Welcome to Science Communication

So, you love science but you can't stand the way people talk about it - or don't talk about it as the case may be: well, have you ever come to the right place!

There really is a better way. Welcome to New Zealand's first university-based centre devoted to communicating science. From films to books, from websites to museum displays, our aim is to make science fun, sexy and, mostly, easy to understand.

Building on the success of our programme in science and natural history filmmaking (the first of its kind in the world and arguably the best), the University of Otago - in association with our partners - is pleased to offer a two-year Master of Science Communication (MSciComm) degree that comes in three flavours:

Science communication Science and Natural History Filmmaking: Learn how to take factual filmmaking to new heights. Taught in association with NHNZ, the world's second-largest producer of documentaries. ScreenMark accredited, the course is taught by award-winning filmmakers who are some of the best in the business. Student films produced on the course to date have won many awards, including the most prestigious the industry has to offer.

Science communication Creative Nonfiction Writing: Discover how to communicate science more effectively with the written word. Taught by award-winning writers. You've always wanted to write that book, huh? Well, in this course you have no excuses: you have to write it and you get mentored as you do it.

Popularizing Science: For a general qualification that covers all aspects of science communication, select this option. Key elements include how best to communicate science using online digital media (hey, this is the future – be there or be nowhere) and the design of displays and exhibitions from small-scale through to large-scale (the latter is taught in association with the Otago Museum).

Applications Close 31 October 2009 – applications for the Master of Science Communication (MSciComm) and Postgraduate Diploma in Natural History Filmmaking and Communication (PGDipNHFC) can be downloaded here.