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Master in Scientific, Medical and Environmental Communication

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Máster en Comunicación Científica, Médica y Ambiental

Master in Scientific, Medical and Environmental Communication

APPLY FOR ADMISSION
UPF-BSMMastersMaster in Scientific, Medical and Environmental Communication

Pioneering master in Spain, with more than 30 years training scientific communicators. You will learn in a practical way and in direct contact with recognized professionals in scientific, medical and environmental communication who are leaders in the sector.

Corporate communicationsSocial mediaResearch
Next edition
Classes start14 October, 2024
Classes end27 June, 2025 (To be confirmed)
Program ends27 June, 2025 (To be confirmed)
ModalityOn-campus&Live
LanguageSpanish
ECTS credits60
ScheduleMonday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6.00 pm to 9.00 pm and some Tuesdays from 6.00 pm to 9.00 pm. The first two weeks of the program will be intensive.
Price10000 €

Today more than ever the importance and impact of scientific communication on society have been evidenced. The way in which new knowledge is disseminated and the agents responsible for such communication are decisive in shaping public opinions and attitudes regarding science and technology.

Throughout the program you will learn about the history of science and technology; you will analyse the main sources of scientific information and their forms of transmission; analyse the relationships between the professional world, technology industries and society; see how discoveries impact on people; and learn about ethical problems associated with the field of communication.

You will learn from these and other experts and professionals from different modalities and institutions related to science communication:

  • Gema Revuelta, director and professor of the master's degree as well as director of the Center for the Study of Science, Communication and Society at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (CCS-UPF) and vice president of the Spanish Association of Science Communication (AEC2);
  • Vladimir de Semir, creator of the Science and Technology supplement of La Vanguardia;
  • Núria Jar, Prismas award for the best radio work in 2020;
  • Pedro García Demestres, museographer and expert in science communication;
  • Maria Josep Picó, researcher of the ITACA group and the Living Lab Planeta Debug;
  • Bienvenido León, professor of Science Journalism and Television Production at the University of Navarra.

You will be trained with optimal knowledge for a profession with wide and relevant professional opportunities in the fields of specialization in the press and scientific dissemination, institutional communication and scientific museology.

Thanks to the collaboration of Obra Social "La Caixa", you will be able to participate in the Gutenberg Campus, in which more than 300 communicators, scientists, experts and researchers in scientific culture from all over Spain and Europe participate each year.

Collaborators:Obra social La Caixa
Col·legi de Biòlegs de Catalunya

Why choose this program

01

Position your professional career

The program offers great interdisciplinarity, a balance between theory and practice (with visits to museums, recording studios, etc.) and a unique group dynamic. In addition, through the preparation of the thesis you will create a project that integrates the knowledge acquired and that you can use as a cover letter to enter the world of dissemination.

02

Participate in a large range of internships

You will be able to carry out professional internships in institutions such as the National Centre for Oncological Research, the Institute of Evolutionary Biology CSIC-UPF, the Institute for Biomedical Research (IRB), the Alba Synchrotron, the Catalan Association for Scientific Communication (ACCC), the Centreo for Genomic Regulation Foundation, the LaCaixa Foundation, La Marató of TV3, among others.

03

Increase your network of contacts

You will be part of the Alumni network, made up of professionals from recognized companies and institutions in the sector (media, communication, departments of research centres, hospitals and universities, science museums, organizations dedicated to scientific dissemination, etc.) from different parts of the world.

04

Participate in one of the leading Master's in the sector

26 face-to-face courses and 8 online courses make it one of the benchmark programs in the scientific, medical and environmental communication sector. Its reputation has brought together participants from more than 20 different countries.

05

Learn from experts in each field

The teaching staff of the Master in Scientific, Medical and Environmental Communication is made up of professionals and experts from each of the learning areas.

Who is it for?

The Master in Scientific, Medical and Environmental Communication is aimed at university graduates who wish to become professionals in scientific communication, a field with notable applications and professional opportunities. The profile of the students is heterogeneous: in the classroom science profiles and communication profiles are mixed, which creates a fluid class dynamic, allowing two-way learning.

Accreditations

UPF Barcelona School of Management has EQUIS accreditation, the most prestigious institutional recognition for business schools globally, and places itself among the top business schools in the world.

EQUIS-Accredited

Curriculum

The Master in Scientific, Medical and Environmental Communication is structured along 14 core subjects organized into 7 topics and focused on three lines of training: science, medicine and the environment.

Science and scientific culture

The raw material with which the scientific communication professional works is science. But what are we talking about when we use the word "science" today? Is it the same to talk about science as it is to talk about research? What relationships are established between science and society? What is scientific excellence, how is it measured and what should it be?

Research projects increasingly include a plan of outreach activities that is required when submitting to public calls. For this reason, in this topic we have integrated into a single term, that of public engagement activities of different formats and with a different level of citizen participation.

Most of the classes are based on practical learning, based on the experimentation of the students with different formats and on solving real problems.

Science and communication

Scientific journalism and popularization of science are close concepts, although many communicators prefer to highlight the differences between them. In this subject, the student will deepen their knowledge of both professional environments, from their origins and historical evolution to the current situation and future trends.

  • Scientific news and the sources of information.
  • The dissemination of science through books, cinema, theatre and television.
  • Science fiction and popular science.
  • Different models of science journalism in the media: daily press, specialized sections and supplements, audiovisuals (television, news, specialized programmes and documentaries), informative scientific magazines, scientific news agencies, etc.

In addition, through different practical workshops you will discover various tools and formats for communication and scientific dissemination.

Health and communication

The public communication of issues that have to do with health can become key to decision-making, both for citizens and for health professionals themselves and people with political responsibility. The first objective of this topic is to review some of the main health problems and to understand what is being done to prevent, control or treat them.

The student will have the opportunity to delve into the main research tools used in this area, such as the clinical trial for the study of drugs or the main tools used in epidemiology and public health for the study of diseases.

In the medical journalism workshop, you will work with some of the characteristic concepts of this field, such as the use of statistics and numerical information, and information on drugs in the experimental phase.

Environment and communication

Environmental journalism arises in parallel to the development of environmental sciences and, in general, awareness from science and from certain social movements, due to the consequences of human activity on the environment.

In the theoretical part of this topic, the development of environmental journalism will be analysed from different points of view, mainly: a) from philosophy, literature and science; and b) from political, economic and social reporting.

The environmental journalism workshop is conceived as a deepening of writing and argumentation tasks carried out previously in this Master.

The basic objective is to practice and expand knowledge in the field of journalism and environmental communication, as well as to promote the ability to analyse the content offered by the media.

Institutional Scientific Comunication
Communication tools

The objective of this topic is for students to get to know and practice with the different formats and tools through which science can be communicated, from audiovisual communication. During this topic, the student must develop a video under direct monitoring and personalized tutoring from the teaching staff.

The objective of this topic is for students to get to know and practice with the different formats and tools through which science can be communicated, from the multiple digital communication channels.

During this topic, the student must develop a digital content plan, and some infographics under direct monitoring and personalized tutoring from the teaching staff.

The objective of this topic is for students to get to know and practice with the different formats and tools through which science can be communicated on the radio. During this topic, the student must develop a radio programme under direct monitoring and personalized tutoring from the teaching staff.

The objective of this topic is for students to get to know and practice with the different formats and tools through which science can be communicated, from the museology point of view. During this topic, the student must develop a small scientific exhibition under direct monitoring and personalized tutoring from the teaching staff.

Master's thesis

The development of the project within the framework of the Master in Scientific, Medical and Environmental Communication involves the application of knowledge, skills, tools and techniques that are acquired in the program through the development of a written product. The final resulting project must allow the incorporation of the contents of the subjects that are the object of the program, as well as other knowledge and the experience and judgment of the participants.

Thus, the objective of the project is for the participant to consistently integrate the knowledge acquired through the program in such a way as to put into practice their diagnostic and problem-solving skills.

5 possible project typologies are proposed: Business and/or competitive initiative; communicative or informative product; communication plan; analysis and exploration project; and projects with special characteristics. There are no specific restrictions, although participants must find topics of sufficient interest, of a certain entity and of relevance for them to be accepted by the Program Management.

The project is developed individually during the program and the participant will have the support of a mentor assigned by the Program Management.

Note on the Curriculum

The information contained in these pages is for information purposes only and may be subject to change in the adaptation of each academic year. The definitive guide will be available to students in the virtual space before the start of each subject.

Complementary activities

The Master in Scientific, Medical and Environmental Communication also includes the possibility of participating in practical activities and activities for personal and professional growth such as:

  • Non-teaching Tuesdays will be reserved for optional complementary activities concerning Scientific Culture. Each student must participate in at least two of the recommended activities.
  • UPF-BSM Inside: is a group of interdisciplinary subjects (applied data, communication, creativity, innovation and project management, sustainability and leadership among others) that, if you take this program, you can access at no additional cost. They are 100% online and you can take them throughout the academic year at your own pace, as they have been designed as self-study subjects.

Qualification obtained

Once you have passed the program, you will obtain an electronic degree (e-Título) for the Máster de Formación Permanente en Comunicación Científica, Médica y Ambiental issued by the Pompeu Fabra University

The e-Título is an authentic digital degree, issued in pdf format and electronically signed, with the same legal validity as if it were in paper format.
 

Faculty

The teaching staff of the Master in Scientific, Medical and Environmental Communication is made up of professionals and experts from each of the learning areas.

Academic directors

Coordinator

Faculty

Collaborating faculty

  • Josep Maria Alonso
    Professor of Environment, Communication and Society, is Cap de Recerca i Conservació in situ, Zoo de Barcelona, Barcelona Serveis Municipals, BSM.
  • Javier Armentia
    Professor of The science and technology system. Director of the Pamplona Planetarium. He is an astrophysicist, science communicator and professor of the master's program since its inception.
  • Fèlix Bosch
    Professor of Health, biomedicine and society. He currently combines the direction of the Dr. Antoni Esteve Foundation (2009) with that of associate professor at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia (2020-).
  • Marc de Semir
    Coordinator and teacher of the Institutional Communication Workshop. Graduate in Information Sciences from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, Master's Degree in Scientific Communication and Business Communication from Pompeu Fabra University and PDD from IESE.
  • Vladimir de Semir
    Coordinator and professor of scientific journalism and popularization of science. Journalist and university professor, specialized in scientific and medical communication.
  • Pedro García Demestres
    Coordinator and teacher of the Scientific Museography workshop. Degree in Biological Sciences, director of more than 400 national and international Science Communication exhibition and museum projects.
  • Roderic Guigó
    Professor of Health, biomedicine and society. He has nearly 40 years of research experience in computational biology. 
  • Karla Islas Pieck
    Coordinator and teacher of the Science Journalism Workshop. Journalist specialized in science and medicine. She is currently responsible for press and contents at the Research Institute of the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau - IIB Sant Pau.
  • Núria Jar
    Coordinator and teacher of Oral Communication and Radio Workshop. Freelance journalist specialized in science and health. 
  • Maria Josep Picó
    Coordinator and teacher of the Environmental Journalism Workshop. She has a degree in Journalism (Cardenal-Herrera-CEU), PhD. (Universitat de València) and Master in New Trends and Innovation Processes in Communication (Universitat 5 Jaume I).
  • Bienvenido León
    Professor of Audiovisual Communication. He is Professor of Science Journalism and Television Production at the University of Navarra, Visiting Professor at the universities of North Carolina and Colorado (USA), and Otago (N. Zealand).
  • José María Montero
    Professor of Environment, Communication and Society. Director of "Tierra y Mar" and "Espacio Protegido" (Canal Sur Television). Journalist specialized in environmental, scientific and agri-food information, since 1982.
  • Oriol Marimón
    Professor of oral communication (performing arts). Doctor in Organic Chemistry, science communicator and director of Big Van Ciencia.
  • Meritxell Martell
    Professor of the Environmental Journalism Workshop. She has a degree in environmental sciences from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and a PhD in environmental sciences from the University of East Anglia (Norwich, UK).
  • Javier Martín Vide
    Professor of Environment, Communication and Society. PhD in Geography and History (1982) and degree in Mathematical Sciences (1977). Professor of Physical Geography at the University of Barcelona.
  • Alba Ramos
    Professor of Environment, Communication and Society, she holds a PhD in Photovoltaic Solar Energy from the Polytechnic University of Madrid.
  • Adelaida Sarukhan
    Professor of the Medical Journalism Workshop. PhD in immunology (University Paris VI), with more than 20 years of research experience.
  • Andreu Segura
    Professor of Health, biomedicine and society. Member of the Bioethics Commission of Catalonia and of the Public Health Advisory Council of Catalonia. Professor of the Master in Public Health at UPF.

