This module introduces key conceptual frameworks from Science and Technology Studies (STS) to examine how knowledge is created, communicated, and valued in science communication. Learners will explore the relational and dynamic nature of science communication practices, considering the roles of co-production, knowing spaces, and values in shaping scientific discourse. By analyzing these frameworks, students will gain tools to critically assess and engage with diverse science communication contexts.

This module explores how Science and Technology Studies (STS) perspectives reshape our understanding of science communication, emphasizing its co-productive, performative, and situated nature. Learners will investigate the roles of facts, expertise, materiality, space, time, and affect in shaping public engagement with science. By examining these dimensions, participants will gain tools to critically analyze and reflect on the practices and impacts of science communication.

This module explores how the biography of a scientific object, specifically the gene gun, influences science communication across various settings such as laboratories, museums, public debates, and art galleries. Learners will investigate the shifting roles and meanings of objects as they move through different spaces and audiences. The module highlights the interplay between material culture and public engagement in science.

This module explores how public parks and landscapes serve as platforms for science communication and ecological engagement. Through case studies in San Francisco and Berlin, learners will examine the interplay between park design, public interaction with nature, and the evolution of ecological narratives. The module also addresses the challenges and opportunities of transforming natural spaces into interactive learning environments.

This module explores how visual and textual strategies in popular science magazines, particularly National Geographic, have shaped public understanding of climate change. Learners will analyze the evolution of climate discourse and the interplay between images, text, and scientific facts in media communication. The module also examines debates around natural versus human-driven climate change and the political role of science magazines.

This module explores how anecdotes are used in media narratives to shape public understanding of obesity, emphasizing their role in conveying moral values and individual responsibility. Learners will analyze the interplay between storytelling, societal attitudes, and the mediatisation of health issues. Through case studies and media analysis, participants will gain insight into the construction and impact of public health communication.

This module explores how science communication shapes public understanding by constructing scientific realities through language, framing, and discourse. Learners will investigate methods for analyzing science texts, focusing on the case of synthetic yeast, and reflect on responsible communication practices. By examining real-world examples, students will gain tools to critically assess how scientific knowledge is assembled and presented to diverse audiences.

This module explores how emotions influence science communication and the formation of social identities within online communities. Through a case study of the IFLScience Facebook page, learners will analyze the interplay between emotion, scientific discourse, and digital identity construction. Key concepts include boundary-work, social identity, and the co-production of science and emotion in digital spaces.

This module explores how nutritional communication in Israel has influenced societal values, citizenship, and the construction of national identity. Learners will examine the historical evolution of dietary guidelines, the negotiation of expertise, and the shifting roles of women in shaping food practices. Through case studies, the module highlights the interplay between nutrition, politics, and social change.

This module explores how forensic geneticists communicate their work, manage public expectations, and maintain scientific authority in legal contexts. Learners will examine boundary-work strategies, risk communication, and the impact of scientists' perceptions of their audiences. Through qualitative insights, the module highlights the complexities of conveying forensic genetics to diverse publics.

This module explores how science communication operates as a set of narratives, infrastructures, and tacit forms of governance within society. Learners will examine the material, digital, and participatory dimensions of science communication, as well as its global situatedness and the gaps in current approaches. By reflecting on Science and Technology Studies (STS) perspectives, students will gain tools for more inclusive and critical analysis.