Description

Science Communication

Description - summary of the module content

Module description

This module includes content delivered by a range of science communicators including Senior Scientist from within Biosciences, University Press Office, and Centre for Medical Mycology Communications Engagement Officers. Through the module you’ll gain an understanding of how science is disseminated to the public, for example via consideration of the Royal Society for Biology Parliamentary Links Day. We will examine strong and poor strategies for communicating science to various audiences and how science information and misinformation can be used to influence public perception. We will also examine the role of a range of media and, using case studies, consider  the approach of the press and their impact on public/government: potential examples include BSE, MMR, influenza, climate change, and obesity. This is a highly interactive module in which you will be required to work in groups for a portion of the time to produce both written documents (a proportion of the module marks will be assigned to the group) and oral presentations, and individually to write a piece of biological journalism (assessed to give individual merit). 

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module aims to give you an understanding of how science is disseminated to the public via a range of science communicators and also how science is communicated to governments, politicians and policy makers. You will examine strong and poor strategies for communicating science to various audiences and how science information and misinformation can be used to change public perception. You will examine the role of written press, TV, radio, www, blogs, etc. and using case studies look at the approach of the press and the impact on public/government potential examples may include e.g. BSE, MMR, influenza, climate change, and obesity. You will use their reflections on these strategies to write your own article on a current story in Biosciences.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Illustrate and analyse the importance of effective communication of science to the public
• 2. Identify and apply effective communication strategies to produce an article
• 3. Critically evaluate the role of different types of media in the communication of science
• 4. Explain the impact of information and misinformation on the public, governments and policy makers

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 5. Apply the principles of peer review to journalism, critically analysing both scientific journalism in the public domain and within your peer group
• 6. Effectively communicate complex scientific ideas to a wide range of audiences
• 7. Apply research-informed acquired knowledge and critical understanding from other biosciences modules

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 8. Communicate effectively arguments, evidence and conclusions using written and oral means in a manner appropriate to the intended audience
• 9. Devise and sustain, with little guidance, a logical and reasoned argument with sound, convincing conclusions
• 10. Analyse and evaluate appropriate data with very limited guidance
• 11. Work in a small team and deal proficiently with the issues that teamwork requires (i.e. communication, motivation, decision-making, awareness, responsibility, and management skills, including setting and working to deadlines)

Syllabus plan

Syllabus plan

Introduction to communication strategies, the importance of effective communication of science for a range of audiences. Role of different media types; video, audio, student-led seminars. Written media: news and feature articles. 

Learning and teaching

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Assessment

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Re-assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will count for 100% of the final mark and will be capped at 40%.

Resources

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Reading will be from the scientific literature, press and internet, as directed by the student and module coordinator.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE page: http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=1812

Module has an active ELE page

Key words search

Science communication, science journalism, scientific reporting, scientific writing