School of Physical and Mineral Sciences

Traditional approaches to communicating scientific developments and how to present scientific knowledge or research results do not convey a well-matched message to different audiences or the publics. In addition, the national policy on science engagement, particularly the Science Engagement Strategy (SES), has identified the need for skills development in science communication. The benefit is that it enables the sharing of science communication knowledge across all academic disciplines allowing all sectors of society to gain from understanding of science and emerging innovations. More importantly, scientific knowledge empowers people to make informed decisions.

The need for science communication skills (as advocated for in the White Paper on Science, Technology, and Innovation), and particularly the need for this qualification, was identified among Scientists, Educators, Communicators, Journalists and Science Centre/museum professionals as well as science communication-oriented professionals.

It is against this background that the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) has identified the University of Limpopo, as the first higher education institution in South Africa to develop an accredited postgraduate diploma in science communication (PGDiP SciComm) qualification. Through this qualification, professionals with interests in science promotion and/or engagement can harness acquired communication skills as well as specialised science communication expertise. The programme is housed in the Faculty of Science and Agriculture, under the School of Physical and Mineral Sciences. It is not by coincidence that this programme is administered in this school. The school through its community engagement initiatives and the science centre has been communicating science to different publics on various platforms. The team of facilitators comprises of experienced, knowledgeable and reputable academics and science communication practitioners from various disciplines within the university. I thus invite all qualifying candidates to apply and so that they become part of this programme.