This course will prepare you to communicate science across cultural boundaries. It will increase your understanding about issues and effective strategies of communicating science and technology with culturally diverse audiences. You will explore how values, beliefs and expectations differentiate science from other knowledge systems, and examine the Eurocentric privileging of modern science and its communication, which are integral parts of Western culture. In doing so, you will look closely at communities that are alienated from science, with particular reference to current science communication research.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Reflect critically upon contemporary practices used to communicate science with culturally diverse groups of audiences;
- Research and describe the problems and issues of culture in the broader discourses of public awareness of science;
- Identify and analyse popular cultural beliefs and attitudes that underpin the communication of scientific and technological advancements; and
- Propose effective and appropriate approaches to communicating science and technology issues to culturally diverse audiences.
Indicative Assessment
- Reflective journal - an on-going description, with reference to the readings provided in the course, of each student's perspectives of modern scientific culture and perceived instances of communication conflict (20) [LO 1,2]
- Comparative essay - 1500-word, referenced, written work that describes and examines research outcomes of two cross-cultural science communication endeavours from a list provided by the convenor (25) [LO 2,4]
- Critical essay - 2000-word, referenced, written work that critically reviews a popular cultural belief, value or expectation, which underpins communication of scientific and technological advancements, or lack thereof, in a community identified by the student (35) [LO 1,2,3]
- Online forums - contributions to on-line discussion forums derived from current science communication research to discuss ways to address contemporary problems and issues of cross-cultural science communication (20) [LO 1,2,4]
In response to COVID-19: Please note that Semester 2 Class Summary information (available under the classes tab) is as up to date as possible. Changes to Class Summaries not captured by this publication will be available to enrolled students via Wattle.
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Workload
The expected workload will consist of approximately 130 hours throughout the session including:
- Intensive face-to face component over 5 days Monday-Friday including lectures plus seminars.
- Approximately 95 hours of self-study which will include complementary readings, assignments and maintaining a reflective journal as part of the course.
Inherent Requirements
To be determined
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
Harding, S. (Ed.) (2011). The Postcolonial Science and Technology Studies Reader. London: Duke University Press.
Preliminary Reading
Students will be provided complementary readings during the course, including relevant sections from the following sources:Bauer, M.W., Shukla, R. & Allum, N. (Eds.) (2012). The Culture of Science. London: Routledge.
Cunningham, L.S. & Reich, J.J. (Eds.) (2010). Readings for Culture and Values. Boston MA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
Jacob, M.C. (1988). The cultural meaning of the Scientific Revolution. NY: Alfred A. Knopf.
Marks, R.B. (2007). The Origins of the Modern World. Oxford: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Inc.
Gilbert, J.K. & Stocklmayer, S.M. (eds.) (2012). Communication and engagement with science and technology: Issues and dilemmas. London: Routledge.
Wierzbicka, A. (2013). Imprisoned in English: The Hazards of English as a Default Language. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Assumed Knowledge
SCOM1001 and SCOM1002Majors
Minors
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 2
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees. Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2020 | $4050 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2020 | $5760 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
Winter Session
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6691 | 14 Sep 2020 | 15 Sep 2020 | 25 Sep 2020 | 20 Oct 2020 | In Person | View |