Introduction to Public Engagement and Communication in Science
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| BIOS4173 | Biosciences | 4 | 20 | Full Year UK |
- Code
- BIOS4173
- School
- Biosciences
- Level
- 4
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Full Year UK
Summary
This module is designed to provide students with awareness and knowledge of public and stakeholder engagement with specific content on the history and methods used for public engagement and the importance of its role in scientific research and good research practice.
As a requirement of their funding, the DTP students are expected to conduct a public engagement activity. This module not only supports that requirement but also provides knowledge, tools and practice training.
This module provides knowledge and develops skills to enable students to not only complete the UK Concordat requirement on Public Engagement and places the Concordat requirements in the wider context of the ethics, politics and public policy framing of engagement.
The module includes important communication knowledge and skills training supporting students’ wider understanding of science communication, including professional and public communication methods. The module supports reflective practice on their personal development needs in relation to the professional skills associated with research integrity and communication and publication in science.
The content of the module is structured around three main topics:
1) Public and Stakeholder engagement
2) Research communication
3) Research Publication Ethics.
A blended learning approach is taken with each topic covering elements of direct knowledge acquisition, self-directed learning through online materials and group discussion in seminar activities. Group exercises are used in live teaching sessions, as well as contributions from ‘other voices’, to provide students with context and a sense of how the taught concepts translate to everyday practice. Tutorials provide not only an opportunity to discuss with peers and the module convenors what Public Engagement activity they would like to conduct but also to reflect on the activity once completed. These two tutorials, in conjunction with a drop-in session, are designed to support the students in completing their assessments, which takes the form of infographic and a reflective report on their public engagement activity.
Target Students
Second year postgraduate University of Nottingham BBSRC DTP students.
Classes
A blended learning approach is taken with activities spread across the year. The activities include live training sessions (lectures - in-person or online in exceptional circumstances), self-directed discreet Research Integrity activities (un-assigned) which are optional depending on students’ research area, small group tutorials online (6 groups) and an online drop-in session (seminar) to discuss any final queries relating to the assessment. In addition, the students must all plan and conduct a Public Engagement activity. It is expected this task should take the students approximately 5-6 hours dependent on the activity.
Assessment
- 20% Coursework 1: Student must produce an infographic for their project
- 50% Report 1: Student must complete a written reflect report about their public engagement activity
- 30% Presentation 1: Student must produce and deliver a presentation on their public engagement activity
Assessed by end of designated period
Educational Aims
The module provides knowledge of the history, theory and practice of stakeholder and public engagement and the importance of engagement in relation to the UK Concordat.The module aims to create a space to discuss reflections on what engagement is and what it means for the students and their research.The module aims to explore the principles of public engagement, looking at the reasons for undertaking it and the various forms it can take, to support the students to conduct and reflectively report on their own Public Engagement activity.The module provides knowledge on communication theory and practice and understanding of science communication, including professional and public communication methods.The module supports reflective practice on their personal development needs in relation to the professional skills associated with research integrity and communication and publication in science.The module introduces some key ethical aspects relating to publication, highlighting some key resources and guidance that will help them to navigate publication issues and discuss some methods of avoiding or overcoming some common problems associated with good publication practice.This module links communication and publication knowledge to experimental design concepts such as experimental unit, sample size, planning analysis and aspects relating to good research practice.The module provides an opportunity to discuss research design in the context of publication and science communication.Learning Outcomes
- Identify key concepts of the philosophy and history of engagement approaches and how approaches have changed over time in relation to good research practice and societal responsibilities.
- Describe international and UK policies and guidance on engagement including the UK Concordat requirement on Public Engagement, and place the Concordat requirements in the wider context of the ethics, politics and public policy framing of engagement.
- Define the intended audience for proposed public engagement activities and identify potential barriers to participation and how barriers can be overcome.
- Describe academic publishing and communication practice and concepts of good practice, giving examples of misconduct in publishing and some of the consequences.
- Discuss academic and professional authorship, how it is defined and applied and be able to identify and access resources relating to publication ethics.
- Discuss communication and publication knowledge in relation to experimental design concepts, publication ethics and engagement by design.