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Science Communication in a Changing World

Module description

We live in an era where information (and misinformation) is readily available in the public domain through various media; from traditional written media, through social media and podcasts, to creative media.  This module aims to bring together both the science and social science elements of the discipline of Geography; taking a theoretical and practical approach to understanding how science communication, with particular reference to geographical examples, has developed through time.  The module will provide a mixture of theoretical / contextualisation sessions, practical hands-on workshops and seminars with guest lecturers and communication practitioners. The module will be interactive and engaging, enabling the student to gain the conceptual and practical tools to plan, implement and evaluate strategies for communicating geographical and environmental science.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The module will weave together the theoretical and practical elements of science communication applying these to the creation of different media and topics focused on geographical and environmental science. We will begin by considering how stories are constructed around the facts and contexts of environmental change in different media, moving on to look at how audio and visual media add new constraints and opportunities for communicating geographical and environmental science. We then explore the development of creative practices and interactive methods which seek to appeal to audiences through different forms of emotional and sensory engagement. Throughout we reflect on how these methods have emerged and developed alongside changing paradigms of science communication (from deficit models to public dialogue), how they link to different policy and political imperatives, and how they seek to engage audiences and affect change. The core module staff will cover the theoretical and contextual content, whereas the practical examples will bring in practitioner examples in each of three themes: Written, audio/visual and interactive/creative media.  These practitioners will be a mixture of academic staff who engage in science communication and external contributors.

The module will be delivered through a mix of contextual lectures and practical sessions led by those who are actively engaged in science communication in a geographical context. Students will take part in lectures, seminars, and practical workshops. Lectures will provide the framework for establishing and evaluating effective methods for communicating geographical and environmental science. Seminars and workshops will provide opportunities for discussion and interactive engagement with practitioners. Both will underpin the development of the strategic and practical skills required for success completion of the module assessment: a plan for developing, implementing and evaluating communication around an environmental issue of your choice. The plan will draw from all three themes listed above (and in the syllabus outline below) with one fully developed example showcased.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

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

• 1. Develop a theoretical understanding of how and why science communication methods and their audiences have evolved over time
• 2. Apply varying modes of science communication reflectively and creatively in a geographical context

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

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

• 3. Identify the diverse range of approaches to the communication of geographical knowledge, in the context of the broader science communication agenda
• 4. Consider how the contested nature of knowledge can be communicated to particular audiences

ILO: Personal and key skills

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

• 5. Communicate complex ideas effectively using varying communication approaches
• 6. Self-evaluation of, and reflection on, the level of success of outcomes

Syllabus plan

The broad topics that will be covered in the model area as follows (though the specific examples in each category will vary year to year based on staff availability):

1. Introduction to science communication
2. Narratives: Written media practical examples
3. Changing paradigms in science communication
4. Sound and Vison: Audio / Visual media practical examples
5. Engaging and evaluating audiences
6. Creative: Interactive / creative media practical examples
7. Developing, implementing, and evaluating a communication plan

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

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

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

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Science Communication : A Practical Guide for Scientists (Bowater and Yeoman, 2012)
• Effective Science Communication (Illingworth and Allen 2020)
• Science Communication: An Introduction (van Dam et al. 2020)
• A Field Guide for Science Writers (Blum et al. 2005)
• The Oxford Handbook of the Science of Science Communication (Hall Jamieson et al. 2017)
• Exploring Science Communication (Felt and Davies 2020)
• The Routledge Handbook of Scientific Communication (Hanganu-Bresch et al 2022)