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The Softer Side of Science Communication

The Softer Side of Science Communication

This course is part of Designing Effective Science Communication Specialization

Instructor: Melanie Peffer

Included with

Learn more

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Explain the role of emotion in human behavior and how it can come up in science communication.
Explain why authenticity, trust, and empathy will help foster connection and consequently science communication.
Explain how improvisation, storytelling, and nonverbal communication can improve your science communication activities.
Describe how to be an inclusive and trauma informed science communicator.

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

2 assignments¹

AI Graded see disclaimer

Taught in English

91% of learners achieved a positive career outcome

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Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the Designing Effective Science Communication Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 4 modules in this course

In this course, you will continue to explore how to develop and implement evidence-based methods for science communication. Here we’ll be looking at the softer but no less important side of science communication. We’ll cover the basics of human emotion, building connection with your audience through empathy and authenticity, how improv can improve your science communication game, non-verbal communication, and managing adversity in science communication. We’ll close with a discussion of how to be an inclusive and trauma-informed science communicator.

Module details

In this module, you will learn about human emotions.

What's included

4 videos4 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt1 plugin

4 videosTotal 26 minutes

Course Introduction3 minutes
Humans As Emotional Beings9 minutes
Emotion and Science Communication9 minutes
Managing Anxiety about Science5 minutes

4 readingsTotal 36 minutes

Course Updates and Accessibility Support1 minute
Melanie Peffer TED Talk: Exploring Examples of Safe Gateways To Curiosity15 minutes
Basics of Human Emotion10 minutes
Science, Emotion, and Communication10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

The Power of Emotion30 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Emotion and Communication10 minutes

1 pluginTotal 15 minutes

Introduce Yourself Map Padlet15 minutes

In this module, you will discuss the importance of fostering trust in science communication. We will also discuss how to use empathy, vulnerability, and authenticity to do so. Finally, the third part of this module will talk about the use of storytelling, improvisation and non-verbal communication to build connection with your audiences.

What's included

5 videos8 readings1 peer review3 discussion prompts

5 videosTotal 35 minutes

Vulnerability, authenticity and Trust in Science Communication7 minutes
Empathy and Science Communication8 minutes
Improvisation and Science Communication5 minutes
Why Use Storytelling? 4 minutes
Nonverbal Science Communication10 minutes

8 readingsTotal 80 minutes

Brené Brown TED Talk: The Power of Vulnerability20 minutes
How to Build Trust in Science and Health: Mini Course10 minutes
Introduction to Empathy, Brené Brown3 minutes
The Art of Question Asking: The Other Half of Empathic Listening10 minutes
Empathy in Science Communication: Mini Course10 minutes
Introduction: Pop culture and Improvisation7 minutes
Optional: Improv Can Build Confidence10 minutes
How To Tell A Science Story: Mini Course10 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 60 minutes

Tell A Short Science Story60 minutes

3 discussion promptsTotal 30 minutes

Barriers to Building Trust10 minutes
Warm-up: Vulnerability and Empathy10 minutes
Theater and Comedy in Science Communication10 minutes

In this module, you will learn about conflict and science communication. We will also discuss strategies for managing active conflict and/or adversarial audiences.

What's included

3 videos1 reading1 assignment2 discussion prompts

3 videosTotal 22 minutes

Conflict in Science Communication6 minutes
Where Does Adversity in Science Communication Come From?7 minutes
Strategies for Managing an Adversarial Audience8 minutes

1 readingTotal 10 minutes

Conflict Resolution10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Conflict and Adversity in Science Communication30 minutes

2 discussion promptsTotal 20 minutes

Conflict10 minutes
Warm-up10 minutes

In this module, we will discuss how to be inclusive science communicators. This includes how to be trauma informed, the balance of power in communication, designing for inclusion, and how to be culturally relevant. We'll close with a discussion of an ethical code for science communicators.