The Art of Science Communication

Course Objective

By following this course, students will acquire:

• Insights in the nature of science, the nature of communication, the relationships between science and society, and the roles of science communication in science-society relationships; and how all of these have evolved over time.
  
• Knowledge of different key concepts of science communication, such as theories and models, strategies, media and activities for science communication.
• Skills to apply key concepts of science communication in designing and performing science communication products (e.g. presentation), and processes (e.g. reflexive dialogue).
  
• Skills to reflect on own and other people's knowledge and competencies in relation to the science communication landscape.

Course Content

Science is all around us and shapes our lives in many different ways. From the vaccines you need to get when traveling abroad to the smartphone you use on a daily basis, and from the public transportation you use to get to the university to the ingredients of your toothpaste: scientific knowledge is elemental to all of these. Simultaneously, society shapes the ways in which science and technology develop too. Science, technology and society influence each other continuously—or, to put it differently, they ‘communicate’.

Science communicators are experts in understanding and designing interactions between science and society. They work on books, popular scientific articles, public lectures, infographics, exhibition designs, podcasts, TV programs, public or stakeholder dialogues, science-based policy recommendations, and science communication strategies for organisations.

In order to make these science-society interactions fruitful and valuable for both science and society, it is first of all important to gain theoretical knowledge about science, about communication, about science-society relationships, and, logically, about science communication.

The Art of Science Communication, therefore, provides students with the theoretical and conceptual foundations of the science communication discipline first. Students will develop in-depth understanding of science communication products and processes at the core of several interfaces, including those between scientists from different disciplines, between different sciences and their stakeholders, and between science and the 'general public'. Parallel to this, during this course, students also practice with designing science communication products and processes. In that, they use both their newly acquired science communication knowledge and skills, as well as the knowledge and skills acquired during their own Bachelor and/or Master program. Since students from various Master programs follow this course, as an elective course (for all students) or as a compulsory course of their Master program (MPA and BioMedical Sciences), students will also learn to reflect on how different disciplinary backgrounds, but also socio-cultural backgrounds, influence science communication practice.

The Art of Science Communication is provided by VU Athena Institute, an institute within the VU Faculty of Science that also does research into science communication. Since Athena Institute is well connected to science communication researchers and practitioners worldwide, students who follow The Art of Science Communication get introduced to the science communication network through guest lectures as well.

The Art of Science Communication is one of the three core Science Communication courses on Master level that VU Athena Institute provides. The other two core science communication Master courses are: Science Journalism and Exhibition Design (6EC; AM_1334) in P2, and Ethics and Science in Dialogue (6EC; AM_1333) in P3. These courses, together with several other courses, are part of the 18EC Studypath Science, Society and Communication, which Master students from the VU Faculty of Science can follow. All Master students are eligible to follow The Art of Science Communication. See more information in the section 'target audience'.

Additional Information Teaching Methods

In The Art of Science Communication, lectures are interactive to provide ample space for dialogue, and seminar sessions center around creative individual or group exercises to enable the (co-)creation of science communication products or processes.

Expected contact hours:
Lectures (20 h)
Seminar sessions (workgroups) (25 h)
Home-study for group assignments (15 h)
Home-study for individual assignments/exam (100 h)

Method of Assessment

a) Participation. (pass/fail)
b) Individual assignment(s). (20%)
d) Group assignment(s) (40%)
e) An exam. (40%)

To pass, your grades for the assignments and exam all need to be 5.5 or higher.

Resit: In case your grade is not sufficient, you have to take a resit. This can either consist of a second attempt at (b), (c) or (d), or a re-exam. Nota bene: if students fail their participation, this cannot be compensated with an alternative assignment!

Literature

Academic articles. Direct links to articles will be provided on Canvas.

Additional Information Target Audience

The Art of Science Communication is an elective course for students from all Master programs, e.g. from health or natural sciences, as well as from Social Science and Humanities programs. We also welcome students from other universities.

The Art of Science Communication also part of the 18EC Studypath Science, Society and Communication, which Master students from the VU Faculty of Science can follow.

The Art of Science Communication is a compulsory course for students from the Science Communication specialisation of Biomedical Sciences, and the Communication specialisation of MPA; in those Master programs the course is a prerequisite for the internship.

The Art of Science Communication is compulsory for students of the UvA Major Science Communication, and a prerequisite for their Science Communication internship as well.

Additional Information

Use of Generative AI (GenAI)

This course follows the BETA Faculty policy on GenAI use. Use

GenAI responsibly and in line with the VU academic integrity policy and the VU recommendations on responsible use of GenAI.

Recommended background knowledge

Students are recommended to be aware of the VU Strategy 2026-2030.