Exploring Science Communication

via Coursera

Go to class Write review

Details

Go to class

Provider

Coursera
Pricing

Paid Course
Languages

English
Certificate

Certificate Available
Effort

12 weeks, 1 hour a week
Sessions

Self-Paced
Level

Beginner
Subtitles

English

Overview

Google, IBM & Meta Certificates – 40% Off

One plan covers every Professional Certificate on Coursera.

Unlock All Certificates

This course explores how science communication influences public understanding, policy, and cultural perspectives across diverse social contexts. Learners will examine approaches to communicating science, health, climate issues, and forensic technologies while understanding the role of media, identity, and public engagement. Through conceptual frameworks and practical case studies, the course helps learners analyze how scientific knowledge is created, interpreted, and shared in public spaces. Participants will develop skills to evaluate communication strategies, audience responses, and the social impact of science communication. What makes this course unique is its integration of Science and Technology Studies (STS) perspectives with real-world examples from climate communication, public health, digital platforms, and forensic genetics. Learners will connect theory with practical communication challenges faced by institutions and policymakers. This course is ideal for students, researchers, communication professionals, and anyone interested in science and society. No advanced technical background is required. Copyright ©2020 by Sage Publications Limited. All rights reserved, including rights for text and data mining and training of artificial technologies or similar technologies. Published by Sage Publications Limited, London. Used by arrangement with Sage Publications Limited.

Syllabus

Introduction

This module introduces the significance of science communication in fostering public engagement, enhancing scientific literacy, and shaping evidence-informed policy. Learners will explore the evolving role of science communicators and examine why studying science communication is vital for contemporary societies. The module also previews key conceptual frameworks that will be used throughout the course.

Conceptual Framings

This module introduces key conceptual frameworks from Science and Technology Studies (STS) to examine how knowledge is created, communicated, and valued in science communication. Learners will explore the relational and dynamic nature of science communication practices, considering the roles of co-production, knowing spaces, and values in shaping scientific discourse. By analyzing these frameworks, students will gain tools to critically assess and engage with diverse science communication contexts.

What Does an STS Approach to Science Communication Look Like?

This module explores how Science and Technology Studies (STS) perspectives reshape our understanding of science communication, emphasizing its co-productive, performative, and situated nature. Learners will investigate the roles of facts, expertise, materiality, space, time, and affect in shaping public engagement with science. By examining these dimensions, participants will gain tools to critically analyze and reflect on the practices and impacts of science communication.

Object Biographies

This module explores how the biography of a scientific object, specifically the gene gun, influences science communication across various settings such as laboratories, museums, public debates, and art galleries. Learners will investigate the shifting roles and meanings of objects as they move through different spaces and audiences. The module highlights the interplay between material culture and public engagement in science.

Public Science and Public Space

This module explores how public parks and landscapes serve as platforms for science communication and ecological engagement. Through case studies in San Francisco and Berlin, learners will examine the interplay between park design, public interaction with nature, and the evolution of ecological narratives. The module also addresses the challenges and opportunities of transforming natural spaces into interactive learning environments.

Visual Climate Communication

This module explores how visual and textual strategies in popular science magazines, particularly National Geographic, have shaped public understanding of climate change. Learners will analyze the evolution of climate discourse and the interplay between images, text, and scientific facts in media communication. The module also examines debates around natural versus human-driven climate change and the political role of science magazines.

Public Health Communication

This module explores how anecdotes are used in media narratives to shape public understanding of obesity, emphasizing their role in conveying moral values and individual responsibility. Learners will analyze the interplay between storytelling, societal attitudes, and the mediatisation of health issues. Through case studies and media analysis, participants will gain insight into the construction and impact of public health communication.

Constructing Science in Public

This module explores how science communication shapes public understanding by constructing scientific realities through language, framing, and discourse. Learners will investigate methods for analyzing science texts, focusing on the case of synthetic yeast, and reflect on responsible communication practices. By examining real-world examples, students will gain tools to critically assess how scientific knowledge is assembled and presented to diverse audiences.

Science, Emotion, and Identity Online

This module explores how emotions influence science communication and the formation of social identities within online communities. Through a case study of the IFLScience Facebook page, learners will analyze the interplay between emotion, scientific discourse, and digital identity construction. Key concepts include boundary-work, social identity, and the co-production of science and emotion in digital spaces.

Co-producing Knowledge and Nation-States

This module explores how nutritional communication in Israel has influenced societal values, citizenship, and the construction of national identity. Learners will examine the historical evolution of dietary guidelines, the negotiation of expertise, and the shifting roles of women in shaping food practices. Through case studies, the module highlights the interplay between nutrition, politics, and social change.

Communicating Forensic Genetics

This module explores how forensic geneticists communicate their work, manage public expectations, and maintain scientific authority in legal contexts. Learners will examine boundary-work strategies, risk communication, and the impact of scientists' perceptions of their audiences. Through qualitative insights, the module highlights the complexities of conveying forensic genetics to diverse publics.

Connections, Assemblages, and Open Ends

This module explores how science communication operates as a set of narratives, infrastructures, and tacit forms of governance within society. Learners will examine the material, digital, and participatory dimensions of science communication, as well as its global situatedness and the gaps in current approaches. By reflecting on Science and Technology Studies (STS) perspectives, students will gain tools for more inclusive and critical analysis.