Evaluating Contemporary Science

Overview

Effective communication is essential in science, but do you ever wonder whether articles written about science in the news are thorough, unambiguous and objective? 

This Evaluating Contemporary Science module from The Open University UK will enable you to explore contemporary areas in science, examining the ‘science behind the news’, and offering some choice in the areas that you will individually investigate. 

Key skills you will develop include searching current research, critiquing and evaluation methods, risk analysis, decision making and the communication of science. You will also explore different methods of collaborative working in a digital environment – the module is delivered entirely online, with no printed materials.

In everyday life we often meet advances in science, usually through reports in the media. The way science is reported is important as it can influence decisions and behaviour. 

For example, the suggested link between the MMR vaccine and autism in the late 1990s illustrates how stories can develop far beyond the original scientific report and consequently influence the behaviour of the public. Therefore, you will appreciate that effective communication is essential for scientists. You will begin this module by exploring how science is peer reviewed and published before becoming news.

You will learn

• work independently with cutting edge scientific research

• develop and improve the knowledge, understanding and skills required to deal with scientific information

• present scientific information in various media.