Communicating Science

Catalog description

Communicating Science is designed to introduce students to the different communication issues faced by professionals in the STEM disciplines. As noted in the mission statement of the Center for Communicating Science, the central focus of the course is to explore how to communicate complex scientific information to an “audience outside these disciplines.” The need to communicate science accurately and effectively is essential for achieving global objectives, including the education of the general public about health, the environment, and evolving technological issues. To initiate students into the fundamental practices of communicating science to a general audience, students will gather detailed scientific information and use it in producing specific communication genres that include a TED-Talk presentation, a nonfiction essay, a multimodal document, and a podcast. The central aim is to develop creative solutions to real-world problems. Upon completing the course, students will have developed a considerable communication portfolio that they can use when, for example, they apply for jobs or graduate schools. Prerequisite(s): EH 105 or EH 124.