Science Communication

Code:

DIVC6001

Acronym:

DIVC6001

Level:

600

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Dissemination of Science

Instance: 2024/2025 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Science Education Unit
Course/CS Responsible:	Doctoral Program in Science Education and Communication

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
PDEDC	7	Official Study Plan since 2023/2024.	1	-	9	35	243

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

Given the objectives of the Doctoral Program in Education and Science Communication, this curricular unit aims to discuss the fundamentals and analyze the national and international reality of science communication; as well as to enhance students' development of science communication skills, using techniques and practices appropriate to the different contexts and audiences for which science communication initiatives are intended.

Learning outcomes and competences

  It is intended that at the end of this Curricular Unit students will be able to:

• Recognize the centrality of science communication in the current scenario.
• Discuss the fundamentals of science communication.
• Analyze the national and international reality of science communication.
• Know the paradigms and models of science communication.
• Identify the audiences of science communication
• Characterize the audiences of science communication
• Differentiate types of science communication
• Identify the scientific communication techniques and practices that are best suited to different contexts and audiences.
• Select the scientific communication techniques and practices that are best suited to different contexts and audiences.
• Develop science communication skills, using techniques and practices appropriate to the different contexts and audiences to which science communication initiatives are aimed.
• Identify ways to evaluate specific science outreach initiatives underway.
• Characterize public spaces for science communication: their specificities, weaknesses and potential.
• Know the "state of the art" of science communication in the specific areas of: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Astronomy, Geology and Biology.
• Make a proposal for an initiative to science communication, adapting the content and scientific approach to the target audience.

Working method

Presencial

Program

General component:

Part I

• Communication of Science: clarification of concepts and theoretical contextualization.
• Motivations and barriers in science
• Models and public in science communication.
• Types of science communication. The citizen science.
• Practices and techniques in science communication: skills and challenges (public speaking, storytelling, application of ICT to science communication).
• The attitudes and understanding of science in the national and international panorama.
• Experiences of visitors in science museums: considerations on evaluation models.

Part II

• Practices and representations in science museums in Portugal.
• Visits to spaces of national and international science

Specific component:

• Study of the science communication of the different sciences in the national and international context: situation, examples, challenges and constraints.

Mandatory literature

Massimiano Bucchi; Routledge handbook of public communication of science and technology. ISBN: 978-0-415-83461-2
Bowater, L. & Yeoman, K.; Science Communication: A Practical Guide for Scientists., UK: Wiley-Blackwell, 2013
Elaine R. S. Hodges; The^Guild handbook of scientific illustration. ISBN: 978-0-471-36011-7
Illingworth, S., & Allen G. ; Effective science communication - a practical guide to surviving as a scientist., IOP Publishing, Bristol, UK, 2016

Teaching methods and learning activities

In this curricular unit, strategic pluralism is used, supported by digital presentations (e.g. PowerPoint), presentation of studies, videos, survey results, projects and readings of scientific papers with critical analysis. It is also worth mentioning the carrying out of individual and group research works, presentation of works and debates, as well as the realization of study visits to museums and other spaces of science communication.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	5,00
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	30,00
Trabalho escrito	65,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	3,00
Frequência das aulas	35,00
Trabalho escrito	60,00
Estudo autónomo	50,00
Trabalho de campo	35,00
Trabalho de investigação	60,00
Total:	243,00

Eligibility for exams

Distributed assessment without final exam and 75% attendance

Calculation formula of final grade

65% for the written work carried out.

a) Scientific rigor.
b) Creativity/originality
c) Clarity in relation to the target objective.

30% for the presentation and discussion of the work

5% for participation in class dynamics and commitment to activities.

Observations

Jury

Carla Morais
Paulo Simeão Carvalho