THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2021/2022

Information in the Degree Programme Tables may still be subject to change in response to Covid-19

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : Deanery of Biomedical Sciences : Biomedical Sciences

Postgraduate Course: Science, Society and the Media (BIME11127)

Course Outline
SchoolDeanery of Biomedical Sciences CollegeCollege of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThe course will explore the relationships, overlaps and connections between science, society and the media and their impact on science communication.
Course description This course explores the development of science communication particularly over the last 25 years. It considers the social, cultural and political context in which the public engagement agenda has emerged over the past 15-20 years. The course will examine the nature of scientific knowledge. It will explore the scientific method, reflect on established scientific knowledge and scientific uncertainty and the application of science in technological advances. Students will examine the communication of science within and beyond the academic community and develop an awareness of how perceptions and (mis) understandings arise. Using contemporary examples and contexts, students will discuss potential stakeholders for issues involving science and identify sources of information and misinformation available to the stakeholders. The course will explore the role of the media in science communication and the alignment and tensions between the objectives of the scientist and the media. Students will be taught by seminars supplemented by in-course reading and reflection.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2021/22, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  None
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Seminar/Tutorial Hours 30, Fieldwork Hours 6, Feedback/Feedforward Hours 2, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 158 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Feedback Feedback will be on-going during seminar and practical session with summative, written feedback delivered together with summative mark.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate an understanding of the deficit model of science communication
  2. Demonstrate an awareness of the development of policy debates about public engagement and an awareness of the key issues
  3. Demonstrate an understanding of the nature of science and how it is communicated
  4. Demonstrate an understanding of the differing motivations and perceptions in non-specialist engagement with science
  5. Demonstrate an understanding of the scientist/media relationship
Reading List
N/A
Additional Information
Course URL http://www.sciencecommunication.mvm.ed.ac.uk
Graduate Attributes and Skills SCQF
1. KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
2. Practice: applied knowledge skills and understanding
3. Generic Cognitive Skills
4. Communication, ICT
5. Autonomy, Accountability and Working with others
KeywordsSCPE,SSM,SCPE,Science Society and the Media.
Contacts
Course organiserDr Elizabeth Stevenson
Tel: (0131 6)50 3258
Email: E.Stevenson@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMr Andrew Le Tissier
Tel: (0131 6)51 4075
Email: Andrew.LeTissier@ed.ac.uk
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