How can citizens be approached in public spaces in order to involve them in research, ask them questions or initiate short conversations? The TD-Lab of the Berlin University Alliance has developed, tested and reflected on the format "Clowning for new research ideas". The aim was to take up research impulses from the people as part of the co-exploration of transdisciplinary research. However, the format can also be used for scientific communication purposes. This workshop report shows why the format was developed, which mechanisms were used to address people with clowns and which results could be achieved with clowning. It also reflects on what the format can be adapted for and where its limitations lie.
Opitz et al. (2026) studied this question.