This course focuses on assessing and analysing important aspects of communicating scientific knowledge and complex environmental issues to stakeholders in environmental decision-making. You will explain how different communication tools and forms of communication can be brought into line with the needs of different stakeholders, and use and assess different communication tools and rhetorical strategies to present scientific knowledge and complex environmental concepts in different forms to different audiences. This is done on the basis of theories about scientific communication, environmental rhetoric and the popularisation of science. You will also examine how experts in environmental science communicate problems and solutions to other experts, politicians, media and the public, and critically assess the role of communication between different stakeholders in environmental issues, as well as the political and ethical impact of different forms of communication.

Course design

This course includes lectures, but is primarily built up around compulsory seminars and supervised group assignments and discussions. Guest lecturers have a central role, both giving lectures on how to work with science and environmental communication and discussing student presentations. The course is assessed through an individual take-home examination, written group assignments, oral presentations, attendance at seminars and guest lectures and written seminar assignments.