From Cancer Cells to String Theory: Communicating Complex Material

After completing the readings for this session, please write what you think did and did not work about the communication used.

Science in the Blogosphere

Identify a science blog of your choice from the Discover Magazine “stable” of blogs available at: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/, follow it for at least three days during the week preceding this class, and write a short critical review of it. What is the blog trying to do, and how well is it doing it? Come to class prepared to give a short (2 minute) review of your chosen blog.

Critiquing Science on Display

Please tour the public galleries on display in the lobbies of the Broad Institute and the Koch Institute, which face one another across Main Street on the MIT campus. Then write brief notes (2–3 pages) that critically compare and contrast the approaches to exhibiting science of these two galleries.

Workshop: Writing Science and Writing Science (cont.)

Revise your one-page written piece to include the elements you recently learned.

Telling a Tale, Painting a Picture: Writing About Science Using Special Techniques

Come to class with a first draft of a one-page description of a phenomenon in science for a public audience, a one-page essay on a topic related to science, or a one-page letter to the editor responding to a recent op-ed on a topic in science or technology.

What Does It Mean to Write About Science for the Public

The readings for this session are two different accounts on the discovery of the structure of DNA. When reading them, take into account the discussion we will have comparing and contrasting both what they say and their ways of saying it.

In the Elevator or Hallway: Talking Informally about Science

Come to class prepared to speak informally and briefly (maximum 2 minutes) about a topic in science, technology, or engineering that interests you. Assume your audience is intelligent but knows little or nothing about the subject.

Final Assignment

Directions:

Identify a narrow policy issue of your choice (take a look at the materials provided for various case studies on the course website if you are having trouble picking a topic);
Present an analysis of the policy issue;
Identify alternative policies;
Evaluate and analyze the policy you are studying using cost-benefit analysis, stakeholder analysis, data analysis, and / or analysis of inputs, outputs, and outcomes;
Apply the correct type(s) of policy analysis to the alternatives;
Present the results of your analysis and the give the best option based on your criteria; and
Make suggestions for implementing, monitoring, and evaluating the policy.

Assignment 3 - Observe a Public Meeting

Attend a public meeting in the Boston area, take careful notes on the event, and report back in a succinct, well-organized informational memo. Be sure to also collect any materials distributed at the event for reference. Your memo should describe the organization, discuss where its power originates, identify the purpose of the meeting, explain the structure of the deliberative process used to collect input, and discuss what, if any, outcome resulted.

Assignment 2 - EPA Open Docket on Pesticides

The EPA has opened docket ID: EPA-HQ-OPP-2008-0844 to review neonicotinoids, pesticides that may have an adverse effect on pollinators, including bees. You have been asked by your client to review the EPA primary and supporting documents and provide a 2-page memo of comments to the EPA stating your position. You may choose your client. Decide who you will represent—an advocacy group, a state environmental protection agency, a farmer, etc.

SCALES

This website features work from the completion of Phase 1 of the SCALES Project.

We are currently seeking partnerships for Phase 2.

Communication