MSc Science and Health Communication / Course details

This course provides an introduction across four themes or areas:

Policy for science: Introduction to the key issues involved in public policy towards the funding and conduct of science (What is public policy? Who makes it? And how? What is distinctive about science policy?); Rationales for the public funding of science; Challenges stemming from the growth of publicly funded science (setting priorities, selecting projects and working out who to fund, and the push for commercialisation and ‘impact’).

Science for policy: key issues involved in science for policy: roles of expert knowledge and scientific experts in public policy and government regulatory processes; issues around scientific advice; understanding and communicating risk and uncertainty; scientists in and around Whitehall

International dimensions: science as a collaborative enterprise; mobility and migration; science diplomacy

Current/emerging issues in contemporary science policy, including the challenges of communicating science policy: fraud and misconduct in science; equality, diversity and discrimination in science; international dimensions of science policy; Science 2.0?; Upstream engagement in science policy.

Students will in parallel be registered for credit on modules:

• Museums and Public Events (HSTM60582)
• Science, Media and Journalism (HSTM60602)
• Science Communication Research (HSTM60612)

and be attending the day schools for all four modules.

Science and technology have become central to the policies and to the self-image of modern advanced states such as the UK and USA, whilst less developed countries seek to mobilise S&T to meet their own needs. This course will explore how and why this has become the case and what the implications are for our society, our policy, our economy and for the still growing and increasingly globalised scientific enterprise itself. The course provides an overview of the relations between the state and science, taking the UK (and to a lesser extent the US) as a core example but considering similarities and differences among Western developed economies and between these and less developed/rapidly developing economies.

To achieve this, the course unit aims to:

1. Introduce and problematise the notion of public policy and how it is made and implemented (including the role of scientific knowledge and expertise, and scientists) in these processes

2. Outline the key issues in policy for science and science for policy

3. Identify and reflect upon selected emerging issues in science policy and their implications.

4. Explore the communication of and public engagement in/with science policy.

Essay (2000 words), questions will be provided by students may propose their own topic to the course co-ordinator. Weighting: 60%

Either a two-page ‘policy brief’ (600-800 words) or a 600-800 word journalistic blog post - on a current science policy issue selected by the student and approved by the course unit co-ordinator. Weighting: 40%

Formative feedback offered on an essay outline; summative assessment via Blackboard and face-to-face on request. Peer feedback from fellow class members (non-assessed).