Keen to study SciComm at uni?

Thank you to Claire Harris for the update.

Have you been wondering where you could study science communication at university? Maybe some soon-to-be school leavers are interested in exploring the mix of science and people that sci comm offers?

A number of universities in Australia offer subjects and qualifications focused on science communication. These universities include:

  • Australian National University
  • University of New South Wales
  • The University of Queensland
  • University of Western Australia
  • University of Adelaide.

Interestingly, the Centre for Public Awareness of Science is the longest running science communication academic centre in Australia, offering its first graduate diploma in 1986.

Do you know of any others that we’ve missed?

Have you found any Massive Open Online Courses in sci comm that you’d care to recommend? Comment below. (See an earlier article in Scope about MOOCs.)

Members may also be interested in checking out the discussion on the public LinkedIn site following a question from an undergraduate science student about what qualifications are needed to be considered a science communicator.

SCREN: Science Communication Research and Education Network

Special thanks to Sean Perera from ANU for this contribution.

SCREN is a network of science communication researchers and educators in Australia, and aims to enable members to take part in collaborative science communication research and share best practices in science communication training at tertiary institutions.

Inaugurated in June 2007 under the auspices of the Director of the Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science at The Australian National University in Canberra, SCREN’s current membership includes academics from thirteen Australian universities. The Network has been successful in attracting participation from The University of Auckland and the University of Otago in New Zealand.

In April 2011, a collective body of members met over two days at the SCREN Symposium in Canberra to deliberate future directions for science communication research and tertiary training, further to outcomes of the Inspiring Australia Conference (more about that later).

If you would like participate in SCREN or have any question please e-mail here.

Dr Sean Perera

Associate Researcher
Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science
The Australian National University

ASCSA event: Flinders Centre for Science Education 18/10

18 October 2010
6:31 pmto8:31 pm

Australian Science Communicators SA (ASCSA) Event

The Flinders Centre for Science Education in the 21st Century

Speakers: Bob Buxton and Mark Ward MC- Richard Musgrove

Date: Monday October 18th, 2010 Time: 6:30pm – 8:30pm Venue: RiAus, Science Exchange, Exchange Place, Adelaide

Cost: ASCSA members: free* (see why & how to join below) Non-members: $10 Non-member students: $5 Bookings: http://ascsa-flinders21c.eventbrite.com

Event Summary “The Flinders Centre for Science Education in the 21st Century (Science 21) works to support decision-making in science education by policy makers, educational leaders, industry and others. Together with professional educators the Centre also draws on research evidence to help generate new ideas and turn these into real innovation through proof-of-concept pilot programs. The vision that runs through all of this work is the improvement of young people’s ability to make the most of the economic educational and social and cultural opportunities that are likely to be available in the future. It is all about creating capacity in a changing world.” Sci 21 Centre 2010 Tonight we will hear from Sci 21’s Mark Ward and Bob Buxton who will cover the Centre’s background, current work and challenges. Mark and Bob will also fill us in on their respective roles, and I’m sure much discussion will follow.