To provide comprehension of why physics engagement is important and what the challenges are with different audiences (public, schools etc.).
To develop writing skills for targeting different audiences.
To develop skills for translating complex scientific information into concise stories, including writing press releases, blogs and newspaper articles.
To gain general knowledge of some of the areas of current research in the School of Physics and Astronomy.

Investigate and use different methods and media for effective physics communication, taking into account audience and context.
Demonstrate knowledge of learning styles and how they can be used in different types of engagement.
Demonstrate understanding of the basic challenges faced at communicating physics through the media, citing appropriate case studies related to physics.
Critically evaluate engagement events.
Design a specific activity aimed at communicating the excitement and fun of physics and pitch this as an engagement project to funding sources.
Produce a written article suitable for a general or school audience on some aspects of research happening at Cardiff University.
Produce a permanent piece of work describing a physics topic in video or audio media.
Give a short oral presentation suitable for a general or school audience on some aspects of research happening at Cardiff University.
Have an understanding of how engagement work could be evidenced for use in REF studies.

2-hour seminars and small-group “surgeries” with staff.

Understanding Physics. Problem Solving. Creativity. Presentation Skills. Writing Skills. Team working. Project Management. Interpersonal skills. Communication skills. Reflective practice. Professionalism. Technical skills. Time management.

Continuous Assessment (Group work and individual work)

Week 1: Background to public engagement (PE) – what do we know (review of research) and why is it important.
Week 2: Popular science writing: Introductory research talks from researchers in the School. Four senior researchers present a short talk about their work. Students choose one and must select an audience and format to write up for engaging a wider audience.
Week 3: Physics on the radio and the web – podcasts and video. Camera and audio recording techniques. Produce5 minutes of physics material for a radio programme or a website.
Week 4: Surgery on science centre exhibits. Group project to write up one exhibit they saw in action, and how it was supporting learning or engagement. Informal education evaluation techniques discussed.
Week 5: How to give a short talk with big impact – Introduction to the Ignite or FameLab (short talks) format that will be used in the assessment. Experience from TEDx and Ignite speakers will be shared and groups will critique what makes the most engaging physics presenters.
Week 6: Physics and the media. Introduction to how the media works and what challenges it poses to scientists. Guidelines on writing a good press release. Exploring writing styles and techniques for how to hook a reader. Set coursework; written piece to chosen audience type.
Week 7: Delivery and feedback on prepared Ignite-style talk on some element of Cardiff Physics research that will be filmed and assessed.
Week 8: Physics in unexpected places – a discussion of projects that take physics to wider audiences. What has been tried, what have we learnt? Introduction to the IOP Physics engagement grant scheme that will form the basis of the final piece of assessed work.
Week 9: Assessing impact – an introduction to social science skills of evaluation, including quantitative and qualitative methods. Case study of the Generic Learning Outcomes framework (GLO) for informal learning. Discussion of how the REF assesses impact including a reviewing exercise of case studies for outreach-related impact. Investigating the difference between ‘reach’ and ‘significance’ as defined in REF and how this relates to different research and evaluation methods.
Week 10: Groups deliver their grant idea for IOP physic engagement grant to a mock panel. Groups will be assessed on how well they have met the objectives of the funding criteria, including showing evidence of audience segmentation, evaluation, budget setting and project management.
Week 11: Groups mark each others’ grant submission reports to provide final ranking of projects with results given in final session.

Science Communication: A practical guide for Scientists, L. Bowater, K. Yeaoman (2012) pub Wiley
Successful Science Communication: Telling it like it is: ed. D Bennett, Richard Jennings (2011) pub Cambridge University Press
Don’t be such a scientist: Talking substance in an age of style: Randy Olsen (2009) pub Ireland Press
Investigating Science Communication in the Information Age: Implications for public engagement and popular media. R. Holliman, E. Whitelegg, E. Scanlon (2008)