Science Communication: Key to develop scientific temper

Kapurthala, February 6, 2014: The developments and advancements in science and technology have benefited the society and the common man in a fight against hunger, drought, diseases, and social evils, like superstitions, etc., while generating self-confidence, courage and faith in them. It has thus becomes necessary that we take such measures and make such efforts that promote scientific temper in the society. It is in this context that science communication is considered as the vital key to develop scientific temper among the masses.  It was stated by Dr. OM Gouri Dutt Sharma, Deputy Director General, Doordarshan Kendra, Jalandhar while inaugurating a 3-days Workshop on Science Communication Through Vernacular Media organized at Pushpa Gujral Science City, Kapurthala. The workshop is organized with the collaboration of National Council of Science and Technology Communication of the Departemnt of Science and Technology, Govt. of India.
The Science City played host to an exciting and innovating talks, presentations and debate on Science Communication in which several eminent professionals joined as resource persons. More than 300 students from the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication of different universities and colleges participated in the workshop.
On this occasion, Meg Raj Mitar, Founder Tarksheel Society Bhart said that our society was in the clutches of superstitions. Every house was feeling disturbed due to witchcraft. Some houses were catching fire due to poltergeist phenomena. Some people were spoiling their present lives to find places in heaven. There is an urgent need to dispel these superstitions by developing scientific temper among the masses. This workshop organized by the Science City to spread science communication through vernacular media is both timely and need of the hour.
Addressing the participants, Director  Science City Dr. Rajesh Grover  said that Govt. of India is attaching utmost importance to public communication of science and technology. He pointed out that science coverage attributed to mass media has been abysmally poor, which needs to be enhanced. With the efforts of the Science City and through its various programmes, the media coverage of the scientific events and programmes related to development of scientific temper and sustainable development has been steadily increasing. Science communication has become my passion as I feel that the vast population of the country needs to be pulled out of superstitions. In his welcome address mentioned that Science and Technology journalism has progressively developed in India, in terms of quality and quantity. There has been a considerable progress in this field over the years and as a result several science magazines, feature services, programmes on radio and television, etc have emerged. Science journalism in India, however, has yet to come out of its present stage of infancy and a good deal still remains to be done in this field. He lamented that scientists rarely interface with societies. ‘At present, scientists write for other scientists, not for the public’ and this is the reason for the general public’s negative attitude towards science. A science communicator can possibly address this issue in a more acceptable language and format.   
Dr. Grover  further asserted on the need to train professional journalists who are able to pick up on innovative achievements in science and translate them into a language suitable for the general public to understand without ambiguity. The production of such simplified and accessible scientific writing can be achieved through close collaboration between scientists and journalists.
Increasing popularity of some of the science channels has proved that if stories on science and technology are packaged and presented intelligently and skillfully, it can definitely command attention of the common man from the clutter of entertainment programmes. Most people see the bulk of scientific knowledge as simply irrelevant to their needs and interest and they are probably right .This happens because invariably most of the information on science is not made available in a user friendly manner, Dr. Grover  pointed out.
Jatinder Pannu,  Editor Nawa Zamana, Dr. Kamlesh Duggle , HOD Department of Journalism and Mass Communication GNDU Regional Campus Jalandhar and Usha Pawar Prinicipal Correspondent DD News delivered a special talk on Science Communication on this occasion.// punjab news live, punjab news online, punjab news, punjab news headlines, punjab breaking news, india news, punjab news, world news,

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