MPMA 6603 - Science Communication

Prerequisite: MPMA 6607. The purpose of this course is to train emerging scientists to communicate beyond academia by developing research translation and science communication skills. Students will develop the critical skills necessary to communicate about science with a variety of audiences. Scientific information presented in professional and popular media will be reviewed. Topics addressed will include public skepticism, misconceptions, misinformation and relevance, reporting statistics, as well as "language" barriers between science and the public. In addition to learning effective communication, students will learn to evaluate the quality of science presentation available across various media from popular sources (news, websites, social media, magazines) to professional sources (scientific journals). The course will cover scientific writing styles, scientific literature, graphical information, and the presentation of information using photography, videos, and podcasts. 3 credits.