Acquire Cutting-Edge Scicomm & Engagement Expertise with this Stellenbosch Online Course

The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted, probably like never before, the importance of the effective sharing of scientific advances with a range of public audiences and policymakers. People are hungry for credible information, but trust in science is also threatened by misinformation and conspiracy theories. Going forward, professional science communicators (and scientists who are able to engage with lay audiences) will continue to be in high demand.

Therefore, in 2021, Stellenbosch University will once again offer its popular online science communication course via CREST, host to the DSI-NRF Research Chair in Science Communication. This course will be presented by Dr Marina Joubert and is designed to help researchers and communication professionals to get to grips with the principles and practice of effective science communication, as well as public engagement with science. Across all modules of the 2021 edition of this course, we will reflect on the effect of the global Covid-19 pandemic, and its implications for public science engagement, with a focus on what we have learned that we can use to improve future science communication activities.

Find out more about this course which runs from 14 June to 30 July 2021. The course will be followed by a practical project that will wrap up by the end of August 2021. Successful participation requires about 2–3 hours per week, as well as attendance of one 60-minute online discussion per week. The enrolment fee is ZAR 9 000.00 per person. Apply on or before 21 May 2021. Rolene Langford will guide you if you need help with the online application process.