Admission Requirements
This course is available for master students within the Science Faculty or the Biomedical Sciences program at LUMC. Other students who are interested should contact their own study advisor for permission.
NOTE: Because of COVID-19, we are expecting to move our program partly or completely online. However, we will keep to the same schedule.
This course is offered in conjunction with the course SCS Fundamentals to students who are following the Science Communication and Society specialisation.
NOTE: A different version of this course exists for students of the Media Technology master program.
Description
This course focusses on the last part of a scientific project: presenting results and explaining insights. The course deals with unconventional ways of conveying scientific insights, i.e. all forms besides scientific articles and scientific posters. This course is different compared to e.g. data visualization as it deals with conveying understanding instead of data.
Course objective
The main learning goal of this course it to make students aware of the drawbacks and advantages of the various forms of conveying scientific insights, such that they will be able to use the most appropriate form for their cases.
Structure of lessons
Each lesson consists of three parts. In part one we discuss the assignments of the previous week. Starting from lesson IV as only after lesson III the homework assignments start. I will select three works that we will discuss in class. So be prepared to present your assignment. In part two we will discuss the reading material of that week. And in part three, I will present a series of examples that illustrate the reading material of that week.
Course Schedule
Preliminary schedule: Classes will take place on Tuesday mornings 9-12h from September 1 - November 3 2020. Room schedule will follow.
Mode of Instruction
Lectures, self study
Assessment
There is a weekly assignment running five times, starting after lesson III. And there is a larger assignment to end this course with. Both assignments count for 50% of the final grade.
The weekly assignment has the following form: select the form that was discussed in class, and combine that form with a scientific topic, in order to explain (part of) that topic. You can use the suggestions from the following table, but you may also try your own topic, as long as it belongs to the natural sciences. I won’t provide reading material for the underlying topics; it is your responsibility to study the topic of your choice.
Reading List
Chapters and articles will be made available to students by the teacher.
Understanding understanding:
Metaphors we live by, G. Lakoff & M. Johnson (1980), p1-55.
Understanding by design, G. Wiggins & J. McTighe (2005), p35-55.
Understanding needs embodiment, K. Niebert, S. Marsch & D. Treagust (2012).
Text:
The Oxford book to modern science writing, R. Dawkins (2008), p232-266.
Using narratives and storytelling to communicate science with nonexpert audiences, M. Dahlstrom (2014), PNAS, Sep.16, 2014, Vol. 111, p13614-13620, www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1320645111
Storytelling, M. Krzywinski & A. Cairo (2013), Nature methods, Vol 10, No. 8, p687. Plus comments in the same journal! (Against storytelling & Should scientists tell stories?)
The Role of Narrative in Communicating Science, L. Avraamidoua & J. Osborne (2009), International Journal of Science Education
Vol. 31, No. 12, p1683-1707.
Metaphors:
Aristotle’s ladder, Darwin’s tree, J.D. Archibald (2014), p1-21.
Graphs & infographics:
Envisioning information, E.R. Tufte (1990), ch4&6.
The Visual Display of Quantitative Information, E.R. Tufte (2001), p40-43.
Trees, Maps & Theorems, J-l Doumont (2009).
Film, play & animation :
Dynamic visualizations and learning, R. Ploetzner et al. (2004), p235-240 & p343-351.
Animation: can it facilitate? B. Tversky & J.B. Morrison (2002).
Experiments & objects:
Experiments in science and science teaching, D. Hodson (1988), Educational philosophy and theory, 20:2, p53-66.
Wandering seminar on scientific objects, S. Vackimes & K. Weltersbach (2007), p19-34 & p129-139.
Application
Application forms can be requested through the SCS department. The class number for enrollment in uSis will become available here.
Contact Information
Dr. Anne Land (program coordinator Science Communication and Society): a.m.land@biology.leidenuniv.nl