Postgraduate Certificate in Science Communication (PGCertSciComm)

The University of Otago

The need for effective and powerful science communication is greater than ever. Our course is very practical and applied, with a special focus on creative non-fiction science writing. Our students tend to be those whose passions and talents lie between the sciences and creative practice. One of the great things about Science Communication is that it is deeply interdisciplinary, weaving together engaging content from STEM areas to the social sciences to the arts and humanities. There are no subject prerequisites for course entry. If you who aspire to work in science communication, our course teaches core skills in: Putting science communication theory into creative practice Writing engaging science-based story content for a general audience Multimedia such as infographics, podcasts, and mobile filmmaking Pitching to media and literary agents, drafting professional proposals Running idea-based events and exhibitions Taught entirely by distance, our asynchronous course is tailored to suit busy, working professionals. The PGCertSciComm (3 papers) can be done part-time or full-time as an ''at-your-own-pace'' programme. To enable students to develop their skills and interests through real-world work experience, the course offers a popular internship paper with a range of professional partners. Learn more about our professional partnerships and interships In addition to teaching creative thinkers how to use stories to communicate the science they are most passionate about, our innovative papers are built on the latest scholarly theory in the science of science communication and examine how people consume and use scientific information. Our instructors are not only academics engaged in scientific research, they are also leading figures in the science communication industry, with commercially successful, award-winning popular science books and bylines in major magazines and media outlets such as The New York Times, Scientific American, and The New Zealand Herald. The need for effective and powerful science communication is greater than ever. Our course is very practical and applied, with a special focus on creative non-fiction science writing. Our students tend to be those whose passions and talents lie between the sciences and creative practice.

Division of Sciences