
Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP)
Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW)
Leibniz Institute for Catalysis (LIKAT)
Leibniz Institute for East and Southeast European Studies (IOS)
Leibniz Institute for Educational Trajectories
Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI)
Leibniz Institute for Psychology (ZPID)
Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education (IPN)
Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB)
Leibniz Institute of European History
Leibniz Institute of Virology (LIV)
Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI)
Leibniz PostDoc Network
Leibniz University Hannover
Leibniz-Lab Pandemic Preparedness Hamburg
Lutheran University of Applied Sciences Nuremberg
Mainz University of Applied Sciences
Max Weber Foundation - German Humanities Institutes Abroad
Medical University of Innsbruck
Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences
Protestant University of Applied Sciences Ludwigsburg
Protestant University Wuppertal
Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center
Reutlingen University
Ruhr West University of Applied Sciences
RWTH Aachen
Saarland University
Senckenberg – Leibniz Institution for Biodiversity and Earth System Research
Stuttgart Technical University of Applied Sciences
Technical University of Applied Sciences Lübeck
Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt
Technical University of Braunschweig
Technical University of Darmstadt
Technische Hochschule Georg Agricola – University of Applied Sciences
Technische Hochschule Nürnberg
Technische Hochschule Wildau – Technical University of Applied Sciences
THM - University of Applied Sciences
Trier University
TU Dresden
Ulm University
Universitiy of Bamberg
Universitiy of Greifswald
Universitiy of Heidelberg
Universitiy of Hohenheim
Universitiy of Innsbruckhamburg
Universitiy of Konstanz
Universitiy of Münster
Universitiy of Regensburg
Universitiy of Siegen
University of Applied Sciences Potsdam
University of Applied Sciences, Kaiserslautern
University of Bayreuth
University of Duisburg-Essen
University of Erfurt
University of Erlangen–Nuremberg
University of Freiburg
University of Göttingen
University of Kassel
University of Koblenz
University of Lübeck
University of Marburg
University of Music and Theatre Munich
University of Passau
University of Potsdam
University of Wuerzburg
Westsächsische Hochschule Zwickau – University of Applied Sciences
WZB Berlin Social Science Center
YMCA University of Applied Science
Zeppelin University, Friedrichshafen
More than 120 academic institutions join the SciXit movement
Illustration: HHU/Paul Schwaderer
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More than 120 academic institutions join the SciXit movement
Illustration: HHU/Paul Schwaderer
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