Postgraduate Course: Dialogue for Science Communication and Public Engagement (BIME11046)
Course Outline
| School | School of Biomedical Sciences |
College | College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | Biomedical Sciences |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | 'Dialogue' is an approach to communication that privileges mutual listening, learning and understanding. The practice of dialogue has been developed, with palpable results, in the arenas of public participation, organisational development and conflict resolution. And theorising about dialogue is now a recognised strand of scholarship within communication studies.
The role of science public engagement practitioners has evolved substantially in the last decade. In addition to their traditional work as science communicators, they are now also expected to act as facilitators of meaningful conversations between researchers, practitioners, citizens and policy makers. Often, those conversations aim to increase understanding and build relationships (dialogue). Sometimes, they also seek to inform decision-making processes (deliberative dialogue). In both cases, public engagement practitioners must be able to facilitate participatory processes that foster interpersonal communication across various divides (e.g. expertise, jargon, values, worldviews). Accordingly, this course enables students to become skilful and reflective facilitators capable of designing and facilitating dialogic processes. |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | No |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
On completion of the course, you will be able to demonstrate:
* An understanding of the principles of dialogue, and of contrasts with other forms of communication.
* An ability to identify how dialogue and deliberation may be useful across a range of science communication and public engagement (SC and PE) activities.
* An ability to reflectively examine specific examples of interaction in order to identify where dialogue has occurred or been blocked, and to analyse why.
* The development of skills and techniques for facilitating dialogue in small group discussions.
* An ability to design, deliver and evaluate a dialogic (SC and PE) activity. |
Assessment Information
* An essay (1,000 words). This will be from a choice of questions designed to assess understanding of the principles of dialogue. (30%)
* An essay (2,000 words). A reflective analysis of an observed science communication or public engagement activity - opportunities for observation will be arranged by the course tutors. (40%)
* A practical group exercise - small groups will be asked to design and plan a SC or PE process seeking to stimulate dialogue. They will present the plan in writing and verbally getting informal reflections on the latter and formal assessment on the former. (30%) |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Elizabeth Stevenson
Tel: (0131 6)50 4823
Email: |
Course secretary | Mrs Marie Manson
Tel: (0131 6)50 3289
Email: |
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