David Wright: Why our Communication of Science & Technology (CSET) Program at Vanderbilt is unique

The Communication of Science and Technology (CSET) program at Vanderbilt University trains undergraduates to engage with the public. The interdisciplinary program was founded in 1997 and has grown to around 7 faculty and 95 students. In 2020, CSET received a grant to redesign the curriculum around the idea of “scientist citizens,” emphasizing 3 core principles – scientific/humanistic perspective, experiential learning, and ethics. There are core courses that help students develop presentation, writing, and critical thinking skills to communicate science accessibly. Many CSET students double major in science/engineering and humanities. CSET has strong community partnerships that allow students to get hands-on experience. The program hopes to expand with a 4+1 master’s program and provide more science policy course offerings. CivicSciTV’s Questions of the Day Host Fanuel Muindi interviews, David Wright, the Stevenson Professor of Chemistry and Director of the program at Vanderbilt University, to learn more.

Learn more: https://as.vanderbilt.edu/communication-science-technology/

Fanuel Muindi

Fanuel Muindi is a former neuroscientist turned civic science ethnographer. He is a professor of the practice in the Department of Communication Studies within the College of Arts, Media, and Design at Northeastern University, where he leads the Civic Science Media Lab. Dr. Muindi received his Bachelor’s degree in Biology and PhD in Organismal Biology from Morehouse College and Stanford University, respectively. He completed his postdoctoral training at MIT.