3 ECTS credits
90 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 4024128DNR for all students in the 1st semester at a (D) Master - preliminary level.

Semester
1st semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Taught in
English
Faculty
Faculty of Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences
Department
Biology
Educational team
Diana Di Nitto (course titular)
Activities and contact hours
26 contact hours Lecture
13 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content

Engaging with science is an integral part of our daily lives. This introductory course on Science Communication is therefore designed to illustrate the importance of science outreach and to re-think how we communicate science to diverse audiences, particularly to the general public. The objective of this course is to equip students with the skills needed to design and implement effective methods of science communication that lead to awareness raising and behavioural changes vis-à-vis environmental sustainability.  

 

Topics include e.g. 

  • Ocean Literacy 
  • science of storytelling 
  • intercultural communication 
  • evidence-based considerations of human learning and behaviour  
  • effective communication through a variety of modalities, including oral, written and visual forms of communication, technology and artistic media 
  • science communication campaign strategies 
Additional info

Lectures are always intertwined with short interactive discussion sessions and small assignments.

Learning Outcomes

General Competences

1/ to identify key principles of human learning and behaviour that support science communication 

2/ to describe pitfalls in ‘popular’ avenues for science outreach and to redirect them 

3/ to design science communication campaigns for a variety of audiences, in a variety of media and through the power of storytelling 

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Other Exam determines 100% of the final mark.

Within the Other Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Other exam with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 100% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

Students receive a group assignment in the beginning of the course and present their group work via an oral presentation during the last class(es). In addition, a final report is delivered by a predefined date before the official exam period. Individual evaluation is based on assessment by lecture and peers. 

Calculation of the examination mark 
Average of group presentation (20%), final report (50%) and individual performance (30%). Each part must be have a score higher than 8/20, otherwise the lowest mark will prevail. 

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Marine and Lacustrine Science and Management: Standaard traject