VIU Graduate activities are a unique opportunity to deepen specific knowledge through interdisciplinary lenses. Also, they offer highly qualified researchers opportunities to acquire transversal skills that not necessarily have been part of their disciplinary curriculum.
Science communication is one of those skills: more and more researchers find themselves to communicate their research to a wide audience, as it is the case with social media. This certainly might have a great impact in terms of visibility and recognition within the scientific community and, often, beyond but the message must be clear and coherent, and the messenger must be ready to positively and skillfully engage in (sometimes arduous) debates.
The Science Communication seminars offered within the VIU graduate seminars are based on the results and the Toolkits developed by QUEST project, coordinated by VIU and focusing on quality science communication: a series of Toolkits for scientists, journalists, museum explainers and social media managers are available in QUEST website, and can also be used on a free basis as self-learning tools.
Science Communication: Science & Society track of VIU Globalization Program
Every Fall semester, VIU offers a Science Communication course to the Bachelor's and Master’s students of VIU’s Globalization Program. The course is part of the Science & Society specialization track, the aim of which is to explore critically the role and impact of science, technology and innovation within society, and conversely how society, politics and culture affect scientific research and innovation.
The courses in the track vary from year to year and may examine Science as a profession, and the role of scientists as stakeholders within society. Or they may scrutinize the ethics of science, and explore the many relevant societal issues including science and education, science communication and civic engagement. Additional topics of interest include: the economics, sociology and anthropology of science; the representation of science in literature and the arts; citizen science and open science; responsible research and innovation.
