Module BSX-3072:
Science Communication Skills

Module Facts

Run by School of Natural Sciences

10.000 Credits or 5.000 ECTS Credits

Semester 1 & 2

Organiser: Dr Christian Dunn

Overall aims and purpose

Communicating scientific facts and concepts in an accurate and engaging format, using a variety of mediums, is an essential skill for modern scientists. This module is designed to improve students’ overall writing and presentation skills, with the aim of enhancing their overall communication and employability skills. Students will learn how to promote and publicise scientific findings, their work, themselves and their ideas to a wider, mixed audience using a variety of platforms. In doing so students will also gain an understanding in techniques and skills to improve their chances of employment and enterprise opportunities. Students will attend a variety of lectures, seminars and practical sessions held by different experts in their field, in order to learn a wide range of different communication styles, skills and techniques.

Course content

This module will cover key aspects of communicating scientific facts, concepts and ideas across a broad range of platforms and mediums. The use of different of styles will be considered to best promote and disseminate topical subjects. This will include writing and producing content for a variety of different media formats. Personal and professional marketing skills will be investigated, as an important form of scientific-related communication. A series of research seminars will be organised to cover a wide selection of scientific areas and presentation styles, giving students access to topics and academics they may otherwise not have come across. There will be a number of formative assessments throughout the module and an engaging summative assessment allowing students to play to their own strengths in the form of a piece of written or recorded scientific communication.

Assessment Criteria

good

-B / 60%

A good student should have a thorough factual knowledge of the essential facts and key concepts required for effective communication in the demonstrated mediums. The interview skills session, practical communication skills sessions, business presentation, interactive seminars and scientific communication report should all demonstrate an ability to think critically about the subject and to synthesise material not only from lectures, student group exercises and text books but also from on-line resources.

threshold

-D / 40%

A threshold student should have a basic knowledge of the essential facts and key concepts required for effective communication in the demonstrated mediums. The interview skills session, practical communication skills sessions, business presentation, interactive seminars and scientific communication report should all demonstrate an ability to research and organise material from the lectures, student group exercises and text books into a coherent argument.

excellent

-A / 70%

A very good student should have a detailed and conceptual knowledge of the essential facts and key concepts required for effective communication in the demonstrated mediums. The interview skills session, practical communication skills sessions, business presentation, interactive seminars and scientific communication report should all demonstrate knowledge above the expected text book level and inclusion of information from on-line sources, the scientific literature and other modules.

Learning outcomes

  1. Evaluate how different presentation, writing, information-giving and story-telling techniques are needed, depending on the audience, target and medium used, and develop an effective approach to using a variety of them.

  2. Analyse and understand the best method to express scientific findings and concepts to as wide, and as relevant, an audience as possible.

  3. Synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in-order to gain an insight into topical work– and communicate it to a mixed audience.

Assessment Methods

Type Name Description Weight
COURSEWORK Article, briefing document or media presentation

A written piece of work (2,500 words) consisting of either a professionally presented magazine-style article or a briefing document. Or a fully-edited five-minute video/audio presentation. This will require detailed understanding of the subject, appreciation of the best medium to use and accurate communication skills (learning outcomes 1 – 3 will all be evaluated). Although this assessment is 100% of the module regular feedback sessions will be held throughout the module to ensure all students are comfortable with the assessment.

 100.00

Teaching and Learning Strategy

Hours
Private study

Students will need to spend time on researching and producing their assessment, alongside private study investigating the aspects introduced in the lectures and seminars.

 76
Lecture

The course will begin with a “welcome lecture” explaining the structure of the modules and expectations of the students. A series of lectures will then take place over the two semesters covering aspects of science communication and necessary core scientific skills.

The lectures will be complemented by a second teaching block consisting of workshops covering practical skills. Students will gain formative assessment from their peers and staff.

Some of these lectures and workshops will be conducted by guest lectures who are experts in their field.

Finally, “Current Biological Science Topics” is a novel aspect to the module which will cut across both semesters to teach students how to extract key information from scientific presentations, to summarise this information in a concise format, and observe different presentation styles and tecnhiques. Moreover, this part of the module brings students in direct contact with cutting-edge research advancing their text book knowledge. Students will attend a minimum of five talks during the academic year from ongoing research seminar series. At the end of every talk students will have the opportunity to discuss the content and scientific background of the talk with the speaker, the convener of the module and other scientists present. Students are also encouraged to question their supervisors about the presentations. All seminar speakers are asked to give a more general introduction to their research to allow Level 3 students to follow their presentations. Speakers are also encouraged to emphasise key findings and the wider scientific relevance of their work.

 15
Seminar

The lectures will be complemented by a second teaching block consisting of workshops covering practical skills. Students will gain formative assessment from their peers and staff.

Some of these lectures and workshops will be conducted by guest lectures who are experts in their field.

Finally, “Current Biological Science Topics” is a novel aspect to the module which will cut across both semesters to teach students how to extract key information from scientific presentations, to summarise this information in a concise format, and observe different presentation styles and tecnhiques. Moreover, this part of the module brings students in direct contact with cutting-edge research advancing their text book knowledge. Students will attend a minimum of five talks during the academic year from ongoing research seminar series. At the end of every talk students will have the opportunity to discuss the content and scientific background of the talk with the speaker, the convener of the module and other scientists present. Students are also encouraged to question their supervisors about the presentations. All seminar speakers are asked to give a more general introduction to their research to allow Level 3 students to follow their presentations. Speakers are also encouraged to emphasise key findings and the wider scientific relevance of their work.

 9

Transferable skills

  • Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
  • Computer Literacy - Proficiency in using a varied range of computer software
  • Self-Management - Able to work unsupervised in an efficient, punctual and structured manner. To examine the outcomes of tasks and events, and judge levels of quality and importance
  • Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
  • Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sensitevely with others
  • Presentation - Able to clearly present information and explanations to an audience. Through the written or oral mode of communication accurately and concisely.
  • Argument - Able to put forward, debate and justify an opinion or a course of action, with an individual or in a wider group setting
  • Self-awareness & Reflectivity - Having an awareness of your own strengths, weaknesses, aims and objectives. Able to regularly review, evaluate and reflect upon the performance of yourself and others

Subject specific skills

  • Recognize the moral, ethical and social issues relating to the subject.
  • Consider issues from a range of interdisciplinary perspectives.
  • Collect, analyse and interpret primary and/or secondary data using appropriate qualitative and/or quantitative techniques.
  • Prepare effective maps, diagrams and visualizations.
  • Engagement with current subject developments and their application.
  • Engage in debate and/or discussion with specialists and non-specialists using appropriate language.
  • Demonstrate the independence and skills required for continuing professional development

Courses including this module

Compulsory in courses: