The four core modules in the joint degree programme are:

*SCOM8020/ MW5150 is conducted in an intensive mode over a period of 2 weeks at NUS or SCS.

a) MW5202 Innovations in Science Teaching
Students will be introduced to a wide range of current innovations practice in science teaching with emphasis on the usage of demonstrations, IT resources, Macromedia and Online-resources.
Topics covered include: basics of designing scientific experiments or demonstrations in lecture, classrooms or exhibitions; basic concepts of conducting interactive demonstrations; approaches to illlustrate scientific principles; basic concepts and illustrations in teaching enchancement through macromedia, IT and online resources.
The topics will be introduced by lecturers who are known for their innovative teaching techniques and their experiences, including lecture demonstrations, use of IT, and on-line teaching.

b) MW5201 Topics in Science Communication
This module will consist of a series of lectures from across all disciplines of science. These lectures will highlight some of the current topics in science that are of major concern to the public and topics that are likely to come up in science education.
The lectures will present the fundamental science behind these topics and show how these topics have been communicated to the public. The bi-directional relationship between science and society will be explored and used to illustrate how science communication has evolved in recent history. Science communication in the past will also be discussed with particular attention given to the works of Galileo, Kepler and Darwin.

c) SCOM8020/ MW5150 Science Communication and Creative Teaching
This course deals with issues relating to the communication of science to various audiences including the general public and students. It will explore cultural issues in science and implications relating to the dynamic and uncertain nature of science and scientific methods. The current international focus on public awareness and science literacy will be explored and critiqued.
The course also includes aspects of modern classroom practice, including recent research into communication of science and methods for effective, creative teaching. In particular, strategies for translating research-based science into effective curriculum materials will be addressed. Some of the practical aspects of communicating science, particularly in the classroom, will be addressed. The course will be run as a workshop, with candidates being required to participate actively in discussions and activities designed to promote creative and confident science teaching and learning.

d) SCOM8021/ MW5151 Ethics, Issues and Consequences of Science
Science and technology do not exist in isolation. They play a significant role in our lives and are often surrounded by ethical and moral issues that need to be addressed to encourage informed decision making. The multi-cultural society in which we live can strongly influence the way in which individuals view new scientific developments.
This course looks at science and how it is communicated in a cultural context, as well as debating the issue of who bears the responsibility when things go wrong. Modern and especially current issues in science are addressed in this course.

or BIOL6191/ MW5121 Biotechnology in Context
This course examines biotechnologies, including genetic technologies and modern medicine in social, environmental and ethical contexts. Case studies will be presented for discussion from areas such as: genetic modification of agricultural crops and animals for food and production of therapeutic substances; genetic modification for pest control and environmental conservation; cloning of animals and humans; medical areas of genetic screening and gene therapy; human reproductive technologies; organ and stem cell transplantation; and the convergence of humans and machines to repair or enhance human function.
Lectures and seminars will raise broad issues, such as bioethics; risk/benefit assessment; intellectual property; regulation of new technologies; cognitive development and world view as these affect judgement. The course seeks to encourage the student to develop a deeper and more coherent understanding of the important implications that these technologies hold, not only for human beings, but for organisms in general. Both the promise and the threat of these new technologies will be considered.