Course description
This course will examine the topic of science communication, providing an introduction to (i) the role of communication in science, as important element of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI), (ii) the cultural, practical and policy-related role of science communication in wider society to promote public engagement in discussion and actions, and (iii) the role it can play in supporting sustainable development.
The course will start from exploring the different definitions of science communication and the evolution of the concept from an education approach to a more dialogic one, that brings together scientists, communicators and the public.
The course will also work to respond to the three key questions concerning science communication and the public, in terms of (i) who are the publics to reach, (ii) why to communicate them, (iii) what to communicate and (iv) how to communicate in an effective way. The non-mediated vs. mediated modes of communicating will be considered, putting in evidence barriers and opportunities related to each strand, from journalism to museums, the social media and others. Attention will be given to the topic of misinformation and trust in science.
The course will also look at science communication in relation to sustainable development and environmental issues and how it can support the achievement of the SDGs.
A key element considered throughout the course will be the quality in science communication and how to “recognize” it.

Introduction and objectives
Students will gain exposure to the great body of scholarship about science communication, including work from communication, sociology and science theories among others. They will also gain sharper understanding of the challenges of science communication, in particular in relation to environment and sustainable development.
The course will take advantage of VIU’s unique international diversity by building in opportunities for students to share and reflect upon science communication role and trajectories in their own home countries. In addition, great attention will be given to the interdisciplinary approach of Science communication taking advantage of the multidisciplinary components of VIU classes.

Course organisation and supervision
The overall structure of the course and its thematic organisation have been developed by Alessandra Fornetti and Ilda Mannino (TEN Program on Sustainability - Venice International University).
The course is organised around different thematic areas covered also with the help of external professionals, active in different science communication fields.
The course will include frontal lectures, meetings with experts and open discussion on the theories and practice of science communication, case studies on communication of specific scientific topics and practical work on their revisions, both individually and in group.
Seminars involving practitioners of different strands (journalists, museum explainers, experts in social media) will be organized.
Site visits will be part of the course.

Course Requirements
No specific background is required to attend the course. Students will be expected to do the required readings, to attend class regularly and participate in discussions. Required readings will be designated on a weekly basis. Students will be also encouraged to find additional material for their final project by searching the Internet and accessing suggested websites. Individual paper and a group project on science communication will be required.

Course evaluation
Individual mid-term essay – an essay on science communication role today, with specific reference to students’ field of study and to the different SciCom formats and strands that can be used – 45 % of the final grade.
Final project – There will be a group science communication project to develop, to present in a written group report and through an oral presentation in class – 45% of the final grade.
Class participation – Overall class participation, in terms of both attendance and interaction, will count for 10% of the final grade.

Syllabus

ORIENTATION

Week 0

Thursday, September 8 - Opening Ceremony

Week 1 - September 18-22

Lecture 1 - Introduction to Science Communication: Definitions
Alessandra Fornetti & Ilda Mannino (TEN Program on Sustainability, VIU)
Required Readings:
Rempel E. S., Barnett J., Durrat H. (2018). Public engagement with UK government data science: Propositions from a literature review of public engagement on new technologies. Government Information Quarterly 35 (2018) 569-578
Suggested Readings:
Chapter 1: Introduction, pp. 1-27. Davies S.R., Horst M. (2016). Science Communication. Culture, Identity and Citizenship, Palgrave Mcmillan.

Lecture 2 - Science Communication Landscape Today between Theory and Practice
Alessandra Fornetti (TEN Program on Sustainability, VIU)
Required Readings:
Davies S.R, Franks S., Jensen A. M., Mannino I., Schmidt A. L., Wells R., Woods R., Zollo F. (2020). Section 2: Contemporary Science Communication Scholarship in Europe: A Fractured Field. Summary report: European Science Communication today, QUEST Project Deliverable 1.1, Section 1-2. pp. 9-19.

Week 2 - September 25-29

Lecture 3 - Science Communication role from the past to nowadays and for Sustainable Development
Ilda Mannino (TEN Program on Sustainability, VIU)
Required Readings:
Davies S. R. (2021). An Empirical and Conceptual Note on Science Communication’s Role in Society, Science Communication 2021, Vol. 43(1) 116–133
Newig J., Schulz D., Hetze K., Laws N., Lüdecke G., Rieckmann M. (2013). Communication Regarding Sustainability: Conceptual Perspectives and Exploration of Societal Subsystems, Sustainability 2013, 5, 2976-2990; doi:10.3390/su5072976

Lecture 4 - Evidence-based scicomm: Insights from communication science; and the science of science communication
Marina Joubert, Stellenbosch University

September 28-30, 2023 – Optional Attendance

VIU - PCST Venice Symposium
Science Communication Education and Training: Challenges and Strategies for Research and Academic Institutions
The VIU_PCST Venice Symposium intends to address current challenges that academic and research institutions face with respect to public communication and public engagement.
Co-organized by Venice International University (VIU) and the Public Communication of Science and Technology Network (PCST), the VIU_PCST Venice Symposium gathers renowned international scicomm scholars and professionals.

