F our professors in the S chool of J ournalism have expertise in areas of science communication including Mark Miller, Ed Caudill, Mark Littmann, and Susan Dimmick. These courses can provide a specialization in Science Communication for graduate students and an emphasis in Science Communication for undergraduates in the College of Communications and other departments. We offer three of these courses each year. Several of these courses are appropriate for the honors program in the College of Arts and Sciences. A writing workshop in which students analyze examples of successful science writing and write a series of articles for the general public based on scientific journals, news conferences, technical meetings, and interviews.
Students hear presentations from and interview experts in environmental science and reporting.
Exemplary popular literature in environmental reporting is reviewed. A survey of important science writing for the general public across the spectrum of science, engineering, and medicine. Works by authors such as Arthur C. Clarke, Stephen Jay Gould, and Richard Selzer will be analyzed for literary qualities in a quest to understand why some science writing succeeds. A seminar in the methods, problems, and issues of communication in the health field. How and why the media report some health issues and not others.