Overview

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

As the role of science in society grows, so too does the need for effective science communication. Students will explore why we communicate science, the importance of knowing your audience, and best practices for a range of science communication approaches from traditional media, face to face, to online.

COURSE DETAILS:

Course Topics:  
Introduction: Why communicate science?
Communicating to scientists vs non-experts
Who is the audience?
What’s your message: Issue? Problem? So what? Solutions?  Benefits?
Refining your messages for different audiences
Communication formats:
Traditional media: Print newspapers, magazines, radio, TV
Face to Face: Elevator pitch, presentations, TED talks, teaching, museums, live performances, informal learning environments, classrooms, debates, science festivals, café scientifique
Online: Blogs, websites, social media, podcasts, videos, twitter, infographics
Communicating Science Best Practises
Speaking Science
Storytelling
Writing Science
Doing Science Importance of Visuals
Evaluating Effectiveness of Science Communication


Course Details:
3 lecture hours/week; 1 tutorial hour/week
The tutorial time slot is included for Q and A, small group presentations and activities, feedback on assignments, group projects, and lecture reserve days.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Learning Outcome: By the end of this course students will;
1. Appreciate that communication with many different audiences is an important part of the science venture, and that scientists communicate with the public in a variety of ways BY writing journal responses to guest lecturers and responding to reflection questions
2. Demonstrate an understanding of audience BY tailoring a message to a variety of different audiences and choosing an appropriate communication approach for each. Justify your choices.
3. Develop a message to communicate to an audience BY using a message box.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of the traditional and online communication approaches and best practices BY critiquing a science communication (blog, video, podcast, twitter), demonstrating understanding of use of jargon, visuals, message inverted pyramid.
5. Work individually and in teams to design, develop and present science communications (activity, visual, dramatic, written) BY a) presenting a 1 minute science elevator pitch, b) writing a science blog post, and c) designing, developing and presenting a final group project.

Grading

Materials

REQUIRED READING: