Explore ASBMB’s course: The Art of Science Communication
The ASBMB Public Outreach Committee is proud to offer “The Art of Science Communication,” an online course available for ALL scientists and STEM professionals. The application for the Winter 2019 session of the course is now open.
Overview: The goal of the course is to provide participants with fundamental training in science communication, focusing in particular on how to present science to a nonexpert audience in a formal setting, such as a public lecture. Using video lectures, background material, and virtual mentoring and discussions, the course covers the important components of what makes for a successful presentation, including messaging, generating interest and engaging with the audience. Course participants will be able to use the skills learned during the course in their professional lives.
Course dates:
- WINTER SESSION: February through March 2019 (applications accepted starting Dec. 31 2018)
- SUMMER SESSION: June through July 2019 (applications accepted starting April 29)
- FALL SESSION: October through November 2019 (applications accepted starting Sept. 3)
Schedule: The course is eight weeks long — six weeks of content and two weeks for preparation and delivery of final presentations. Click here for the course syllabus, or read our paper in the Science Communication issue of JMBE.
Format: Before the course begins, each participant records a short (five- to 10-minute) presentation on a scientific topic (preferably the participant’s research topic). The presentation should be appropriate for members of the lay public (NOT a scientific/expert audience). This “before” video is used as as a reference point for the weekly discussions and homework assignments and helps measure participant progress.
Each week, participants watch video lectures, read background materials and review other resources. Weekly homework assignments help participants master the material. There are MANDATORY weekly discussions (Skype and Google Hangout), during which participants discuss that week’s content and assignments. Discussions are led by members of the ASBMB Public Outreach Committee and previous course participants. Participants should plan to dedicate three to four hours to the course per week.
The final course project is another recorded presentation. Participants who complete the course receive certificates.
Cost: $25 for ASBMB members or $100 for nonmembers (Join ASBMB here!)