CLIMATE (EX)CHANGE: HOW SCIENCE AND INFORMATION SHARING COULD SAVE OUR PLANET

The laboratory has an interdisciplinary nature and can be followed by students belongin to all degree courses offered by Ca' Foscari University.
The main objective of the laboratory is to analyze the relationship between science and communication, seen from both the points of view of research and journalism. The teachers of the course are in fact a physicist and a journalist.
The course will highlight the need to communicate complex issues in a way that can be understood by the press and the public, to describe scientific activities in an accessible and interesting way, to know and use the science communication platforms currently available (including social networks, blogs and specialized press agencies) at their best.
From year to year the general theme is tackled with specific case study, which for the academic year 2020-21 will be the climatic emergency.

Knowledge of the basic elements of the relationship between science and communication.
Knowledge of the basic elements of scientific communication.
Knowledge of the basic elements for assessing the reliability of scientific information.
Development of communication skills and of the ability to communicate a scientific result in different ways and with various tools.

None, except the basic knowledge of notions of mathematics, physics, chemistry at high school level.

Science is always linked to a communicative instance: whether it is to share results with a peer audience or to inform the public opinion on which potential funding depends, the communication of science is a crucial activity for the modern society and the basis of progress.
The laboratory will analyze which are the techniques and tools for a truly effective scientific communication. Through examples of success and modern strategies the lab will orient the students in a field whose domain is increasingly being threatened by fake scientific news and will teach how to defend ourselves from them.

Journalistic part
The communication of science, what it is and what it is used for.
Evolution of the tools used by the communication of science over time and evaluation of their effectiveness.
Studying a scientific article and reading a popular article: two tools for two different audiences.
How science is communicated: first elements and some practical examples.
Exchanging information, a key strategy for scientific communication.
Accuracy and truth: differences and pitfalls in two apparently similar concepts.
Cases of success and failure in the communication of science.
Fake scientific news: what they are, who produces them, what they are for, how to defend from them.
Scientific part
Basic scientific elements underlying climate change. Notes on: fundamental principles of thermodynamics, greenhouse effect, energy and its conversion, energy scenarios.

“Sustainable Energy – without the hot air”, David MacKay, UIT CAmbridge
"The Science of Communicating Science: The Ultimate Guide", Craig Cormick, CSIRO, Australia

Practical test: realization of a scientific communication product (blog, video, written text, podcast, etc ..) on case studies assigned by teachers

Interactive lectures, held in presence or remotely

written

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Climate change and energy" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development