Methodology

Through a practical focus and an applied methodology, the program offers participants the possibility to learn and put into practice all the necessary tools to develop professionally in the field of medical, scientific and environmental communication.

Show video

01

Continuous assessment

You will have a qualitative returned correction, by the teacher of the subject.

02

Practical learning

You will learn the topics of the course through practical workshops and first-person experiences.

03

Final work adapted to your needs

You can choose a thesis according to your interests: Business or competitive initiative; a communicative or informative product; a communication plan or analysis; and exploration project on a sector or on the themes of the master's degree.

Evaluation

All the subjects of the master's degree will be evaluated continuously. The evaluation will consist of the correction of the submissions (individual or group), the multiple answer exams and participation in the classroom. This type of evaluation ensures an equitable distribution of effort and a progressive acquisition of knowledge.

Students will not receive quantitative grades as a mark, but will be informed whether or not they have passed each of the tests and, in most of these, they will also be offered an individualized and formative correction.

In the multiple choice exams, each student will have access to their results and will know, anonymously, the result of the group.

Some of the tests will be evaluated not only by the corresponding teaching staff but also by judges made up of professionals from the sector being analysed. The individual master's project will receive a quantitative assessment as described in the Project Guide that students will receive at the beginning of the course.

The continuous evaluation of the subjects and the compulsory minimum attendance of 80% of the classes require a high level of involvement of the students. In the event that a participant cannot attend any of the sessions, they must contact the operational coordinator to justify their absence.

Tools

The On-Campus&Live methodology allows you to follow the program in person and also remotely.

In this modality, two stable subgroups are opened that will coexist throughout the course: one face-to-face and the other with 100% remote students. The remote students (a maximum of 15 places per course) will follow the program in a synchronous way with the face-to-face students. That is, they will share the same school calendar and schedule as the face-to-face students.

Project-oriented learning and the combination of lectures and active methodologies such as case studies, flipped learning, solving real problems, and professional simulations allow the student to connect theory and practice, acquire advanced skills, and achieve learning which is transferable to the job. The face-to-face modality is enriched with elements of online programs (virtual learning environment, multimedia resources, among others) so that the learning experience of the two subgroups is equally satisfactory.

You will have:

  • Master's or postgraduate work to learn by doing
  • A personal mentor to monitor your Master's Final Project (TFM) or Postgraduate Final Project (TFP)
  • Digital resources to achieve transversal skills
  • Interdisciplinary activities and workshops
  • Digital resources and audiovisual blocks for online learning
  • Active methodologies for transferable learning
 

Professional Future

The teaching during the master, which was pioneering in its characteristics when it was born 27 years ago, has always been aimed at professional training in all areas of scientific communication: journalism, corporate communication, and museology.
Each course adapts and updates the program according to the evolution experienced by these sectors, in parallel to that of the sciences themselves. The best data is precisely the job opportunities that the participants have had during all these years, adapting in parallel to the evolution of the sector.

Student profile

Every year the program brings together a group of participants of which approximately 70% are scientists (in all its facets). The remaining 30% come mainly from the world of social sciences (journalists, communicators, marketers, sociologists, linguists, and philosophers).

As to the origin of the participants, the majority are from Spain, Latin America and Europe. 

29

Average age

23%

International students

23%

Previous studies in Biology

15%

Previous studies in Journalism

Career opportunities

The internships of the program are not compulsory, but extracurricular. The period for their implementation is between the program start date and September 15 of the following year.

