Making Modern Science

Modern science reaches way beyond laboratories and scholarly institutions. It is part of an integrated world where scientists routinely explain their work to non-scientists – to secure funding, or drive policy, or build a career. Scientists communicate beyond their scientific colleagues to promote innovations, to improve how we live, or secure justice. By communicating with the public, scientists affect how science is done, how it impacts our lives, and who gets to do it. Communicating creates a feedback loop between science and the world, conveying science to the public and affecting scientific practice. This course is about the history of science communication and the ways in which talking to non-scientists about science has contributed to scientific endeavour and its impact on society. It traces developments in science communication from 19th century science showmen whose public demonstrations built scientists’ professional standing, through the use of communication to gain support for ‘big science’, like the space race in the 20th century, through to the need for scientists to communicate with influence to address serious challenges, such as climate change. On the way, the course traverses key questions, theories and critical moments in the global history of science, to explore topics including communicating science in the law and in public health, through pop culture and science fiction, and hijacking science communication, as in the case of the tobacco wars. Course assessment emphasises reflection on the integral role of science communication in modern science and its global history, as well as developing research skills.