This course provides an introduction to contemporary social and communication issues in science, technology, and society. Why communicate science with the public, the media or the government? What are the best ways to go about it and what are the potential pitfalls? Topics covered include: the image of science and how science is reported in the media; controversial issues in science and how people perceive them; science and technology in cross-cultural contexts; understanding risk and uncertainty; informal learning settings; and the problems arising at the interface of science, industry and government.

The course focuses heavily on current events and issues facing scientists, science communicators, policy makers, and the community. Students are encouraged to discuss their own perceptions of science and technology in the context of the broader community, and the problems with (and solutions to) communicating science to non-expert audiences. A strong emphasis is placed on teamwork and students are expected to take an active approach to learning.

Entry to this option requires approval of the course convenor. Students prepare, and participate in, a series of seminars which consider current issues in science communication practice and research in some depth, focusing on the greater context of science and science communication research, practice and policy. Additional reading will be required. Each student's seminar will be assessed by two members of staff and will constitute 12.5% of the student's marks. To accommodate this, the final exam will only be worth 22.5% of the course marks for HPO students instead of the usual 30%, and HPO students will not be required to participate in the SCOM2001 conference in the same way. Topics will be decided according to student interests in consultation with the course convenor.

On satisfying the requirements of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Work as part of a team in a collaborative environment
2. Understand and describe the key issues and importance of effective scientific and technological communication
3. Recognise how social contexts affect the practice and communication of science
4. Translate and report on scientific writing
5. Evaluate the effectiveness of the presentation of science in various media
6. Synthesise personal interests, values and aspirations with professional development

• Report on major project investigating experts' experiences of communicating science (20%; LO 1, 2, 3, 5, 6)
• Research & reference task; completed individually but feeds into major project (10%; LO 2, 4)
• Project proposal for major project (10%; LO 1, 5)
• Presentation on major project (10%; LO 1, 2, 5, 6)

• "Translation" of a scientific paper into a "plain English" news article (15%; LO 4)
• Final exam (30%; LO 2, 3)
• Participation in SCOM2001 conference (5%; LO 5)