Science Communication

HSTM60182 Science Communication 30 Semester 2 Postgraduate Taught Level 6 Jane Gregory Unit coordinator Faculty of Life Sciences 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Masters/Integrated Masters P4 ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 15.0 Today the sciences are linked to society through many different channels of communication. Science meets the public in public controversies on science and technology issues that involve scientists as well as journalists, politicians and the citizenry as a whole. Debates have shifted from explaining science to the public to discussing science with the public. This course explores the structure, meanings, and implications of "public communication of science and technology” (PCST) primarily by reading scholarly research about the field that examines the contexts in which communication about science occurs. We will look at the motivations of and constraints on people involved in producing information about science for nonprofessional audiences while analyzing the functions of public communication of science and technology. We will also try to link knowledge about PCST to research in communication more broadly, in order to develop new knowledge about science communication. To broaden their understandings of PCST students will construct their own public communications about science and technology.    Course sessions form a connected series of case studies focusing on various aspects of science communication. Course sessions will cover the following themes: <ul> <li> Introduction – Science and its Publics</li> <li> Public Understanding of Science and Public Engagement with Science</li> <li> Science Museums and Science Centres</li> <li> News Content and News Production</li> <li> Public Understanding of Science and Policy Making</li> <li> Popular Science Magazines and Books</li> <li> Alternative Modes of Scientific Communication</li> <li> Media Frames and Media Effects</li> <li> Risk Communication</li> <li> Science Documentaries</li> <li> Wildlife and Natural History Films</li> <li> Science in Fictional Media</li> </ul> Today the sciences are linked to society through many different channels of communication. Science meets the public in public controversies on science and technology issues that involve scientists as well as journalists, politicians and the citizenry as a whole. Debates have shifted from explaining science to the public to discussing science with the public. This course explores the structure, meanings, and implications of "public communication of science and technology” (PCST) primarily by reading scholarly research about the field that examines the contexts in which communication about science occurs. We will look at the motivations of and constraints on people involved in producing information about science for nonprofessional audiences while analyzing the functions of public communication of science and technology. We will also try to link knowledge about PCST to research in communication more broadly, in order to develop new knowledge about science communication. To broaden their understandings of PCST students will construct their own public communications about science and technology.   By the end of this unit, a student will will be able to assess critically primary and secondary sources and to write within the full scholarly apparatus. In addition, they will be able to understand the communication of science, technology and medicine from a communication studies perspective, appreciate the purposes and goals behind the communication of science, and comprehend science communication’s place in scientific practice. They will also increase their media literacy, develop interpretative and analytical thinking, and improve their general communication skills. Analytical skills Students will qualitatively analyse primary and secondary sources to understand the goals/purpose of science communication. Oral communication The course is seminar based requiring the students to contribute to the conversation and verbally explain their positions on different topics to the rest of the group. Written communication As part of their assessment, students will submit two written projects based on a topic within science communication. The course is taught using a series of interactive seminars based on required readings. Students will also be asked to critique existing examples of the public communication of science including media texts and museum exhibits. Short lectures may sometimes be used in course sessions to provide background information. 0 Other 100% Assessment tasks:Essay Project - 3500 words - 50% weighting within unitPCST Project - A PCST presentation combined with justification/essay drawing from academic literature - 3000 words - 50 % weighting Students will receive weekly feedback on their analyses of readings in the course. In addition, students will have discussions with the unit coordinator concerning essays topics before essays are researched and written. After essays are marked students have one on one meetings with unit coordinator to discuss marks and areas for improvement. Prerequisite HSTM60511 (except by special arrangement) Y Gregory, Jane and Steve Miller (1998) Science in Public (New York: Plenum Trade). Klaidman, Stephen (1991) Health in the Headlines (Oxford: Oxford University Press).   0 0 0