Science Communication

Science can change the world - but only if people understand it. Taught by experts across science and journalism, we’ll train you to use key media technology to effectively communicate science to – and for – the public, the media, business, and beyond.

Course description

We believe that science holds the key to making the world a better place, and that when science is misunderstood, the consequences can be dire. Science communicators are essential, and we want to train you to do it well.

This course will help you to develop the skills to communicate science effectively to a wide range of audiences. It's designed around developing you as a science communicator, rather than being a marketing course, and is taught by leading scientific researchers, professional science broadcasters, and experts from the School of Journalism, Media and Communication.

Through hands-on training, you’ll learn how to engage, educate and entertain people without the same specialist knowledge, covering the latest topics in science. You’ll target a range of different audiences, from science policy and business sectors, to the general public from all ages and backgrounds, giving you an insight into the breadth of potential science communication careers you could pursue.

Training can cover:

• Audio: receive storytelling training ready to create your own short podcast. You’ll do the scripting, interview subjects, pitch your story, and gain the technical skills to record and edit your episode in the industry standard Adobe Audition.
• Video: we’ll show you how to create video content suitable for various platforms. You’ll receive training in how to operate a camera, lighting and sound, and use the Adobe Creative Suite including Premiere Pro to edit your footage and create slick clips.
• Photography: you’ll learn how to use specialist cameras, and Adobe Photoshop, to create and edit images to take your digital science communication to the next level.
• Public engagement: you’ll work with your course mates to run an event for schools and deliver this as part of a science fair.
• Journalism: understand the nature of social science research and the agendas that drive science communication by studying research methods.
• Data journalism: learn how to seek out stories within datasets, and bring those stories to the public via news media.
• Communicating with the media: learn how to get your story out there, and run a strategic media campaign.
• Ethics: discover the relationship between science, the media, and the wider public, and the role that science communication plays in society. You’ll cover journalism ethical standards expected by the British Association of Journalists.

By completing these activities you’ll develop a range of skills and experience to include on your CV, whilst also building a portfolio of high quality science communication work that you can take to interviews.

Your final project dissertation will allow you to put the skills you’ve learnt into practice and can be based around a print, broadcast or digital portfolio, an event you've organised or a work placement you've completed. Previous students have based their dissertation around work they've completed at organisations ranging from National Geographic, to the CERN research institute in Switzerland.

This is your opportunity to showcase your skills and independence, and gain additional experience to launch yourself into the next stage of your career.

Example past research projects include:

• An analysis of language and framing in cancer related news coverage
• What is the future of the Yorkshire Fossil Festival? Gaining perspectives from exhibitors, organisers, and visitors at the festival's 10th anniversary
• Let them lead the way: engaging children in climate policy
• The role of social media in the dissemination of public health messaging
• Writing women into the history of science; challenging the gender gap in STEM

No matter what your science background is, if you have a passion for science communication, this course is for you! Our students have studied undergraduate engineering, maths, physics, biology, chemistry, psychology, and everything in between. At Sheffield, you’ll be embedded in a diverse and supportive group of peers as you take your first steps towards your science communication career.

Intercalation