Science Communication

Code:

OPT08

Acronym:

CC

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Medicine

Instance: 2023/2024 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Departamento de Biomedicina
Course/CS Responsible:	Integrated Master in Medicine

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MIMED	9	Plano Oficial 2021	3	-	2	19	54

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

Effective communication of scientific knowledge is an essential component of any career in the sciences.

The overall objective of this unit is to help train doctors and researchers who will strive for excellence in writing and communicate science in scientific and popular science contexts.

At the end of the unit, the student is expected to be able to:

-select efficiently the scientific sources for its own study and research

-prepare and present a scientific poster

-know the structure and the main steps for the elaboration of a scientific paper

-orally and by writing present a main message from research to a scientific audience and to the public

-to develop the ability to analyze critically and discuss the strategies applied to communicating science in diverse social and professional contexts

-write a press release

-present a well written curriculum vitae and a motivation letter

Learning outcomes and competences

Effective communication of scientific knowledge is an essential component of any career in the sciences.

The overall objective of this unit is to help train doctors and researchers who will strive for excellence in writing and communicate science in scientific and popular science contexts.

At the end of the unit, the student is expected to be able to:

-select efficiently the scientific sources for its own study and research

-prepare and present a scientific poster

-know the structure and the main steps for the elaboration of a scientific paper

-orally and by writing present and discuss a main message from research to a scientific audience and to the public

-to analyze critically strategies applied to communicating science in diverse social and professional contexts

-write a press release

-present a well written curriculum vitae and a motivation letter

 

Working method

Presencial

Program

1. Presentation.Preparing a scientific poster.


2. Sources of scientific information. How to Write & Publish a Scientific Paper. Citation manager.


3. Preparing oral scientific communications.


4. Science and media. Communicate with the press officer. 


5. Direct communication with the public. The importance and forms of science divulgation.


6. The science investigator profile. How to write a curriculum vitae. The recommendation letter. The motivation letter.

Mandatory literature

Jamieson, Kathleen Hall, Dan Kahan, and Dietram A. ; Handbook of the Science of Science Communication, Scheufele, eds. . New York, NY 10016: Oxford University Press, 2017
Day, R.A. and Gastel, B. ; How to Write & Publish a Scientific Paper., Cambridge University Press. , 2012. ISBN: 031333040

Complementary Bibliography

Cornelia Dean; Am I Making Myself Clear: A Scientist’s Guide to Talking to the Public, Harvard University Press, 2012. ISBN: 9780674066052
Deborah Blum, Mary Knudson, and Robin Marantz Henig; Field Guide for Science Writers: The Official Guide of the National Association of Science Writers, Oxford University Press, 2006. ISBN: 0-19-517498-4
Robert Anholt; Dazzle‘em with Style: the Art of Oral Scientific Presentation, Elsevier Academic Press, 2006. ISBN: 0-12-369452-3
Falagas ME, Pitsouni EI, Malietzis GA, Pappas G; Comparison of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar: strengths and weaknesses, 2008. ISBN: FASEB J, 22:338-42
Clarivate Analytics 2018; The Little EndNote How-To Book, Clarivate Analytics 2018
Richard C. Jennings and David J. Bennett; Successful Science Communication, Telling It Like It Is, Cambridge University Press, 2011. ISBN: 9780521176781

Teaching methods and learning activities

The program includes the exposure of contents in theoretical-practical sessions, allowing the student to acquire theoretical knowledge, to reflect on his experience and debate ideas in seminars, to train communication and presentation techniques in practical sessions and to participate in evaluation processes by peersand teachers, in a total of 19 hours of contact.



Skills training will include group work, reading/discussion with guest speakers, and presentation of written and oral material to specific audiences, receiving constant feedback from peers and teachers.

 

 

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	30,00
Participação presencial	10,00
Prova oral	30,00
Trabalho prático ou de projeto	30,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	10,00
Estudo autónomo	15,00
Frequência das aulas	19,00
Elaboração de projeto	10,00
Total:	54,00

Eligibility for exams

Students must attend at least 75% of the classes to achieve frequency.

Students with special status or condition should consult the section "Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)".

Calculation formula of final grade

To Pass the unit the student must attend at least 75 % of classes and fulfill the 3 assessments criteria below, with at least a classification of ten values (in a scale of zero to twenty values):

-to present a scientific poster (E1)

- to present a 5 minutes oral communication in a scientific context (E2)

-CV and motivation letter/debate/activity about science communication to public (E3)*

Students will also be continuously evaluated by their participation in the activities proposed (E4)

Final evaluation =(E1x0.3)+(E2x0.3)+(E3x0.3)+(E4x0.1)

Students with special status or condition should consult the section "Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)".
for unsuccessful students, assessment exercises similar to A1, A2 and A3 will be proposed, to be carried out during the appeal period.

For unsuccessful students, assessment exercises similar to A1, A2 and A3 will be proposed, to be carried out during the appeal period.

*Decided after listening to students

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Students with special status or condition must realize the A1, A2 and A3 evaluations in the scheduled data and may request the substitution of the continuous assessment component, until october 15th, by a work with a theme and date to be estabilshed with the teacher.

Observations

Student hours: Thursday, from thursday, 11 to 12 pm in the meeting room of the Biochemistry Unit of the Department of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, with pre-registered email.