Science Communication

Learn how to communicate science to the public from world-leading experts. You’ll explore the use of different platforms and methods, to find your voice within the science communication world.

Course description

Taught by subject experts and in collaboration with the Department of Journalism, this course will help you to develop the skills to communicate science effectively to a wide range of audiences. You know your science subject, we will teach you how to be excellent at sharing it with others.

Through hands-on training, you’ll learn how to inform, educate and entertain people without the same specialist knowledge, covering the latest topics in science that interest you. Training sessions can cover writing skills, how to record and edit content for film and television, social media, and the design of science communication activities. Regular small group workshops give you the time to debate and discuss topics, and practise key communication skills.

In completing these activities you’ll produce a portfolio of high quality science communication work and develop a range of experience to include on your CV, as you consider the relationship between science, the media, and the wider public, and the role that science communication plays in society.

Your final project dissertation can be based around a print, broadcast or digital portfolio, an event you've organised or a work placement you've completed. This can be customisable to your interests and cover any STEM subject you’re passionate about.

Previous students have based their dissertation around work they've completed at organisations ranging from National Geographic to the CERN research institute in Switzerland.

Example research projects include:

• Let them lead the way: engaging children in climate policy
• Science Communication in a pandemic: How effective are virtual conferences?
• The role of social media in the dissemination of public health messaging
• Writing women into the history of science; challenging the gender gap in STEM
• Which paper is best? A study of comprehensiveness of news articles on gravitational waves
• Investigating the quality and validity of Covid-19 reporting in the UK press
• Animation as a form of science education; what determines successful education animations?