Science Communication and Society

Course Structure

1. Science at Work
2. Science Communication and Society Project
3. History of Science and Communication
4. Museums, Material Culture and the History of Science
5. Work Placement
6. Deformed, Deranged and Deviant
7. Geiger Counter at Ground Zero: Explorations of Nuclear America
8. equip you to communicate science effectively in a variety of media
9. enable you to understand the social and professional processes by which scientific knowledge is made and communicated
10. give you an understanding of the process of scientific investigation
11. provide a stimulating, research-active environment for teaching and learning in which you are supported and motivated to achieve your academic and personal potential
12. facilitate a learning experience (integration and application of knowledge) through a variety of teaching and assessment methods
13. give you the experience of undertaking an independent research project or dissertation
14. prepare you for further training and employment in science and non-science based careers by developing transferable and cognitive skills
15. develop the qualities needed for employment in situations requiring the exercise of professionalism, independent thought, personal responsibility and decision-making in complex and unpredictable circumstances
16. provide access to as wide a range of students as practicable.
17. significant episodes in the history of science, technology and medicine, from the scientific revolution to the present
18. the social and cultural mechanisms that have shaped and shape the production of scientific knowledge
19. the role of communicational media in propagating and shaping scientific knowledge
20. scholarly debates surrounding the philosophy of the public understanding of science
21. ethical context of the practice of science and its communication
22. the principles and theories of public engagement from a critical perspective
23. current theoretical perspectives on how to communicate science to the public
24. the impact of science upon a range of professional disciplines
25. how different professions deal with complex scientific information and disseminate this information to their clients and/or audiences
26. career opportunities in science communication
27. the social, political and economic impact of science
28. how research leads to knowledge.
29. how to understand the range and scope of teaching and assessment methods and study skills relevant to the programme
30. gather, organise and deploy evidence, data and information from a variety of secondary and primary sources
31. the ability to identify, investigate and analyse primary and secondary information
32. how to differentiate between arguments
33. how to present reasoned defensible arguments based on reflection, study and critical judgement
34. how to understand the needs of different modes of communication for different audiences
35. engagement in effective and intelligent discussion with people of varied training and perspectives
36. development of intellectual capacity and skills spanning humanities, sciences and social sciences.
37. how to develop critical faculties to deconstruct and interpret aspects of scientific culture.
38. an awareness of the various techniques and processes used in the production of scientific knowledge, whether for expert or lay audiences
39. an understanding of the nature of science and its socio-cultural role, past and present
40. how to find information on science communication and the history of science from a wide range of information sources (eg journals, books, electronic databases) and maintain an effective information retrieval strategy
41. an understanding and application of scholarly methods and concepts used in the critical study of science, technology and medicine.
42. the ability to reflect on, and manage, your own learning and seek to make use of constructive feedback from your peers and staff to enhance your own performance and personal skills
43. independence of mind and initiative
44. self-discipline and self-motivation
45. the ability to work in a team and have respect for others\x92 reasoned views
46. communication: the ability to organise information clearly, create and respond to textual and visual sources (eg images, graphs, tables), present information orally, adapt style for different audiences
47. numeracy: the ability to read graphs and tables, integrate numerical and non-numerical information, understand the limits and potentialities of medical, scientific, legal and ethical disciplines
48. information technology: the ability to evaluate critically and communicate effectively in a number of the following formats: written documents, email, databases, spreadsheets, PowerPoint, web sites, social networking media.