At the end of the program you will be able to enjoy the opportunity of belonging to its network of former students, among which are professionals with positions in recognized companies and institutions in the sector such as Colciencias, Redes, Wisconsin IceCube Particle Astrophysics, Diario Médico, Novartis, Biblioteca del National Congress of Chile or the National Geographic, PRBB-UPF, etc.

  • Director of communication

Directs and manages communication departments in research centres, hospitals, laboratories, science museums, universities, and technological or environmental companies.

  • Journalist specialized in science, medicine, or the environment

Researches and/or creates content in written, audiovisual, and digital media. Both in generalist communication media, as in magazines, audiovisual programmes, or digital media specialized in science, medicine, or the environment.

  • Scientific dissemination event manager

Plans and coordinates scientific outreach events for museums, universities, and technology or environmental companies. This is the contact person for the media. Creates and writes informative and promotional material, dossiers, and press releases.

  • Curator / Curator of Scientific Exhibitions

Organizes and manages scientific museum exhibitions. Prepares the scientific discourse for the exhibition. Coordinates, writes and compiles catalogues and information brochures, texts that accompany the exhibits, dossiers and press releases, promotional materials, and grant applications.

  • Head of communication for research projects

Creates, directs, and executes the communication plan for research projects in laboratories, hospitals, research centres, science museums, universities, and technology or environmental companies.

  • Community Manager

Generates digital content and manages the Social Networks and blogs of universities, science museums, technology or environmental companies, research centres, hospitals, or laboratories. 

  • Scientific, medical, or environmental writer

Writes articles, corporate and project dossiers, blog posts, etc. in research centres, hospitals, museums, universities, and technology or environmental companies.

  • Scientific, medical, or environmental publicist

Manages and communicates scientific, medical or environmental knowledge for research centres, hospitals, museums, universities, and technological or environmental companies. You will be the interlocutor for the media, audiences, the public, educational centres, and social groups.

  • Scientific radio or podcast programme coordinator

Coordinates radio programmes and interviews experts from the fields of science, medicine, or the environment. Produces popular scientific podcasts.

Grants, scholarships and financing

Scholarships

The UPF Barcelona School of Management offers you different means of financing so that you can take any of our programs without worry. We offer you the opportunity to finance part of your program, either by rewarding your talent through scholarships, through grants from entities dedicated to promoting education or through collaboration agreements with financial entities.

Merit Based Scholarship

Apply for our Merit Based Scholarship, awarded to those who prove they have talent and motivation.

Learn more

Grants and discounts

External financial aid

A large number of external entities and institutions offer financial aid options to students who want to enrol on one of our master programs and postgraduate courses.

 

    Learn more

    Alumni discounts

    If you are a member of our alumni associations or of one of our partner universities, we offer you a series of applicable discounts on the amount of tuition for your program.

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    UPF Employee Discounts

    If you are a member or family member of an employee of the UPF group or belonged to the collaborating institutions of the UPF Barcelona School of Management, you can enjoy a series of applicable discounts on the tuition fees for your program.

    Learn more

    Agreement with the College of Biologists of Catalonia

    10% discount for members who prove to be part of this professional association

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    Catalan Association for Scientific Communication

    10% discount for members who prove to be part of this professional association

    Learn more

    Spanish Association of Scientific Communication

    10% discount for members who prove to be part of this professional association

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    UPF Partner Latinoamerican Universities Discount

    If you are alumni of one of our Partner Universities, you are entitled to a discount of 10% on the UPF Barcelona School of Management Masters and postgraduate program tuition fees (those programs with more than 15 credits).

    *Discount not compatible with other scholarships, discounts and reductions.

    Learn more

    Funding

    Financing simulator

    You can choose how to finance your studies by consulting our simulator.

    Go to the simulator

    Collaborating entities

    In addition, we collaborate with various entities which provide study loans on favorable terms. For more information you can contact any of the following links. 

    CaixaBank
    BBVA
    Caixa d'Enginyers
    AGAUR
    Future studentFind all the information you need to prepare your future