BMS3016 : Science Communication
- Offered for Year: 2023/24
- Module Leader(s): Dr Christina Elliott
- Lecturer: Mr Ivan Lazarov
- Owning School: Biomedical, Nutritional and Sports Scien
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 5.0 |
Aims
•To highlight the importance of science communication in the dissemination of information and the public understanding of science
•To explore science communication in various contexts both as a skillset and as a career choice.
•To explore a range of careers in communication and understand the relationship of these careers to bioscience.
•To examine and compare the principles and techniques of science communication in different media and when developing content for different audiences.
•To develop students’ communication, teamworking and overall employability skills by creating a short portfolio of work showcasing their skills in science communication.
Outline Of Syllabus
The module will include:
• How to develop web-based content with regular practice.
• Science communication and public engagement
• Science communication in the media
• Science communication and policy/legal/regulatory affairs
• Science communication within science
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 8:00 | 8:00 | Presentation and completion of coursework, including related reading and writing |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 6 | 1:00 | 6:00 | In person including at least 4 guest lectures |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | In person - small groups drop in sessions with Module Leader to discuss assignments |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 1 | 3:00 | 3:00 | In person - Oral presentations |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 4 | 2:00 | 8:00 | In person x 4 workshops to develop key skills, also relating to module assessments |
| Structured Guided Learning | Structured non-synchronous discussion | 6 | 0:30 | 3:00 | Non-sync online. Participation in online discussion board throughout module |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Fieldwork | 2 | 2:00 | 4:00 | In person - External visits for example the Great North Museum and Centre for Life (or alternatives including remote). |
| Guided Independent Study | Student-led group activity | 8 | 1:00 | 8:00 | Blog & practice development online to share work/receive peer feedback. |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 56:00 | 56:00 | Writing lecture notes, reading and engaging with associate module material |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Module talk | 3 | 1:00 | 3:00 | Synchronous online sessions led by external speakers from industry |
| Total | 100:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Module talks and lectures: The first to introduce the module; the remainder to be delivered with a range of guest speakers working in different roles in science communication. The guest lectures will showcase the breadth of careers in science communication, and will explain both the nature of each role and the communication techniques required. This will allow students to compare science communication in different professional contexts. Students will have the opportunity to pose questions to the guest lecturers to broaden their understanding of science communication.
Portfolio development: During personal study time, students will work individually to structure and write posts pitched for a university student blog. The posts should be inspired by the guest speakers and what they have learned about their career, or a topic of interest related to their degree programme. This will require the students to engage fully with each guest speaker in the lecture; reinforce the learning from the lectures; and allow students to develop their written communication skills whilst producing a portfolio of their work. Peer feedback on these blogs will enable students to critically reflect on content and communication, enabling students to make an informed decision regarding which blogs to submit for assessment.
Fieldwork: Optional visits to local museums will provide students with a greater understanding of the challenges facing communicating science to the public and give a behind-the-scenes look at how public spaces are designed to maximise engagement with science.
Workshops: Will provide guidance on writing a media (press) release, the knowledge from which will be applied throughout the workshop with the result being the writing of media releases for practice and assessment based on a scientific journal article from Newcastle University. The second and third workshops will involve presentation skills, and the sessions will cover voice control, body language and good presenting skills, with ample opportunity for students to practice. Additional and optional further sessions will also be promoted within the module. New skills can then be applied in the oral presentations at the end of the course.
Small group teaching: Sessions with the module leader will allow for the discussion of ideas and assessments to take place and answering of queries through a drop-in surgery.
Structured non-synchronous discussion: An online discussion board will be available throughout the module for students to interact with one another and the module leader, to discuss key module concepts and the general subject area.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written exercise | 1 | M | 50 | Students submit two blog posts for assessment with short reflection on what they have learnt about science communication.3 x 250 words |
| Written exercise | 1 | M | 25 | Produce an article for print media in the format of a media press release. 450 words |
| Oral Examination | 1 | M | 25 | Individual Presentation. 10 minutes in person. |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
Written exercise 1 (750 words): based on a guest lecture and topic of science communication complemented by their own further research, students will individually write 250 word blogs after several of the guest lectures. Blogs must be based on the guest lectures/sessions or on the field of science communication. They will choose two of these for assessment, and will write a further 250-word reflective piece on what they have learned about the skills involved in science communication.
Oral presentation (10 minutes): students will identify and explain key scientific findings from a recent Newcastle University journal publication to a lay audience.
Written exercise 2 (450 words): using the same scientific finding, students will develop a short media release as if produced by the University Press Office.
By focusing on the same issue in bioscience, the presentation and second written exercise will test the students’ practical understanding of the communication techniques required when working in different media, and when preparing information for different audiences.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- BMS3016's Timetable