COMM07028 2019 Scientific Communications
Full Title
Scientific Communications
Transcript Title
Scientific Communications
Code
COMM07028
Attendance
50 %
Subject Area
COMM - Communication
Department
LIFE - Life Sciences
Level
07 - NFQ Level 7
Credit
05 - 05 Credits
Duration
Semester
Fee
€
Start Term
2019 - Full Academic Year 2019-20
End Term
9999 - The End of Time
Author(s)
Yvonne Lang
Programme Membership
SG_SPHAR_B07 201900 Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Science with Drug Development
SG_SPHAR_H08 201900 Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Pharmaceutical Science with Drug Development
Description
Through team problem based project work, this module addresses written and spoken communication of scientific information and emphasises personal and professional development skills for students including self awareness, interpersonal skills, interview skills, organisation and project management skills.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module the learner will/should be able to;
1.
Identify and assess own skill set in relation to graduate opportunities.
2.
Establish and demonstrate active pursuit of career goals.
3.
Manage, report and deliver a scientific team project assignment.
4.
Write a fully referenced technical report.
5.
Demonstrate awareness of own responsibilities and individual contribution to successful teamwork.
Teaching and Learning Strategies
This module will be delivered full-time. This will include lectures and workshops augmented by independent learning and directed learning. This approach is expected to address student learning needs. Moodle will be used as a repository of educational resources and as a means of assessment.
Module Assessment Strategies
Assessment will be on a continuous basis as learning outcomes can only be achieved through active participation in problem based individual and team assignments. Assessment will comprise of three main elements which have been broken down into smaller more manageable assignments following a logical progression to final deliverables.
- Develop a Professional Portfolio - includes the following elements: CV, cover letter, records of achievements, personal statement, reflections on teamwork and leadership opportunities.
- Delivery of Team Project - includes the following elements written project plan, verbal project updates, written technical project report.
- Develop Scientific Report Writing Skills and Presentation Skills - includes a technical report and verbal presentation.
Repeat Assessments
Repeat continuous assessments
Module Dependencies
Prerequisites
None
Co-requisites
None
Incompatibles
None
Indicative Syllabus
Communications for teamwork, interviews and verbal presentations
- Personal portfolio development including elements such as (i) personal assessment (ii) career goals (iii) career planning (iv) skills assessment (v) CV
- Overview of the pharmaceutical industry in Ireland
- Interview techniques, styles and skills
- Key elements of teamwork such as (i) managing effective meetings (ii) leadership (iii) listening (iv) assertiveness (v) managing conflict
- Oral presentations and verbal articulation skills
Project Management and writing skills
- Key elements of project management including setting goals and objectives, identifying stakeholders, scope, time, quality, resources, costs, people
- Project design including elements such as work breakdown structure
- Project communication
Professional writing and referencing skills
- Sourcing, reading and referencing authoritative scientific information
- Writing lab reports and data recording templates
- Standard operating procedures
- Grammar and punctuation
Coursework & Assessment Breakdown
Coursework & Continuous Assessment
100 %
Coursework Assessment
| Title | Type | Form | Percent | Week | Learning Outcomes Assessed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professional Portfolio | Coursework Assessment | Assessment | 30 % | OnGoing | 1,2,5 |
| 2 | Technical Report and Presentation | Coursework Assessment | Assessment | 40 % | OnGoing | 4,5 |
| 3 | Group Project Report | Coursework Assessment | Group Project | 30 % | End of Term | 3,4,5 |
Full Time Mode Workload
| Type | Location | Description | Hours | Frequency | Avg Workload |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Problem Based Learning | Problem Based Learning Room | Team Projects | 4 | Weekly | 4.00 |
| Independent Learning | UNKNOWN | Reflection and Self Study | 2 | Weekly | 2.00 |
Total Full Time Average Weekly Learner Contact Time 4.00 Hours
Required & Recommended Book List
Recommended Reading
2012-04-28 Communicating Clearly about Science and Medicine Routledge
ISBN 1409440370 ISBN-13 9781409440376
2012-04-28 Communicating Clearly about Science and Medicine Routledge
ISBN 1409440370 ISBN-13 9781409440376
Scientific communication is challenging. The subject matter is complex and often requires a certain level of knowledge to understand it correctly; describing hazard ratios, interpreting Kaplan Meier curves and explaining confounding factors is different from talking about a new car or clothing range. Processes, for example in clinical trials, are laborious and tedious and knowing how much of the detail to include and exclude requires judgement. Conclusions are rarely clear cut making communicating statistical risk and probability tough, especially to non-statisticians and non-scientists such as journalists. "Communicating Clearly about Science and Medicine" looks at these and many more challenges, then introduces powerful techniques for overcoming them. It will help you develop and deliver impactful presentations on medical and scientific data and tell a clear, compelling story based on your research findings. It will show you how to develop clear messages and themes, while adhering to the advice attributed to Einstein: 'Make things as simple as possible...but not simpler.' John Clare illustrates how to communicate clearly the risks and benefits contained in a complex data set, and balance the hope and the hype. He explains how to avoid the 'miracle cure' or 'killer drug' headlines which are so common and teaches you how to combine the accuracy of peer-to-peer reviewed science with the narrative skills of journalism.
Recommended Reading
2001-01-04 Doing Science: Design, Analysis, and Communication of Scientific Research Oxford University Press, U.S.A.
ISBN 0195134133 ISBN-13 9780195134131
2001-01-04 Doing Science: Design, Analysis, and Communication of Scientific Research Oxford University Press, U.S.A.
ISBN 0195134133 ISBN-13 9780195134131
Recommended Reading
2010-05-25 The Craft of Scientific Communication (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing and Publishing) University of Chicago Press
ISBN 0226316610 ISBN-13 9780226316611
2010-05-25 The Craft of Scientific Communication (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing and Publishing) University of Chicago Press
ISBN 0226316610 ISBN-13 9780226316611
Recommended Reading
2009-04-30 The Handbook of Communication Science SAGE Publications, Inc
ISBN 9781412918138 ISBN-13 9781412918138
2009-04-30 The Handbook of Communication Science SAGE Publications, Inc
ISBN 9781412918138 ISBN-13 9781412918138
Long awaited second edition of this classic handbook.
Module Resources
Non ISBN Literary Resources
As per booklist
Journal Resources
As identified during coursework
URL Resources
As identified during coursework
Other Resources
Science Communication Moodle site course resources including:
- Personal Assessment toolkit
- CV templates
- Interview tips
- Referencing guidelines
- Project management communication templates
- Writing and referencing guidelines
Additional Information
None