PDBEB Courses 2025/2026 - Building Scientific Culture through Science communication

Aim

This advanced course is designed for first-year PhD students in Experimental Biology and Biomedicine to explore how science shapes, and is shaped by, society and culture. It focuses on providing young researchers with both practical skills and critical perspectives to communicate science effectively and contribute to building a scientifically literate society.

Students engage with key topics such as:

• Science and Media
• Science Education and Outreach
• Public Engagement and Dialogue
• Citizen Science
• Science & Art
• Design
• Ethics

Emphasizing a hands-on and experiential approach, the course goes beyond traditional classroom learning. Students actively design and practice diverse science communication strategies, participate in debates, and visit spaces where science communication takes place, such as science centers, radio or schools.  Throughout this interdisciplinary course, students also interact directly with professionals from various fields - including journalists, science managers, mediators, researchers, multimedia specialists or designers - gaining valuable insights into different practices and challenges of communicating science across multiple contexts. By the end of the course, participants are better equipped to navigate the interface between science and society, engage diverse publics with creativity, responsibility, and confidence, and contribute meaningfully to strengthening scientific culture.