Twenty years of teaching science communication: A case study of Imperial College’s Master’s programme

Abstract

In September 2012, graduates of Imperial College's science communication masters courses gathered to celebrate 21 years of the programme. The MSc in Science Communication was the first of its kind in the UK and one of the first masters courses in the world to offer a combination of practical and theoretical studies of science communication across a range of media. This commentary reflects on the longevity of the programme, the reasons for its success, and the opportunities and challenges facing science communication courses today.

Science Communication Postgraduate Studies in Latin America: a map and some food for thought

“…The curriculum of these programmes does not seem to be characteristic to each country, yet it seems to be highly influenced by the history of the institution hosting the course, as Felicity Mellor [2013] pointed out.…”

“…Similarly to other countries outside the region [Trench, 2012] in Latin America there is a wide range of proposals and approaches [Reynoso, Monterrosa and Macías, 2015]. As pointed out by Jon Turney [1994] and Felicity Mellor [2013], the approaches depend largely on the institutions hosting such programmes, leading to different proposals based on their own interests, lines of work, needs of the institution, and the experience of their teachers. Turney [1994] distinguished two types of courses: those solely based on skills development and those combining theory with practice.…”

Formación en comunicación en los estudios de grado. Análisis en las áreas de ciencias de la salud y la vida, ciencias ambientales y ciencias naturales

“…La formación en comunicación científica está emergiendo tímidamente como objeto de estudio e investigación; en particular, la formación de los futuros comunicadores científicos (comunicadores institucionales de universidades y centros de investigación, periodistas científicos, profesionales de los museos de ciencias y centros de divulgación). La existencia de numerosos programas de formación en comunicación científica en todo el mundo (McKinnon y Bryant, 2017;Mellor, 2013;Gascoigne et al, 2010;Trench, 2009;Knobel, Regina y Camargo, 2009;Graco, 2009), algunos de los cuales son impartidos en España (De Semir, 2009) y, también, en diversos países de Latinoamérica (Massarani et al, 2016;Murriello, 2014;Reynoso Haynes, 2009;Dellamea, Ratto y Scisciani, 2000), ofrece un material preciado para explorar e intentar JULIO -DICIEMBRE 2018 extraer una mayor evidencia empírica sobre los contenidos, las competencias y los resultados de aprendizaje que son -o deberían-ser trabajados en estos programas docentes.…”

Sobre a autonomia relativa da Comunicação de Ciência

“…Tornou evidente a necessidade de institucionalizar a Comunicação de Ciência. Em 1991 apareceu um dos primeiros cursos em Comunicação de Ciência -no Imperial College de Londres (Mellor, 2013). Um ano depois começou a ser publicada a Public Understanding of Science.…”