Italian (An English bibliography is available upon request)
Course Content
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the communication of scientific knowledge has suddenly increased its importance in the media arena. Experts, administrators and citizens are today called to discuss the solution of one of the greatest health and social crises in recent history. The course aims to present the field of communication of scientific knowledge by means of theoretical tools and the analysis of relevant case studies.
Bibliography will consist of essays and newspaper articles provided during the lessons.
Learning Objectives
Knowledge: lessons aim to provide students with an adequate knowledge of the basic concepts and problems of communication of scientific knowledge.
Competence: students will develop the ability to understand the social, political and epistemic role of communication of science. They will sharpen their capacities of analysis and interpretation by comparing different theoretical frameworks.
Skills: successful students will become familiar with the contemporary language, as well as with valuable bibliographic resources, crucial for understanding the debate in communication of science.
Prerequisites
none.
Teaching Methods
Classes with open discussion on relevant topics (participation to the discussion is strongly encouraged and is part of the final assessment). There will be the possibility to write a short essay on selected topics.
Type of Assessment
The final examination aims at ascertaining the student's actual level of knowledge and understanding. This is a conversation with the teacher without books and notes of about 30 minutes, focused on various topics related to the content of the course (see learning objectives). Particular attention will be addressed to the assessment of the student's abilities of contextualization and critical analysis of philosophical problems and solutions. A short essay of about 5000 words concerning a selected topic is part of the final assessment. Through the essay students should be able to demonstrate their capacities of analysis and interpretation concerning a relevant case study. The essay should be submitted a week before the examination date.
Course program
- the problem of demarcation between science and pseudoscience;
- science as a system of institutions: the public and the private;
- the problem of trust;
- the anti-scientist movement and its reasons;
- the cognitive biases of anti-scientism;
- case studies:
- miracles and false hopes: three Italian cases
- not-in-my-garden: landfills, tunnels and more
- not-in-my-body: the vaccine hesitation phenomenon
- how is science communicated? Comparing different models.