This course focuses on strategically communicating science to achieve organisational outcomes and to achieve measurable impact. It provides participants with a thorough and practical understanding of the process used in leading the development of a communication strategy, including the development of a strategic framework and accompanying action plan that allocates resources, responsibilities and timeframes. It has a strong emphasis on relating theory to current industry best practice in implementing a strategic approach to planning communication activities. The major project component is based upon developing a communication strategy for a real science-based organisation.
This course is co-taught with undergraduate students but assessed separately.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Apply concepts to analyse critically and evaluate a science-based organisation’s communication strategy by synthesising complex information including communication tactics.
- Synthesize complex information to engage organisational leaders in both specialist and non-specialist areas in the development of science communication strategies.
- Generate solutions to science communication problems and opportunities at the strategic level by reflecting, and by using evidence, logic and established theories and concepts.
- Transmit information and engage with external stakeholders to help to resolve science-related problems or to maximise science-related opportunities.
Other Information
The AMEC evaluation framework (https://amecorg.com/amecframework/) will be referenced/studied in this course.
Indicative Assessment
- Presentation of preliminary desktop findings (30) [LO 1,2]
- Communication strategy (70) [LO 1,2,3,4]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
The expected workload will consist of approximately 130 hours throughout the session including:
- a face-to-face component to be delivered in intensive mode, over one week, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5 pm (total 35 hours), which will be a combination of lectures, tutorials and group work - students participating online will be able to join activities remotely via Zoom;
- approximately 95 hours of self-directed study, which may include some short online tutorials or pre-reading before the intensive week, in addition to completion of the assessment in the weeks following the teaching intensive.
Inherent Requirements
No specific inherent requirements have been identified for this course.
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
None
Preliminary Reading
Excerpts from Strategic Science Communication - Besley and Dudo (2021), excerpts from other relevant textbooks and peer-reviewed journal articles will be uploaded to Wattle as readings throughout the course.
Assumed Knowledge
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you 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). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 2
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found 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 |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $4680 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $6720 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6226 | 01 Sep 2025 | 01 Sep 2025 | 12 Sep 2025 | 20 Oct 2025 | In Person | N/A |
| 6354 | 01 Sep 2025 | 01 Sep 2025 | 12 Sep 2025 | 20 Oct 2025 | Online | N/A |