There are a number of courses at Georgetown that aim to introduce and/or deepen student appreciation of the role of science in society. Notably, Georgetown’s commitment to science education for all through the SFA curriculum reflects a commitment to science literacy as a key skill for liberally educated graduates. But how do we translate this ambition into broadly applicable skills for our students? How can students use their appreciation of the nature of science in real world contexts where scientific knowledge is contested and marginalized?
This panel will gather together faculty and practitioners from across departments/schools/sites to discuss this vision for centering science communication in our curricula, and ask them to share insights about the practical ways in which they’ve incorporated science communication into a range of courses and student experiences. We will hear and see examples of the types of assignments, scaffolding, and skills development that colleagues have developed to bring science communication into their classrooms. We will also explore examples of how the practice of producing science communication can bring students and faculty into dialogue with the other sectors and stakeholders.
This session will appeal to educators across disciplines, teaching within both STEM and STEM-engaged curricula. We aim to inspire closer engagement with science communication as both a skill but also an arena for critically thinking about the role of science and society.
Professor and Director of Science, Technology and International Affairs (STIA), Georgetown University
Professor Emily Mendenhall is a medical anthropologist, Professor, and Director in the Science, Technology, and International Affairs Program in the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. She has published widely in anthropology, medicine, psychology... Read More →
Assistant Teaching Professor, Georgetown University
Rowan Ellis is a geographer and Assistant Teaching Professor of Science. She specializes in water and food security, climate change, and nature-based solutions. Her current research interests focus on ‘unconventional’ water resources and the environmental impacts and transboundary... Read More →
