SPOC8712 Engaging and Influencing Non-Scientists GE

2016

4.5

2 x 50-minute lectures weekly
1 x 50-minute workshop fortnightly
4 x 30-minute on-line exercises per semester
5 x 20-hour project works per semester

SPOC3712 has been successfully completed

This topic applies the knowlegde and skills required to successfully engage and influence non scientists. Areas covered will include: the role of language and culture; the psychology of accepting new information; the information-education-engagement -behaviour change heirarchy; change management principles; and functional networking, in enabling successful engagement and influence of non scientists. Students will become familiar with the range of formal and informal processes and pathways to engage and influence non scientists, and how different circumstances and contexts can open and close windows for influence. Critical elements that need to be incoporated into strategic planning for engagement and/or influence, together with the role of organisational politics, policy and management and the role of individual champions, will be analysed via a range of case studies.

This topic aims to provide students with an understanding of:

1. The nature, reach and outcomes that can be enabled through engagement and influence of non-scientists, with particular reference to public and private “goods”
2. The pathways for engagement and influence of non scientists
3. The reality that pathways can open and close, and outcomes can be accelerated under given contexts and conditions, and the recognition of such conditions
4. The critical elements required for successful engagement and influence

At the completion of the topic, students are expected to be able to:

1. Identify opportunities to attain public and private good outcomes through engaging and influencing with non-scientist policy and decision makers
2. Identify and use pathways for engagement and influence, including the application of critical elements required for successful engagement and influence
3. Demonstrate that they have the ability to differentiate between possible pathways for influence and engagement and which are best applied under different contexts and conditions
4. Work within and expand functional networks to extend the maximise reach of engagement and influence