Hi Liz,
I did the History & Philosophy of Science degree at UCL (which is the sister course of Science & Society, and shares a lot of lectures with it). I now work in science communication at UCL, and before that I did science writing and science communication in other places too (so it's not that I got a lucky break getting a job from my old university - I was already working in the field before they employed me).
It's definitely possible. I think there are merits to both paths into scicomm.
Science & technology studies (STS) courses are excellent training for science communication work:
- they train you to write about science in non-scientific language
- they give a broader view of science, not just a narrow discipline
- they actually teach you about what scientific methods *really* are
- they give a nuanced understanding of science and technology in their social, political and historical context
- they train you to quickly get up to speed with unfamiliar bits of science which are outside your comfort zone
- they teach you that science communication needs to go beyond the information deficit model (a lesson a lot of scientists are yet to learn, from what I've seen).
...but they aren't necessarily recognised as such by the people, often scientists, hiring for science communication jobs. A 'real' science degree can seem more reassuring.
In my experience, science graduates often need to work hard to build their writing/communication skills to do science communication jobs well - though they often get the benefit of the doubt. STS graduates need to work hard to build their scientific credibility through, for instance, internships, volunteering, choice of elective courses at university, etc (but they generally don't get the benefit of the doubt). If your student is going to go down the scicomm degree route, I'd say go for it, you will learn a lot, and it's interesting, but you should seek out opportunities to do things which will reassure future potential employers, e.g. volunteering in the press office at scientific conferences, doing 'real' science classes as electives, etc.
N.B. I work at UCL, so take this with a pinch of salt if you wish, but the teaching in the STS department at UCL was superb, and it was a highly stimulating place to study. I have no hesitation in recommending it.
Cheers,
Oli
-----------------------------------
Oli Usher
Communications, Marketing and Events Manager
Faculty of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
University College London
Gower Street
London WC1E 6BT
Tel: 020 7679 7964
Web: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/mathematical-physical-sciences
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/uclmaps
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/uclmaps
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-----Original Message-----
From: psci-com: on public engagement with science [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Liz Nicholson
Sent: 09 March 2015 00:40
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [PSCI-COM] Advice sought for A level student
I am a lurking teacher so hope I am doing this bit right! I have a year12 student who is adamant she wants to go into scicomm and who has a strong portfolio already. She is starting to look at UCAS applications but isn't sure whether to go for a more scicomm based degree like Science in Society at UCL or whether to go for a more specific degree and specialise later. her problem is she is so enthusiastic she wants to do it all!.
Thanks for your advice!
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