Module: BIO4104-20 Communicating Science

Level: 4

Credit Value: 20

Module Tutor: Miriam Thavarajah

Module Tutor Contact Details: M.Thavarajah@bathspa.ac.uk

1. Brief description and aims of module:

In an increasingly technological and complex world, the ability to be able to understand scientific issues has never been more valuable. Contemporary issues that affect everyone, including medical advancements such as stem cell research and cancer immunotherapy, environmental issues such as fracking or the use of GM organisms, and global issues such as climate change and food production, are fundamentally scientific issues. Many people consider such science topics to be too complex or difficult to understand, but this is often due to failures in the way that the issues are communicated. People want to know how science relates to them, often called the ‘so what’ question, and it is this that is regularly missing

The aim of the module is to develop your skills in understanding, evaluating and communicating scientific information. It is relevant to a wide range of interests and careers ranging from the more traditionally academic to print, television or radio journalism, media roles, public relations and marketing, public policy, public science events, teaching and many others. All careers require good communication skills and this module is designed to appeal to students from all disciplines (sciences, education, arts and humanities) and provide you with the necessary tools to understand, discuss and communicate scientific issues.

2. Outline syllabus:

We will begin with an introduction to science communication by exploring recent examples of scientific discoveries and how well they were communicated. This will introduce the different methods and purposes of science communication, and we can explore why science communication is important.

Scientific communication through a wide variety of media will be explored. This will include popular science writing, blogs and the media (TV and radio), videos and podcasts, science fairs and museums, citizen science projects, and possibly fiction. We will also briefly look at the more formal channels such as scientific journals and the peer review process. Throughout this we will explore how evidence is presented, how communication differs for different media and for different audiences and how successful the communication is.

These themes will be explored by drawing from a wide range of contemporary issues covering the environment, health, education, politics, scientific controversies and issues raised by the students on the module.

3. Teaching and learning activities:

This module will be delivered by a staff team drawn from a diverse range of disciplines including Biology, Food and Nutrition, Psychology, Geography, Education, Creative Writing and Publishing. In addition, external speakers may be used to present on topical issues.

The module will consist of weekly lectures and interactive seminars. Short lectures will introduce the core topics and provide a framework to the module, but the main approach will be interactive sessions, tutor and student led discussions, and seminars. These may include reviewing successful and unsuccessful science communication efforts, practising writing for different audiences and in different styles, and formative work for assessments. These flexible sessions will allow in depth exploration of the topics introduced in the lectures, further discussion and the opportunity to gain experience and develop materials for the assessments.

Assessment Item 1:

• Assessment Type: CW

• Description: Proposal for a science communication resource (1000 words or equivalent)

• % Weighting: 40%

Assessment Item 2:

• Assessment Type: CW

• Description: Scientific writing (3000 words)

• % Weighting: 60%