Science Communication and Power Relations in Global Health, 3 Credits

Contents

The course provides a broad introduction to power and power relations and their influence in global health including gender, equity, intersectionality, decolonization, and political economy. The course also provides an introduction to science communication including poster design, pitch presentation and effective oral presentations. The students apply their knowledge by choosing a topic to present as a poster or oral presentation.

Expected learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding
Students must be able to:

• Describe and demonstrate an understanding of key concepts such as gender, equality, intersectionality, decolonization, political economy, and other power relations in Global Health.

Skills and Abilities
Students must be able to:

• Communicate research results in text, poster and oral presentations.
• Design their own poster presentations and provide feedback to colleagues' presentations.
• Use available digital technologies and platforms to convey and improve their ability to communicate scientific results.

Judgement and approach
Student must be able to:

• Reflect on and analyze various power relations in global health.
• Reflect on the use of artificial intelligence in science communication.

Required Knowledge

To apply to this freestanding course, the requirements are 120 ECTS, of which a minimum of 30 ECTS are at second-cycle level including a degree project of at least 15 ECTS at second-cycle level in one of the following areas: health sciences, environmental health, social sciences or equivalent foreign higher education. English proficiency equivalent to English B/6 from Swedish Upper secondary education is required.

Form of instruction

The course consists of two weeks of full-time study. One week of independent work and one week of teaching and teachers-students interaction.
 
Teaching is given in the form of online seminars followed by thematic discussions and group exercises in which students take an active role. The group exercises include the use of digital technologies and platforms to communicate scientific results. After the seminars, students have the opportunity to put their knowledge into practice by participating in five thematic discussions aimed at competence and capacity building and focusing on science communication skills. Science communication teaching includes capacity building sessions (designing a scientific poster, pitch presentations and effective oral presentations), personalized feedback (tutoring) and a poster/oral presentation.

All teaching is in English and is done remotely. Access to a computer with a camera, headset with microphone and internet connection is required. Poster/oral presentations and presence and active participation in the thematic discussions are mandatory.

Examination modes

The course is examined individually through active participation in compulsory parts which consist of five thematic discussions (one in each teaching day) and one poster or oral presentation at the end of the course.

On thematic discussions the grades fail (U) and pass (G) are given, and on oral and poster presentations fail (U), pass (G) and pass with distinction (VG). On the whole course any of the grades fail (U), pass (G) and pass with distinction (VG) are given. To pass the course, a passing grade on thematic discussions and a passing grade on poster/oral presentation are required. To obtain the grade Pass with distinction (VG) on the course, a passing grade on thematic discussions and a passing grade with distinction (VG) on poster/oral presentations are required.
 
If a student is absent from or fails a compulsory component, the examiner decides, depending on the component, whether individually adapted supplementation can be made or whether the student must repeat the component to achieve the criteria for a passing grade. A new examination opportunity shall be offered at the earliest within two weeks after the students have been notified of the examination result and at the latest two months after the regular examination. It is only allowed to supplement an unsuccessful result to a passing grade, supplementation for a higher grade is not allowed.

Examiners may decide to deviate from the modes of assessment in the course syllabus. Individual adaptation of modes of assessment must give due consideration to the student's needs. The adaptation of modes of assessment must remain within the framework of the intended learning outcomes in the course syllabus. Students who require an adapted examination - and have received a decision on the right to support from the coordinator at the Student Services Office for students with disabilities - must submit a request to the department holding the course no later than 10 days before the examination. The examiner decides on the adaptation of the examination, after which the student will be notified.