Science Communication

Learn how to communicate science to the public from world-leading experts. You’ll explore the use of different platforms and methods, to find your voice within the science communication world.

Course description

Taught in collaboration with the Department of Journalism, this course will help you to develop the skills to communicate science effectively to a wide range of audiences.

Through practical training, you’ll learn how to inform, educate and entertain people without the same specialist knowledge, covering the latest topics in science that interest you. Training sessions can cover writing skills, how to record and edit packages for film and television, social media, and event management. Regular small group workshops give you the time to debate and discuss topics, and practice key communication skills.

Throughout your course you’ll produce a portfolio of high quality science communication work, spanning science journalism, public engagement activities, and event organisation. This can give you a range of project and practical experience to include on your CV, as you consider the relationship between science, the media, and the wider public, and the role that science communication plays in society.

Your final project dissertation can be based around a print, broadcast or digital portfolio, an event you've organised or a work placement you've completed. This can be customisable to your interests and cover any STEM subject you’re passionate about. Previous students have based their dissertation around work they've completed at organisations ranging from National Geographic to the CERN research institute in Switzerland.

Example research projects include:

• Let them lead the way: engaging children in climate policy
• Science Communication in a pandemic: How effective are virtual conferences?
• The role of social media in the dissemination of public health messaging
• Writing women into the history of science; challenging the gender gap in STEM
• Which paper is best? A study of comprehensiveness of news articles on gravitational waves
• Investigating the quality and validity of Covid-19 reporting in the UK press
• Animation as a form of science education; what determines successful education animations?

Teaching is led by expert scientists who have lots of experience of sharing their work with the public, and professional journalists with backgrounds in print, broadcast and online journalism, from Fleet Street to the BBC.

You'll be able to gain first-hand insights from industry professionals through our course seminar series – past speakers have included staff from national newspapers, film production companies, and the BBC. You'll also meet regularly with your designated personal tutor and your project dissertation supervisor.

At Sheffield we have a long track record of delivering excellent science communication and outreach work to a huge variety of audiences. Projects have included local and national festivals, schools activities and media work, giving you plenty of opportunities to get involved and put your skills into practice alongside your studies.