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Science and society: A career and professional development course

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Course description

Course content

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Scientists throughout the world are increasingly interested in the relationship between science and society. Part of their concern is with the social responsibilities scientists have in relation to broader public interests. That raises important issues to do with the ethical and social dimension of scientists' work and how scientists explain and perhaps justify their work to the wider public. Science and society: A career and professional development course, is a free course that explores this further.

Course learning outcomes

After studying this course, you should be able to:

  • demonstrate an awareness of the roles and responsibilities of the modern scientist
  • demonstrate an insight as a scientist into the social and ethical aspects of scientific research
  • understand the rationale and role of certain contemporary tools for science governance, especially public and stakeholder engagement/consultation
  • recognise opportunities to contribute to discussion and debate on the social and ethical aspects of science, either as a scientist (participating in debates about scientific work) or as a citizen (participating outside of a scientific discipline).

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