Undergraduate Course: Science Communication and Public Engagement (PHYS10113)
Course Outline
| School | School of Physics and Astronomy |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This a project-based course where students need to engage non-specialist publics, outside of the University community, with the subject they study (or adjacent). Weekly workshops will be provided during the first semester to equip students with all the support and knowledge to run their project successfully; most of the project work will take place during the second semester. Typically, students work with an external partner, so this course gives students the opportunity to deliver a tangible, real-life project related to their studies. |
| Course description |
The course will begin with regular workshops to provide the skillsets required for the individual projects. Projects are developed concurrently with the workshops. Workshop sessions will be held in-person weekly during Semester 1, less frequently during Semester 2.
This course will enable students to:
1) develop expertise in outreach and engagement
2) improve communication skills for non-academic audiences
3) learn key career skills such as project management
4) work in a professional capacity liaising and collaborating with a supervisor and possibly an external partner.
External partners would typically be schools, community centres, museums, visitor centres, science centres, community groups, etc. Students can bring their own partner or will be provided with one. They will work with their partner to develop and deliver resources and materials for outreach and engagement. Resources can include classroom resources, leaflets, websites, applications, presentations, materials for museums, etc. The subject matter can include anything within the remit of the School of Physics and Astronomy or other participating Schools within the University. Students will learn about current research topics and issues, as well as currently running public engagement projects, to help deliver a project which is relevant and impactful.
They will develop their own ideas to creatively engage with external publics, with the support of an experienced team.
Indicative workshop schedule Semester 1:
Week 1: Course introduction. Discussion of the objectives of the course and outputs and experiences from previous students
Week 2: Reflective Learning, Project Development
Week 3: Blogging, Community Service
Week 4: Fulfilling the partner brief, Active Learning Schools Outreach
Week 5: Interdisciplinary learning and the Curriculum for Excellence, Developing Partner Personae
Week 6: Creating Impactful Public Engagement
Week 7: Storyline and Outreach
Week 8: Open Educational Resources, copyright and permissions (e.g., creative commons)
Week 9: Planning your outreach evaluation
Week 10: Open, Accessible, Inclusive resources
Indicative workshop schedule Semester 2:
Week 1: Verbal Communication (prep for Course Conference)
Week 4: Course Conference
Week 6: Licensing refresh send your questions/bring to session
Week 9: Careers Service (requested by previous GO students)
Week 10: Course Celebration/Showcase
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2026/27, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Quota: 30 |
| Course Start |
Full Year |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 20,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
176 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
85 %,
Practical Exam
15 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
- interim project report (15%) (max 1500 words)
- technical report (20%) (max 25 pages)
- final product (50%)
-oral presentation (15%) |
| Feedback |
Written feedback will be returned for every assessed piece within 15 days of submission.
Oral feedback will be provided regularly as part of the supervision process, with meetings expected at least once every two to three weeks.
|
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Develop expertise with community outreach and engagement
- Learn key communication and collaboration skills
- Refine skills with project development and time management
- Build relationships with community partners including schools, museums, community groups, etc.
- Create learning resources, educational and/or engagement materials, delivery of public engagement activities
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Reading List
- Public engagement with science¿Origins, motives and impact in academic literature and science policy in PLOS ONE, Article by Peter Weingart; Marina Joubert; Karien Connoway, 2021-7-7, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0254201
- Education outreach and public engagement, Book by Erin L. Dolan, 2008
- Resources created by the NCCPE (National Centre for the Coordination of Public Engagement) https://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/introducing-public-engagement |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Jean-Christophe Denis
Tel: (0131 6)50 5263
Email: J.C.Denis@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Gillian MacDonald
Tel: (0131 6)51 7525
Email: gillian.macdonald@ed.ac.uk |
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