Introductory description

This module aims to help you to communicate your research findings accurately and concisely to different audiences. The main focus is on how to communicate in print, radio and TV to non-scientific audiences, but the skills will translate across to your research reports and presentations. It is based on a 3-day course at Warwick and BBC Coventry & Warwickshire which will consist of a variety of seminars and workshops by experts in the field. You will also complete a follow-up project focussing on communicating science.

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

This module aims to help you to communicate your research findings accurately and concisely to different audiences. The main focus is on how to communicate in print, radio and TV to non-scientific audiences, but the skills will translate across to your research reports and presentations.

It is based on a 3-day module (including 1 evening) at the University Warwick, possibly including a visit to BBC Coventry & Warwickshire, which will consist of a variety of seminars by experts in the field on for example, where news originates, how to construct a press release, critical analysis of the media, and how to respond to journalistic enquiries. During the course you will have a chance to practice several activities including:

• presentations of you research for non-specialist audiences;
• writing a press release;
• contributing to a creations of a radio programme;
• re-writing a scientific article for a general audience;
• and an one-on-one radio interview with a journalist.

There will be a considerable amount of group work including generating a mock radio documentary to be recorded in local BBC studios. The course is followed up by an individual project, which involves a communication activity targeted at non-specialists.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Understand the varying needs of different types of non-specialist audiences
• Be able, orally and in writing (including on the web), to communicate their research to non-specialists in an engaging, accurate, and appropriate manner
• Understand how journalists and the mass-media operate and be able to generate press releases and communicate effectively with journalists
• Be able to effectively communicate and engage with policy makers, schools groups, and specialists from an unrelated field.
• Prepare an independent science communication project

Interdisciplinary

Communicating across disciplines with module participants from different SEM departments

Subject specific skills

i. Experience of delivering complex scientific concepts to a variety of audiences
ii. Experience of working with different media to create engaging scientific documents and presentations

Transferable skills

Key Skills
i. Oral presentation skills
ii. Advanced writing skills to target different audiences
iii. Technical production of various pieces of writing
iv. Ability to express complex practical issues in a coherent manner

Cognitive Skills
i. Ability to engage an audience in a scientific argument
ii. Advanced research and writing skills
iii. Competence in writing for different audiences
iv. Competence in addressing different audiences