Science and health communication
Science
and health communication is the interface between science and medicine,
and the media. SciDev (www.scidev.net) is a massive
hub of information on science communication and a great place to start.
With its colourful fancy looks, it reads like a magazine, with weekly
updated news, editorials, features, and book reviews. But there is
more - for instance, sections devoted to particular scientific
issues of each of the developing world regions, and the dossiers
section offers a comprehensive approach to current hot topics in
science. And the electronic guide to science communication is superb,
it even includes the contact details of lots of national science
communication organisations.
For
those interested in making health communication happen, the US National
Cancer Institute (http://cancer.gov/pinkbook) has a useful
guide with planning steps that "can help make any communication
programme work, regardless of size, topic, geographic span, intended
audience, or budget.". Along with examples, it gives a better
idea of the benefits that such programmes could bring to various
healthcare problems in various settings. The website also contains a
good glossary of health communication
terms.
To see health communication
initiatives at work in an international context, browse the collection
of case studies at www.comminit.com/healthecomm/index.php. This
site is a relatively new international cooperation project, an online
resource of case studies, planning models, research and evaluation
documents, and lectures and speeches. The information is of benefit to
less specialist eyes as well. The site also scores on interactivity, as
it has a newsletter, a discussion area, and the opportunity for
practitioners to submit contributions to the
website.
If you are after guidance
or information on how to break into this field, read on. The
Association of British Science Writers (www.absw.org.uk) gives
information about educational and training opportunities and student
bursaries to fund them. It also has a directory with the contacts of UK
science communicators. You will find heaps of links to online handbooks
and guides on how to communicate science to the public, but a good
starting place is the association's own: So You Want to be a
Science Writer? This guide is an overview of the field and includes
additional information on courses, contacts, and all sorts of
opportunities.
If
you are more interested in what the other side of the
Atlantic has to offer, visit
www.hehd.clemson.edu/Publichealth/PHEHP/HealthComm/WEBCOMG4.htm
from the American Public Health Association. Whether you want resources
on programme planning; a list of recommended readings; to search for
university programmes or professional associations; or need help with
grant information, networking, or job hunting, this website has it
all.
Tiago Villanueva, final year medical student, University of Lisbon, Portugal
Irina Haivas, fifth year medical student, University of Freiburg, Germany
Email: ihaivas@yahoo.com
studentBMJ 2005;13:177-220 May ISSN 0966-6494
