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Hello, I did the OU MSc Science and Society over 3 years, finishing last year and I'm very glad I did it - I rated the 'Science and the Public' module particularly, although I think that one was discontinued unfortunately? I also enjoyed the opportunity to work on my own project for the dissertation module, but I'd say you need quite a lot of independent study skills for that one (whereas the other modules send you really interesting papers to read, video material, virtual seminars to take part in, and a day school in MK). For the third module I did Contemporary Issues in Science Education - I'd probably have chosen Science Communication but it was revamping to become Science Communication in the Digital Age, so I decided to do the Education one instead, which was also pretty good. I think the course provides a good opportunity to reflect on how to engage the public, and young people, with the sciences - but there are probably better ways of developing your skills if you are a scientist looking to create engaging content for the public - the OU course seems to have more of a sociological bent, and helps you think through some of the issues in engaging the public with science rather than providing lots of 'how to' material for creating whizzy content. That's my experience of the modules I did anyway. I liked the way you could do the OU course module by module over 3 years, alongside work, so if I'd had to stop after 1 year or 2, I'd still have had a qualification. I found it pretty flexible and affordable around work, which was what I was looking for as opposed to taking time out to attend a course every week, or over an intensive period. I come from a social sciences background so it gave me enough exposure to scientific issues to help me develop in my role. If you have a science first degree you could take other more specialist science modules, which might help make the course a relevant and interesting one for you. That's my course review anyway! Nicky Nicola Buckley Head of Community Affairs Office of External Affairs and Communications University of Cambridge The Pitt Building Trumpington Street Cambridge CB2 1RP Tel: +44 (0)1223 765490 Mobile: +44 (0)7774 017688 Email: [log in to unmask] Discover more about the world around us, with 150 free events in art, politics, economics, literature, archaeology, history, languages and much more during the Festival of Ideas from 20 to 31 October www.cambridgefestivalofideas.org Cambridge Science Festival www.cambridgescience.org Cambridge Community Knowledge Exchange www.cam.ac.uk/ccke ________________________________ From: psci-com: on public engagement with science [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of David Waldock Sent: 29 October 2010 12:20 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] Science and Society @ Open University I'm currently working towards this award and would be interested to hear people's views. David W On 29 October 2010 12:19, James F Lush <[log in to unmask]> wrote: Dear list members, I wondered if anybody had any experience of the Science and Society MSc/PGDip course run by the Open University? If anyone has any knowledge of how it measures up to other courses I would be very grateful of your wisdom. I have been advised that the most valuable parts of such courses in enriching 'on-the-job' experience are in developing skills related to the sociological side of translating science to a non-specialist audience. Would the OU course help with this? Thanks, James ********************************************************************** 1. To suspend yourself from the list, whilst on leave, for example, send an email to mailto:[log in to unmask] with the following message: set psci-com nomail -- [include hyphens] 2. To resume email from the list, send an email to [log in to unmask] with the message: set psci-com mail -- [include hyphens] 3. 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To leave psci-com, send an email to [log in to unmask] with the message: leave psci-com -- [include hyphens] 4. Further information about the psci-com discussion list, including list archive, can be found at the list web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/psci-com.html 5. The psci-com gateway to internet resources on science communication and science and society can be found at http://psci-com.ac.uk 6. To contact the Psci-com list owner, please send an email to mailto:[log in to unmask] **********************************************************************