role of science communicator

Role of Science Communicator

Sandipan Dhar

What is Science Communication ?

• To work towards finding ways of fostering

public outreach from the scientific community

by building bridges between science and its

stakeholders.

• Science Communication is about dealing with

science and issues of social responsibility

and citizenship

• Working to encourage people to think that

science is exciting, or that a career as a

scientist is a fulfilling one.

PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF

SCIENCE

• What is it?

It is all the scientific technological knowledge acquired

and used by a person, who enables him or her to

understand the environment, act in everyday life and

think about major issues of the future

• Who for?

The science and technology play a cruicial role in our

everyday lives (health, food, environment, transport,

communications). Understanding them so as to make

better use of them is an issue for everybody!

WHY POPULARIZE S&T

• To make learning and teaching of science

more effective

• To stimulate scientific temper

• To accelerate societal development

• To encourage informed decision making

What for Science Communicators

are?

CHALLENGES BEFORE SCIENCE

COMMUNICATORS

TARGET : Entire Population

PRIORITY : Children, Women, Teachers,

Workers, Others

ILLITERACY : Large Proportion untouched by

Education System

POVERTY : Alters Priorities

LANGUAGES : Multiple

REACH OF MASS MEDIA :GROWING

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF SCIENCE

COMMUNICATORS:

• Creating understanding of science & technology

through exhibitions, visits or opportunities to meet

scientists

• Presenting them for discussion in the science

club, lectures or round tables;

• Introducing people to the scientific method

(observation, experimentation, analysis) by

means of workshops, clubs or field excursions.

EFFECTIVE SCIENCE COMMUNICATION

BASIC PREMISES

• Use Of Local Languages

• Ensure Two-way Communication

• Method Over Content

• Understanding The Audience

(In Terms Of Idiom, Jokes, Societal Norms,

Problems, Concerns, Social Customs)

• Essential For Effective Communication Also To

Learn From Common People

• A rigorous approach and a strong aptitude for

analysis to acquire the knowledge and a good

command of scientific methods.

• An aptitude for communication for capturing the

public’s attention.

• A good listening ability to adopt to the public, meet

their interest, arouse their ideas.

• A facility for explain to make complex information

on easy to understand.

• A sense of organisation for planning and carrying

through group activities.

REQUIREMENTS OF SCIENCE

COMMUNICATION:• INFORMATION

• INFORMATION ON VARIOUS S&T TOPICS & SUBJECTS BOTH

OF TOPICAL & GENERAL NATURE

• SOFTWARE

• COMMUNICATORS

• MEDIA

• LANGUAGE VERSIONS

PEOPLE’S OWN LANGUAGE

RELEVANT

COMPREHENSIVE

REACH TO AUDIENCES

• DISSEMINATION NETWORK

Where to start

From what is known to what is unknown

From something that is concrete then to one that is abstract

From general and move on to particular

From observation and then to theory

From something simple before making it complex

With an overview before introducing details.

Depth:

Awareness ( of natural & built environment),

Focus on concepts ( environment & sustainability),

Concepts in context (conditions & issues)

Attention to different scales (local,regional,national

& global).

Our Role in different activities

A Workshop:Implementing a programme of activities, showing the

scientific method in action, and creating cohesion in the

group of participants.

A Meeting with Scientists:Create the condition to allow both scientists and the

participants speak

A Field Excursion:Organising the outing and guide the participants at the sites

visited

A Guided Tour:Guiding the visitors in the scientists workplace, informing

visitors and encouraging easy dialogue with the experts.

Communicating Science is a wonderful

recreation of mental health if one does not

have to earn one’s living at it….. Albert

Einstein

role of science communicator

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