Scientific and Technical Outreach 2

This unit builds on the one offered in the first semester.

It offers students the opportunity to continue exploring the field of science and technology communication, this time focusing on institutions (museums, science centers, associations, etc.) and, more specifically, on the evolution of their missions and their relationships with the scientific community in relation to society. It addresses the same key issues, namely identifying the institutions and actors involved in this field and exploring other challenges and objectives that science and technology communication sets for itself. The mechanisms at work in the contextual processing of knowledge remain a priority. We will also examine specific topics such as particular modes of science communication in nature, through comic books, the heritage preservation of contemporary scientific objects, and issues related to exhibitions on living organisms or astronomy, among others. The originality of this course unit lies in its ability to bring together fields of study and research focused on science communication. We will highlight here the specific contribution of interdisciplinary research at the intersection of science education and communication studies, clarifying its positioning and complementarity with other research fields. 

In the second semester, students will be required to prepare a critical and well-reasoned presentation on the history and evolution of a specific science communication institution (CCSTI, museums, associations, etc.).

The assignment may be completed in pairs and must be submitted as a PDF file (between 4 and 5 pages, excluding the bibliography and appendices, corresponding to approximately 20,000 characters, including spaces). 

Demonstrated Skills (Specific, Cross-Functional)

• Understand the various mechanisms and institutions involved in science communication, as well as their histories and how they have evolved
• Master the communication of disciplinary knowledge and the methods for adapting it to various contexts of science communication
• Analyze and evaluate mediation mechanisms, analyze scientific mediation institutions, and adopt a critical perspective
• Understanding the different audiences and their expectations