HIV Mythbusters: When Students, Scientists, and the Community Learn Together

Innovative teaching thrives where science meets society. With the newly funded microproject “HIV Mythbusters”, Prof. Daniel Sauter and Dr. Kristina Hopfensperger are testing a new “Students as Partners” teaching format that connects advanced virology education with real-world perspectives.

The project will take place within the Master’s course Advanced Infection Biology and will involve students alongside representatives of the AIDS-Hilfe Tübingen-Reutlingen e.V., including people living with HIV. Over two interactive sessions, participants will explore common myths, fears, and misunderstandings surrounding HIV, from both scientific and everyday perspectives.

After short introductory inputs on HIV biology, therapy, and the social realities of living with HIV, students and community partners will independently identify widely circulating myths. These will then be discussed together in a moderated “mythbusting” exchange using interactive elements such as live polls, quizzes, and structured discussion formats.  Beyond correcting misinformation, the project encourages students to reflect on their role as future scientists and communicators of biomedical knowledge.