2025 (Current Year) Faculty Courses School of Materials and Chemical Technology Department of Chemical Science and Engineering Graduate major in Earth-Life Science

Science Communication and Society M

Academic unit or major: Graduate major in Earth-Life Science
Instructor(s): John William Hernlund / Thilina Nishadh Heenatigala
Class Format: Exercise (Face-to-face)
Media-enhanced courses: -
Day of week/Period (Classrooms): 3-4 Mon (石川台7号館(ELSI-1)三島ホール) / 3-4 Thu (石川台7号館(ELSI-1)三島ホール)
Class: -
Course Code: ELS.C432
Number of credits: 020
Course offered: 2025
Offered quarter: 3Q
Syllabus updated: Oct 21, 2025
Language: English

Syllabus

Course overview and goals

This course equips master’s students across disciplines with the skills and perspectives to communicate their research effectively within academia and with society at large. Emphasising both practical tools and critical awareness, the course explores how science interacts with culture, politics, and public life, and how communication can foster trust, inclusion, and impact beyond disciplinary boundaries. Through active learning and discussion, students will gain experience in publishing, presenting, networking, and public engagement, while also reflecting on the ethical and social responsibilities of researchers. The overarching goal is to empower students to see communication not only as a professional skill but as a means of contributing to global challenges such as sustainability, health, equity, and planetary wellbeing.

Course description and aims

Students will gain the skills to communicate their research effectively across academic, policy, and public audiences, while developing awareness of the ethical and societal dimensions of science.

Student learning outcomes

実務経験と講義内容との関連 (又は実践的教育内容)

The instructor brings extensive experience in science communication, research, and international collaboration, combining academic expertise with practical engagement in policy, media, and public outreach. This background ensures that students not only gain practical skills in publishing, presenting, and engagement but also benefit from real-world insights into how science connects with society, culture, and global challenges.

Keywords

Science Communication, Public Engagement, Science and Society, Science Policy, Academic Publishing, Inclusive Science

Competencies

Specialist skills
Intercultural skills
Communication skills
Critical thinking skills
Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Specialist skills Liberal arts skills Communication skills Applied skills (inquisitive thinking and/or problem-finding skills) Applied skills (practical and/or problem-solving skills)

Class flow

In-class participation includes participation in the in-class activities and dialogue with the instructors and other students. Instructors will let students know if their participation levels are insufficient so that they have a chance to improve.

Course schedule/Objectives

	Course schedule	Objectives
Class 1	Introduction to Science, Communication, and Society (Thilina)	Why science communication matters, how science interacts with politics, culture, and the public sphere.
Class 2	Publics, Participation, and Trust (Thilina)	Models of communication (deficit, dialogue, co-creation). Public trust, citizen science, and challenges of misinformation.
Class 3	Communicating Research in Academic Contexts (Thilina)	Writing clearly for scholarly audiences. Presenting at conferences, seminars, and outreach events.
Class 4	Publishing and Open Science (John)	The peer-review process, publishing models, open access, preprints, and equity in knowledge sharing.
Class 5	Building a Professional Reputation (Thilina)	Developing academic identity, online visibility, and networking across platforms and institutions.
Class 6	Funding, Grants, and Institutional Support (John)	Finding funding, writing effective proposals, and navigating institutional structures.
Class 7	Storytelling and Narrative in Science (Thilina)	The power of narrative, framing, and metaphor in making research compelling and accessible.
Class 8	Conferences, Workshops, and the Art of Gathering (John)	How to participate effectively in academic meetings. Designing and organising inclusive, accessible gatherings. Extending to public forums and science cafés.
Class 9	Collaboration, Networks, and Reputation (Thilina)	Working across disciplines and cultures. Building collaborations, navigating authorship, and sustaining networks.
Class 10	Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Academia (Thilina/John)	The importance of inclusion in research and communication. Addressing barriers and enabling accessibility.
Class 11	Group Discussion (Thilina/John)	Attending 'Science Communication and Society Symposium'
Class 12	Ethics, Responsibility, and Risk in Science and Society (Thilina/John)	Research integrity, plagiarism, authorship ethics, and dual-use dilemmas.
Class 13	Futures of Science Communication and Society (Thilina/John)	Emerging trends: AI, planetary wellbeing, and responsible innovation. Envisioning science–society futures.
Class 14	Group Discussion (Thilina/John)	Prepare a 5 minute presentation to summarize your project for the class.

Study advice (preparation and review)

Students are expected to spend approximately 2–3 hours per week outside of class on preparation and review. This may include reading assigned materials, preparing short writing or visualisation tasks, refining project work, and reviewing feedback from in-class activities to strengthen their communication skills.

Textbook(s)

None

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Materials will be provided.

Evaluation methods and criteria

Related courses

GEG.S411 ： Global Science Communication and Engagement
GEG.S413 ： Science Media and Communication for Global Development of Environment and Society

Prerequisites

The student should have a basic level of English communication skill, and scientific literacy.

Contact information (e-mail and phone) Notice : Please replace from ”[at]” to ”@”(half-width character).

thilinah[at]elsi.jp
hernlund[at]elsi.jp