TOPICS: COMMUNICATING SCIENCE in Fall 2021 (CM3091)

The question of how, where and when to communicate science is more important than ever. Scientists often work in their own disciplinary spheres, and usually receive little or no training on how to communicate their research more broadly. Traversing a global pandemic has brought questions of communication to the fore. In this course, we will explore a series of hot topics that have been in the news over recent years to examine the science and its communication. During the semester, students will write and produce different kinds of media around specific topics.

Scientific disciplines have traditionally shaped their own forms of communication. For example, conservation biologists might be more used to working with local or national governments and organizations, while laboratory or theoretical scientists might have limited contact with the outside world beyond applying for specialized grants. This course will bridge the gap between scientific discourse and its effects by exploring the many ways that science can, should, and should not be communicated to various audiences. How do the original scientific publications differ from the media’s explanations of these studies? What happens to the language of science as it is adapted to mass media communication? Which channels have more impact as we move from an era of mass media to social media? How do we gauge the quality of the articles, podcasts, and videos we are viewing? What specific strategies do journalists use to capture our attention, to explain complex scientific concepts, and to convince us that these topics are important? How do these strategies and techniques differ across different kinds of media?