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Centre for the Public Awareness of Science · ANU College of Systems and Society
New course offering for 2026, scheduled in first semester, in-person only. Science and technology topics are core elements of modern life but which provoke a range of reactions and responses. Understanding why people react to issues they way that they do and, crucially, how to continue to facilitate meaningful conversations to build towards a consensus position is a skill vital to anyone wanting to work in any context involving people, especially science, business and policy. This course will provide students with the ability to identify areas of both contention and consensus and the skills to ensure constructive engagement and collaboration. Marrying theory and practice in each session, students will gain experience in different modes and models of public engagement as both participant and organiser.
Story map on a controversial or contested issue
Learning outcomes 1, 2
Group assessment – engagement activity output (30%) and peer review (10%)
Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3
Individual report
Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3
The expected workload will consist of approximately 130 hours throughout the semester including: - 36 hours of face-to-face component which may consist of 1 x 1 hour lecture and 1 x 2 hour block consisting of 1 x 1 hour tutorial and 1 x 1 hour workshop - Approximately 94 hours of self-directed study which will include personal study / assessment work.
All reading and audio visual materials for the course will be made available via the course site in the Learning Management System.