This course is about creating your own science communication passion project! Using design thinking and inspiration from diverse guest presenters, you’ll develop a project idea, pilot it in a supportive real-world context, then report on your pilot. Lectures and interactive workshops will share approaches to help you get creative, find your purpose, discover diverse methods, create effective partnerships, source funding (if required), and manage and evaluate your project. You may work individually or in a group - and feel free to bring your friends/collaborators! Don't worry if you don't have a project idea, the intensive will guide you through the creative process and give you practical experience with common methods you can readily adapt to your audience of choice (e.g. hands-on workshops for schools/youth groups). You may opt to integrate the course with your employment or freelance activity where suitable. Students receive ongoing support to implement their projects following the intensive, scaffolded by assessment and the convenor. Many past students’ ideas have turned into funded, real-world, ongoing projects that have had national and global impacts, so don’t underestimate what you might achieve if you make the most of it!
This is an authentic opportunity to develop real-world skills, networks and grow your ideas into realities, so if you have a science communication approach you want to let loose on the the world - or want to create a new one - this is the course for you!
Note: This course is co-taught with undergraduate students but assessed separately.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Critically appraise different formats for communicating science, including in trans-disciplinary contexts;
- Examine the process of conceiving, developing, delivering and evaluating science communication projects;
- Apply this process to create novel science communication projects;
- Analyse, think critically, and reflect on science communication projects, including conveying this via written formats.
Work Integrated Learning
Projects
All students engage with WIL partners (internal/external) as a major component of the course
Other Information
Dates for the one-week intensive are listed on the 'Masters' tab at https://cpas.anu.edu.au/study/courses .
Prior to the intensive, ideally, students should shortlist draft ideas for their project and consult the Learning Management System for related readings and resources. Note it is not necessary to have a firm topic prior to the intensive - sessions will take students through a design thinking process, however having some initial ideas will be an advantage.
Note preparation for and the intensive component this course runs in the Autumn session, however activity and assessment continues into the Winter session. The course counts as an Autumn course (first half of the year) for enrolment purposes.
Note for online students: students enrolled in the online class will need basic craft items (scissors, cardboard, scrap materials, etc.) for physical prototyping sessions.
Indicative Assessment
- Concept brief (10) [LO 1,2,3]
- Project Plan (30) [LO 1,2,3]
- Pilot Report (45) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Grant Application (15) [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:
- face-to-face five day intensive component and optional one-on-one meetings during semester; students enrolled in the online class will join via Zoom
- approximately 90 hours of self-directed study which will include preparation for the face-to-face component, project planning and delivery, and other assessment tasks.
Inherent Requirements
No specific inherent requirements have been identified for this course.
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
N/A
Assumed Knowledge
Experience in STEM communication/outreach programs/events, other community/public engagement programs, or previous experience/study in science communication is helpful but not essential - student projects are well structured and supported.
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 |
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.
Autumn Session
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5395 | 25 May 2026 | TBA | TBA | 09 Oct 2026 | In Person | N/A |
| 5396 | 25 May 2026 | TBA | TBA | 09 Oct 2026 | Online | N/A |