Communicating Science at Work (SCIE90034)

Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

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Semester 1
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Being an effective communicator is essential to gaining employment and for ongoing career success. Technical skills matter, but to be a valued member of a workplace, you need to be able to communicate your ideas, analyses and conclusions effectively to a variety of stakeholders.

 This subject will equip you with the written, oral and interpersonal communication skills required to survive and thrive in a scientific workplace. Through seminars and interactive workshops, you will be exposed to a wide range of communication elements, from how to craft the perfect email to working in culturally diverse settings. 

 You will be given regular opportunities to practise and develop your skills, give and receive feedback and work in a variety of group settings to improve your teamwork and interpersonal skills. Understanding your own communication preferences is another key aspect of this subject.

 All assessment tasks in this subject are modelled around real-world activities you will encounter in the workplace and will enable you to develop your professional skills.

Intended learning outcomes

Upon completion of this subject, students should be able to:

  • apply the fundamentals of effective communication in written, oral and other forms;
  • apply clear and effective communication practices with a variety of audiences in workplace settings;
  • critically and professionally give and receive feedback in order to improve the effectiveness and impact of communication;
  • explore and reflect on personal communication skills in order to identify individual strengths and areas for development;
  • demonstrate awareness of, and ability to use, appropriate communication technology; and
  • demonstrate how to work in diverse teams and to facilitate positive team outcomes.

Generic skills

Upon completion of this subject, students should be able to:

  • communicate effectively in both written and oral forms;
  • reflect on their own communication skills;
  • identify skills required for successful teamwork;
  • provide constructive feedback on the work of others; and
  • plan work, use time effectively and meet deadlines.

Last updated: 4 March 2025