Week 3 - October 2-6

Lecture 5 - Sustainability and Science Communication
Ilda Mannino (TEN Program on Sustainability, VIU)
Required readings:
https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda
Suggested readings:
FAO (2007). Communication and Sustainable Development. Selected Paper from the 9th UN roundtable on communication for development. https://books.google.it/books?hl=en&lr=&id=iPwAnR_Efa4C&oi=fnd&pg=PA1&dq=science+communication+and+sustainable+development&ots=4s-_Pyit22&sig=J7AoIAmWurSB8nwoE4_j3YkXSq8#v=onepage&q=science%20communication%20and%20sustainable%20development&f=false
Latouche S. (2004). Degrowth Economics, Le Monde Diplomatique, November 2004

Lecture 6 - Environmental Communication
Ilda Mannino (TEN Program on Sustainability, VIU)
Required readings:
Alan Irwin (chair), Massimiano Bucchi, Ulrike Felt, Melanie Smallman, Steven Yearley (2018). Background paper. Re-framing Environmental Communication: engagement, understanding and action, MISTRA.
EEA (2016). Communication, environment and behavior, EEA Report.

Week 4 - October 9-13

Lecture 7 - The media and mass media
Ilda Mannino (TEN Program on Sustainability, VIU)

Required Readings:
Ghulam S., Ghulam S., Tanzeela J. (2015). Mass Media, Communication and Globalization with the Perspective of 21st Century. New Media and Mass Communication, Vol.34, 2015

‘Meet the expert’ 1
Art & Science: Erika Villa (tbc)

Visit to Ocean Space or Fondazione Prada (tbc)

Week 5 - October 16-20

Lecture 8 - The Role and challenges of science journalism in science communication
Alessandra Fornetti (TEN Program on Sustainability, VIU)

Required Readings:
Dunwoody S. (2021). Chapter 2: Science Journalism: Prospects in the digital age. Routledge Handbook of Public Communication of Science and Technology, Bucchi M., Trench B. eds. (2021), Third Edition
Davies S.R, Franks S., Jensen A. M., Mannino I., Schmidt A. L., Wells R., Woods R., Zollo F. Section 3: Contemporary Science Journalism in Europe: Taking Stock. Summary report: European Science Communication today, QUEST Project Deliverable 1.1, Section 3. pp. 20-34

‘Meet the expert’ 2
Sustainability Journalism, Elisabetta Tola (tbc)

Week 6 - October 23-27

Lecture 9 - Science communication, Misinformation and Trust
Alessandra Fornetti & Ilda Mannino (TEN Program on Sustainability, VIU)

Required Readings:
Altay S. (2022). How Effective Are Interventions Against Misinformation?, Preprint.

‘Meet the expert’ 3
Social media, Cristina Rigutto (tbc)

Midterm Break

Week 7 - November 6-10

Lecture 10 - Science Museums and Science Centers
Alessandra Fornetti (TEN Program on Sustainability, VIU)

Required Readings:
Chapter 4: Science Museums and Centers: Evolution and Contemporary Trends, pp. 53-76. Routledge Handbook of Public Communication of Science and Technology, Bucchi M., Trench B. eds. (2021), Third Edition

‘Meet the expert’ 4
Science Museums, Antonia Caola, Responsabile relazioni istituzionali e ufficio stampa (TBC)

Visit to the Natural History Museum in Venice (tbc)

Week 8 - November 13-17

Lecture 11 - How to communicate research: tips to apply to the group work
Ilda Mannino (TEN Program on Sustainability, VIU)

Required Readings:
QUEST checklist for scientists

Final Project, Group exercise 1
Identify your audience needs and expectations

Week 9 - November 20-24

Lecture 12 - Evaluating Science Communication
Alessandra Fornetti (TEN Program on Sustainability, VIU)

Final Project: Group exercise 2
Identify the messages to deliver

Visit to Padova, RFX Lab for Fusion research - https://www.igi.cnr.it/en/about-us/visit-consorzio-rfx/ (tbc)

Week 10 - November 27-December 1

Lecture 13 - Other formats of science communication
Alessandra Fornetti & Ilda Mannino (TEN Program on Sustainability, VIU)

Final Project: Group exercise 3
Frame the format

Week 11 - December 4-8

Lecture 14 - What Covid-19 Pandemics taught us about Science Communication

Final Project: Group exercise 4
Open the dialogue

Week 12 - December 11-15

Lecture 15 - Citizen Science
Ilda Mannino (TEN Program on Sustainability, VIU)
Required Readings:
Haklay M., Dörler D., Heigl F., Manzoni M., Hecker S., Vohland K. (2021). What Is Citizen Science? The Challenges of Definition, in The Science of Citizen Science, Vohland K., Land-Zandstra A., Ceccaroni L., Lemmens R., Perelló J., Ponti M., Samson R., Wagenknecht K. (eds.), chap. 2.

Final Project: group exercise 5
Evaluate the impact

Week 13 (exams) - December 18-22
Presentation of Students’ work

Last updated: July 3, 2023