The Softer Side of Science Communication
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The Softer Side of Science Communication
This course is part of Designing Effective Science Communication Specialization
Instructor: Melanie Peffer
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What you'll learn
Explain the role of emotion in human behavior and how it can come up in science communication.
Explain why authenticity, trust, and empathy will help foster connection and consequently science communication.
Explain how improvisation, storytelling, and nonverbal communication can improve your science communication activities.
Describe how to be an inclusive and trauma informed science communicator.
Skills you'll gain
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There are 4 modules in this course
In this course, you will continue to explore how to develop and implement evidence-based methods for science communication. Here we’ll be looking at the softer but no less important side of science communication. We’ll cover the basics of human emotion, building connection with your audience through empathy and authenticity, how improv can improve your science communication game, non-verbal communication, and managing adversity in science communication. We’ll close with a discussion of how to be an inclusive and trauma-informed science communicator.
In this module, you will learn about human emotions.
What's included
4 videos4 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt1 plugin
4 videos•Total 26 minutes
- Course Introduction•3 minutes
- Humans As Emotional Beings•9 minutes
- Emotion and Science Communication•9 minutes
- Managing Anxiety about Science•5 minutes
4 readings•Total 36 minutes
- Course Updates and Accessibility Support•1 minute
- Melanie Peffer TED Talk: Exploring Examples of Safe Gateways To Curiosity•15 minutes
- Basics of Human Emotion•10 minutes
- Science, Emotion, and Communication•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
- The Power of Emotion•30 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
- Emotion and Communication•10 minutes
1 plugin•Total 15 minutes
- Introduce Yourself Map Padlet•15 minutes
In this module, you will discuss the importance of fostering trust in science communication. We will also discuss how to use empathy, vulnerability, and authenticity to do so. Finally, the third part of this module will talk about the use of storytelling, improvisation and non-verbal communication to build connection with your audiences.
What's included
5 videos8 readings1 peer review3 discussion prompts
5 videos•Total 35 minutes
- Vulnerability, Authenticity and Trust in Science Communication•7 minutes
- Empathy and Science Communication•8 minutes
- Improvisation and Science Communication•5 minutes
- Why Use Storytelling? •4 minutes
- Nonverbal Science Communication•10 minutes
8 readings•Total 80 minutes
- Brené Brown TED Talk: The Power of Vulnerability•20 minutes
- How to Build Trust in Science and Health: Mini Course•10 minutes
- Introduction to Empathy, Brené Brown•3 minutes
- The Art of Question Asking: The Other Half of Empathic Listening•10 minutes
- Empathy in Science Communication: Mini Course•10 minutes
- Introduction: Pop culture and Improvisation•7 minutes
- Optional: Improv Can Build Confidence•10 minutes
- How To Tell A Science Story: Mini Course•10 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
- Tell A Short Science Story•60 minutes
3 discussion prompts•Total 30 minutes
- Barriers to Building Trust•10 minutes
- Warm-up: Vulnerability and Empathy•10 minutes
- Theater and Comedy in Science Communication•10 minutes
In this module, you will learn about conflict and science communication. We will also discuss strategies for managing active conflict and/or adversarial audiences.
What's included
3 videos1 reading1 assignment2 discussion prompts
3 videos•Total 22 minutes
- Conflict in Science Communication•6 minutes
- Where Does Adversity in Science Communication Come From?•7 minutes
- Strategies for Managing an Adversarial Audience•8 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
- Conflict Resolution•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
- Conflict and Adversity in Science Communication•30 minutes
2 discussion prompts•Total 20 minutes
- Conflict•10 minutes
- Warm-up•10 minutes
In this module, we will discuss how to be inclusive science communicators. This includes how to be trauma informed, the balance of power in communication, designing for inclusion, and how to be culturally relevant. We'll close with a discussion of an ethical code for science communicators.
What's included
4 videos8 readings1 peer review2 discussion prompts
4 videos•Total 24 minutes
- Trauma Informed Science Communication•8 minutes
- Designing for Inclusion•7 minutes
- Ethical Considerations in Science Communication•5 minutes
- Wrap Up•4 minutes
8 readings•Total 80 minutes
- Strategies for Sharing Power•10 minutes
- Racism and Discrimination in Health Care: Providers and Patients•10 minutes
- Culturally Relevant SciComm: Mini Course•10 minutes
- How to be Inclusive in Science Storytelling: Mini Course•10 minutes
- The Ethics of Science Communication•10 minutes
- Ethics of Science Communication: Mini Course•10 minutes
- Course 2 Resources•10 minutes
- DESC Universal Final Project Instructions•10 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
- Course 2 Final Project•60 minutes
2 discussion prompts•Total 20 minutes
- Reflecting on Racism and Discrimination in Healthcare•10 minutes
- Being Inclusive in Science Communication Activities•10 minutes
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