LF249-15 Science and Public Engagement
Introductory description
Public engagement in science is vital for fostering an informed society that makes better decisions about health, the environment, and technology. It builds trust in scientific research, inspires future scientists and enhances scientific literacy. Public support can influence policy decisions and funding for research. Additionally, effective communication helps combat misinformation and overall, it creates a more informed, curious, and supportive society. This module will consider the skills underpinning designing, planning, delivering and evaluating public engagement activities based on scientific topics; ultimately leading to students delivering and evaluating their own group public engagement activity.
Module aims
To develop skills in designing, planning, delivering, evaluating and reflecting on public engagement activities based on scientific topics.
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 is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.
Sessions will be run as interactive seminars focussing on skill development including discussion, structured activities and preparation for assessment. These sessions will cover:
Introduction to Public Engagement
Public Engagement in Museums
Idea Generation Workshop
Training to Pitch
Evaluation of Public Engagement
Social Media and Public Engagement
Reflecting on Skill Development
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- To understand how to design and plan a science based public engagement activity
- To understand how to deliver and evaluate the success of a science based public engagement activity
- To understand how to reflect on your personal skill development
Indicative reading list
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0254201
https://warwick.ac.uk/wie/
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23299460.2024.2419238
https://journals.uclpress.co.uk/r4a/article/id/1465/
https://royalsociety.org/about-us/what-we-do/public-engagement/
https://www.cambridge.org/core/publications/elements/public-engagement-with-science
Subject specific skills
Communication skills: to explain complex scientific concepts in an accessible and engaging manner.
Public Speaking skills: presenting to diverse audiences, both in-person and through digital platforms.
Writing and Content Creation: crafting creative public engagement activities which effectively communicate scientific ideas.
Evaluation and Feedback: assessing the impact of public engagement activities and using feedback to improve skill development.
Transferable skills
Teamwork
Communication
Critical thinking
Self Awareness
Intercultural awareness
Professionalism
Digital Literacy
Study time
| Type | Required |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 10 sessions of 1 hour (7%) |
| Seminars | 10 sessions of 1 hour (7%) |
| Other activity | 6 hours (4%) |
| Private study | 74 hours (49%) |
| Assessment | 50 hours (33%) |
| Total | 150 hours |
Private study description
Developing the public engagement activity. Preparing for workshops. Reflecting on skill development. Completing coursework.
Other activity description
Delivering the public engagement activity
Costs
No further costs have been identified for this module.
You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Assessment group A
| Weighting | Study time | Eligible for self-certification | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Pitch | 30% | 20 hours | No |
|
A presentation of your group project idea for the public engagement activity. |
|||
| Reflective Essay | 70% | 30 hours | Yes (extension) |
|
A reflection of an individuals skill development and evaluation of their public engagement activity feedback and delivery. |
|||
Assessment group R
| Weighting | Study time | Eligible for self-certification | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presentation of Public Engagement Activity and Reflective Viva | 100% | No | |
|
Presentation of a public engagement activity with questions aiding reflection for choices made and skills used. |
|||
Feedback on assessment
Written feedback given to individual students. Assessment guidance such as rubrics will be used with additional comments. The guidance will be shared with students in advance of the assessment completion window.
Anti-requisite modules
If you take this module, you cannot also take:
- IL036-15 Public Engagement
Courses
This module is Optional for:
-
UBSA-C700 Undergraduate Biochemistry
- Year 2 of C700 Biochemistry
- Year 2 of C700 Biochemistry
-
ULFA-C1A2 Undergraduate Biochemistry (MBio)
- Year 2 of C1A2 Biochemistry
- Year 2 of C700 Biochemistry
- Year 2 of ULFA-C702 Undergraduate Biochemistry (with Placement Year)
- Year 2 of ULFA-C1A6 Undergraduate Biochemistry with Industrial Placement (MBio)
-
UBSA-3 Undergraduate Biological Sciences
- Year 2 of C100 Biological Sciences
- Year 2 of C100 Biological Sciences
- Year 2 of C102 Biological Sciences with Cell Biology
- Year 2 of C103 Biological Sciences with Environmental Resources
- Year 2 of C104 Biological Sciences with Microbiology
- Year 2 of C105 Biological Sciences with Molecular Genetics
- Year 2 of C107 Biological Sciences with Virology
- Year 2 of ULFA-C1A1 Undergraduate Biological Sciences (MBio)
- Year 2 of ULFA-C113 Undergraduate Biological Sciences (with Placement Year)
- Year 2 of ULFA-C1A5 Undergraduate Biological Sciences with Industrial Placement (MBio)
-
UBSA-C1B9 Undergraduate Biomedical Science
- Year 2 of C1B9 Biomedical Science
- Year 2 of C1B9 Biomedical Science
- Year 2 of C1B9 Biomedical Science
-
ULFA-C1A3 Undergraduate Biomedical Science (MBio)
- Year 2 of C1A3 Biomedical Science
- Year 2 of C1B9 Biomedical Science
- Year 2 of ULFA-C1A7 Undergraduate Biomedical Science with Industrial Placement (MBio)
-
ULFA-CB18 Undergraduate Biomedical Science with Placement Year
- Year 2 of CB18 Biomedical Science with Placement Year
- Year 2 of CB18 Biomedical Science with Placement Year
- Year 2 of CB18 Biomedical Science with Placement Year
- Year 2 of ULFA-B140 Undergraduate Neuroscience (BSc)
- Year 2 of ULFA-B142 Undergraduate Neuroscience (MBio)
- Year 2 of ULFA-B143 Undergraduate Neuroscience (with Industrial Placement) (MBio)
- Year 2 of ULFA-B141 Undergraduate Neuroscience (with Placement Year) (BSc)