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Centre for the Public Awareness of Science · ANU College of Systems and Society
In 2026, the teaching intensive for SCOM2003 will be delivered 19-23 January. How real are aliens, and how does it shape the scientific study of astrobiology? What role did Star Trek's Lt Uhura play in recruiting astronauts to the NASA space program? How might The Day After Tomorrow impact the public understanding of climate change? How did the movie Interstellar make scientific discoveries? Do medical dramas on television do harm for the public perception of and interaction with healthcare? This course provides an introduction to the impact of representations of science and scientists in film, television, fiction, and other media, and their public perceptions of science. It introduces research, theory, and methods as applied to this growing area. This course looks at the topic from multiple disciplines and methods from science, to social science, and arts. Using specific areas and contexts, including cultural, societal, and political issues, we look at how the public interacts with science and popular science media. Students are encouraged to share their own experiences of science-based film, games, television, literature, and more to pursue their areas of interest through assessment. The intensive contact week has a mixture of lectures, classroom activities, and group interaction to explore these areas. The major piece of assessment is a research project testing students' hypotheses about the impact that a work of fiction might have on public perceptions of science, and can employ science, social science, and/or art methods. This course is co-taught with postgraduate students but assessed separately.
Two short group presentations
Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8
Project proposal - including a literature review, project plan, and evaluation methods
Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8
Project final report - combines the project proposal with data collection, analysis and development of conclusions
Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
The expected workload will consist of approximately 130 hours throughout the session including: - The face-to-face component will be delivered in intensive mode over one week, Monday - Friday 9am - 5 pm (total 35 hours). - Approximately 95 hours of self-directed study will include pre-reading before the intensive week and assessments to be submitted after the intensive week. Other Information This is an intensive course delivered during the Summer session. Please refer to https://cpas.anu.edu.au/study/courses for specific dates.
Gilbert J.K. & Stocklmayer S. (eds.) (2013) Communication and Engagement with Science and Technology: Issues and Dilemmas. A reader in science communication. New York and London: Routledge. Other readings provided online.