SPOC3712 Engaging and Influencing Non-Scientists

This topic applies the knowledge 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 hierarchy; 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 incorporated 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:

• The outcomes that can be enabled through engagement and influence of non-scientists
• The pathways for engagement of non scientists
• The conditions and contexts that can open and close pathways
• The elements required for successful engagement and influence

1. Identify opportunities to attain outcomes through engaging and influencing with non-scientists
2. Identify and use pathways for engagement and influence
3. Differentiate between pathways for influence and engagement under different contexts and conditions
4. Explain how to work with networks to extend the reach of engagement and influence