Principles of Diffusion and Communication of Scientific and Technological Knowledge PDF Print

ΕΕ18 - Principles of Diffusion and Communication of Scientific and Technological Knowledge

Tutor: Vassilis Koulaidis

Semester: 4th
ECTS: 4.5

Short Description:

The course deals with the mechanisms and procedures employed in the diffusion and communication of scientific and technological knowledge for non-expert audiences. These mechanisms and procedures have crucial implications for decision making practices in a variety of sectors in a knowledge-based society.

Aims:

The objectives of this course are to familiarise students with:

  • Contemporary communication theories
  • The communication fields through and within which scientific and technological knowledge is circulated (interspecialist field, intraspecialist field, education, mass media);
  • The communication and reception procedures with regard to techno-scientific knowledge occurring in the public domain; and
  • The basic principles and methodologies employed in communicating techno-scientific knowledge to non-experts (e.g. narratives, analogies, metaphors).

Learning Outcomes:

Students who complete this course will be able to:

  • Recognise the circumstances under which communicating science and technology to non-experts becomes necessary
  • Plan activities for diffusing and communicating science and technology to non-expert audiences
  • Employ a variety of expressive tools for popularizing techno-scientific knowledge for the benefit of non experts.

Structure:

13 three-hour lectures

Assessment:

Student assessment is achieved through a combination of written examinations (80% of the total score) andsmall-scale projects allocated to groups of students and presented during the semester (20%).

Bibliography:

  • M.A.K. Halliday (2004), The language of Science, Greek edition Athens: Metaichmio.
  • V. Koulaidis, K.Dimopoulos, S.Sklaveniti and V. Christidou (2002), The texts of techno-science in the public domain, Athens: Metaichmio