Program Overview

BMSC110 - Communicating Ideas in Science

Year

2024

Credit Points

10

Campus Offering

The unit is offered at the following campuses:

• Brisbane
• Melbourne
• North Sydney

Unit Details

Prerequisites

Nil

Incompatible Units

• BMSC201 Communicating Ideas in Science
• BMSD110 Communicating Ideas in Science

Unit Rationale, Description, and Aim

Effective communication is essential to ensure advancements in science are recognized and impactful. This unit aims to facilitate the development of knowledge and skills in communicating scientific concepts using various media and to a range of audiences.

Learning Outcomes

To successfully complete this unit, students will be able to:

1. Locate, organize, and translate scientific information for various communication purposes
2. Identify and apply best-practice principles to designing high-quality communication
3. Effectively communicate science-related information to a variety of audiences, for various purposes, and with sensitivity
4. Justify the content of communication media by describing the evidence base that supports key messages

Content

Topics will include:

• Purposes of science communications
• Using the literature
  • Selecting appropriate literature
  • Reading critically
  • Extracting key messages
  • Supporting key messages with evidence
• Designing and developing media to communicate science
  • Designing media for impact
  • Using images to convey key messages
  • Ensuring design and delivery are appropriate
• Delivering scientific messages
  • Conveying a message
  • Targeting the audience

Learning and Teaching Strategy and Rationale

The design of this unit aims to foster student-centered active learning and accommodate diverse student needs. It includes a combination of self-paced, online learning, and real-time classes.

Assessment Strategy and Rationale

Assessments will guide students to progressively develop knowledge and skills in communication of science. Ongoing feedback from fellow students and academics is integral to this process.

Overview of Assessments

• Assessment 1: Written assignment (20%) - Students articulate the significance of clear, concise, and professional communication in life sciences.
• Assessment 2: Group assignment (35%) - Students work in groups to create and deliver a presentation.
• Assessment 3: Individual poster and oral presentation (45%) - Students produce and demonstrate a poster on a specific topic and record a vodcast on the same topic for a lay audience.

Representative Texts and References

• Cormick, C. (2019) The Science of Communicating Science: The ultimate guide. Clayton: CSIRO publishing.
• Dean, C. (2009) Am I Making Myself Clear? A Scientist's Guide to Talking to the Public. Cambridge USA: Harvard University Press.
• Knight, D. (2011) Public Understanding of Science: A History of Communicating Scientific Ideas. Abingdon and New York: Routledge Studies.
• Lindsay, D.R. (2020) Scientific Writing = Thinking in Words. 2nd Edition. Collingwood: CSIRO Publishing.
• Olson, R. (2018) Don't Be Such a Scientist. Talking Substance in an Age of Style. 2nd Edition. USA: Island Press.