MPhil - Science Communication Course (Michaelmas term, core)
Science Communication in Media, Business and Research
Ted Davis (Coordinator)
This course aims to strengthen science communication skills in three key areas: in the media, in business and in research. First, students will be introduced to examples of science communication in the media, specifically the written press and radio. A series of examples classes, led by guest speakers will demonstrate the techniques used in producing a written article on scientific research, suitable for a large audience. At the examples classes, students will have the chance at first hand to learn, as well as experiment with, the skills and techniques demonstrated to them.
The business part of the course is an introduction to the process of creating, setting up, and funding a new technology-based company. The programme will focus on entrepreneurship, showing with examples and group work, how to pitch an idea to potential investors. Lectures will include the opportunity to hear presentations given by experienced entrepreneur scientists. At the end of the programme the student should be able to examine a new technological opportunity and evaluate whether it is practicable and sensible to use it as a component of a new start-up or whether it would be better commercialised through other routes.
Finally, the attention of the course will switch to the research domain, and ways in which ideas can be presented by means of an poster or oral presentation to a more specialised audience. The tasks associated with this part of the course will complement students’ activities at other points during the Master’s course, most notably in the literature review task.
By the conclusion of the course, students should feel comfortable with presenting new ideas to a variety of audiences and in a variety of formats.