Harriet Swain (THES, August 23) suggests that science and media courses, such as the new degree at Royal Holloway College, are designed to attract students failing to make the grade for over-subscribed courses. What she fails to appreciate is that such degrees should be located in the context of ever-growing concerns over the public understanding of science.
The first undergraduate degree concerned with the communication of science (as well as with other contexts of science) was the BA in science, society and the media set up at the University of the West of England five years ago. The course gives students the opportunity to study science as a part of culture. As such it is an important academic initiative which produces graduates sensitive to the current tensions surrounding science. Those of us involved with degrees such as this are not interested in making science more "sexy" by throwing in a bit of media; we are concerned with engaging more meaningfully with both of the two cultures.
Felicity Mellor Lecturer in science in context Bristol University.