Science Communication I: Sharing Science With a General Audience

Course Description

In this introductory level course, students will learn about the importance of science communication and gain a general overview of the field. We'll cover how to determine and reach your audience with various formats of communication, such as journalism, media relations, and social media, among others. Students will examine ethics, accountability, and the use and impact of AI in science communication while exploring potential career paths for full time science communicators. By the end of this course, students will have started their own portfolio of work and will have the option to continue their studies in the subsequent course, Science Communication II: Building Trust and Making an Impact.

 Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of the course, you should be able to

• Explain complex scientific topics for general non-scientist audiences.
• Create compelling stories about scientific research.
• Implement ethics and accountability for effective science communication.
• Evaluate different career paths in science communication.

 Topics Include

• Introduction to science communication: its history, relevance for STEM professionals, and major formats
• Knowing your audience: tailoring messaging, avoiding jargon, and building narrative structure
• Core writing skills: science journalism, press releases, op-eds, and storytelling techniques
• Multimedia and visuals: social media strategies and data visualization
• Ethics, accuracy, and career development in science communication 

 Skills Required:

This course is designed for those with a background in science, research, and/or communications.