Communicating Science
Att kommunicera vetenskap

GEM006F, 5 credits

Valid from: Autumn 2012
Decided by: FN1/Anders Gustafsson, FN2/Eva Nordberg Karlsson, FN3/Per Tunestål
Date of establishment: 2013-05-28

General Information

Division: Doctoral Research Training
Course type: Third-cycle course
Teaching language: English

Aim

The aim of the course is to prepare doctoral students and teaching staff at LTH for situations requiring communication of science.

Goals

Knowledge and Understanding

For a passing grade the doctoral student must

• know the fundamental concepts of classical rhetoric and be able to recognise rhetorically structured argumentation
• understand how the delivery and structure of scientific presentations may be perceived and be able to plan and carry out scientific presentations on the basis of this knowledge.

Competences and Skills

For a passing grade the doctoral student must

• be able to take advantage of their voices and individual body language in the planning and delivery of scientific presentations
• be able to write a popular science article which relates the research subject to wider society and has the potential to create interest in a broad audience
• be able to design and evaluate a scientific poster on the basis of its graphic and scientific message, and from the point of view of the intended function of the poster
• be able to analyse and handle possible conflict situations in the context of scientific communication
• be able to develop and use audiovisual aids to enhance the message of scientific presentations, and be aware of the limitations of such aids.

Judgement and Approach

For a passing grade the doctoral student must

• be able and inclined to give and take feedback in a constructive manner that is likely to lead to development
• be able to interact in meetings with media representatives.

Course Contents

The course includes components such as techniques of scientific presentation skills and feedback, voice and speech, poster presentations, rhetoric and the writing of popular science.

Course Literature

The required reading is determined during the course and on the basis of the communication requirements of the participants.

Instruction Details

Types of instruction: Seminars, exercises. Apart from a few lectures, the course consists of practical and individual exercises followed by group discussions and analysis. The exercises in rhetoric take the form of role play and group discussions.

Examination Details

Examination formats: Written report, seminars given by participants. For a Pass on the course, participants must have attended at least 80% of the scheduled activities and completed and passed all exercises and assignments in the course.
Grading scale: Failed, pass
Examiner:

Admission Details

Admission requirements: To be admitted to the course, participants must normally have a first-cycle degree.
Selection criteria: Priority is given to students admitted to third-cycle studies at LTH. If there are places available, other teaching staff at LTH are welcome to attend the course.

Further Information

Prizes for best popular science essay and best poster presentation are awarded by a jury at the end of the course. The course is identical to and given together with GB_S11.

Course Occasion Information

Contact and Other Information

Course coordinator: Anders Ahlberg <anders.ahlberg@lth.lu.se>
Web page: http://www.student.lth.se/english/phd-students/courses/faculty-wide-phd-courses/