CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR), New Delhi, organised a national seminar on the theme “Nurturing Science Communication — Motivating Science Communicators” on 10 March 2022 in hybrid mode at the CSIR-National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL) auditorium, New Delhi.
The chief guest of the seminar was Prof. K. VijayRaghavan, Principal Scientific Adviser to Govt of India. DG-CSIR, Dr Shekhar C. Mande; Dr Venugopal Achanta, Director, CSIR-NPL; Prof. Avanish Kumar Srivastava, Director, CSIR-AMPRI and Dr Sharmila Mande, Distinguished Chief Scientist, TCS Research, Tata Consultancy, apart from Prof. Ranjana Aggarwal, Director, CSIR-NIScPR also graced the programme.
The seminar brought together 15 institutions engaged in science communication on a single platform to share their views and ideas for strengthening the science communication efforts in the country. A first of its kind event, the National Seminar provided an opportunity to science communication institutions and science communicators to meet and network to motivate and nurture science communication and science communicators. The main aim of the seminar was to promote new initiatives in science communication and motivate prospective science communicators to design, plan and execute science communication projects. The seminar also spread awareness about agencies/institutions promoting and funding science communication initiatives in India and also attempted to showcase selected science communication initiatives.
Highlighting the various challenges in science communication, Prof. K. VijayRaghavan briefly discussed the four major points associated with science communication — Why to Communicate?, Who to Communicate?, How to Communicate? & How not to Communicate? Shedding light on the importance of the right information to be communicated, he said that in today’s world communication happens at a high speed in a manner never seen before in human history. And so, if correct information is not communicated to the target audience it may lead to misinformation & manipulation of information. Fundamentally, communication of authentic information is critical in science communication, he added. Further, he said that these days too much information is available, but focused communication with an ability to distil the garbage is a crucial challenge. Disinformation and misinformation are easy to communicate, as they do not have any credibility, but transmitting correct and scientific information is a bigger issue, emphasised Prof. VijayRaghavan.
Concluding his address, Prof. VijayaRaghvan said that we need to communicate the impact of science on society and the economy for which detailed work needs to be done and that knowledge no longer is concentrated with those who have power but is democratised.
Appreciating the efforts to organise this seminar, Dr Shekhar C. Mande, DG-CSIR said that this seminar addresses the need for all to be better communicators, and create a better interface between scientists and society. Talking about the activities/discoveries/researches by scientists and technologists, Dr Mande said that involving the general public to make them acquainted with the work being done in labs is an extremely important aspect of S&T and that’s where science communicators have a major role to play. Further, he added that India is woefully short of people able to effectively connect with the public about S&T, therefore, organising seminars such as this would go a long way towards motivating people to take up science communication as a career and inform the public about what happens behind the walls of the laboratories and their implications for our future.
Congratulating the organising team, Dr Sharmila Mande cited several examples and explained the importance of communicating with people in an easily understandable language. She said that science communication is important not just to communicate to students but also to clinicians as sometimes they are not aware of the research going being busy with their clinical work. Further, she added that scientific endeavours need to be made known in a simplistic manner in the form of books, animations, etc. to connect with the general public more conveniently.
During his address, Prof. Venugopal Achanta said that science communicators should not focus only on reporting research published in foreign journals. There is considerable research being carried out on local problems which need to be communicated as well. Discussing the problems associated with fancy journals he said that as a nation we should look at our own needs, aspirations & research which are targeted towards local challenges and needs and for this science communication has a big role to play.
Discussing science communication by hardcore scientists and researchers, Prof. Avanish Kumar said that sometimes it becomes difficult for the general public to understand when hardcore scientists explain their work in jargon language which is not easily understandable. He said that to overcome this we need to have a path and in that direction this seminar aligns very well as it brings closer the scientists and science communicators. Setting the tone with science communication he also highlighted the importance of all three popular science magazines namely Science Reporter, Vigyan Pragati & Science Ki Duniya published by CSIR-NIScPR. He said that although the magazines are popular among the masses but they need to be made more popular by increasing their circulation.
Earlier in her welcome address, Prof. Ranjana Aggarwal, Director, CSIR-NIScPR elaborated on the institute's commitment to providing the correct information in the right manner with the engagement of society. The challenge is to produce new science communicators and writers. She emphasised the need for much more science-based stories than research papers alone from the scientific community that can impact society.
During the inaugural session, dignitaries relased some special publications of CSIR-NIScPR including the National Seminar Theme Book, Report on “Women in STEM: A CSIR survey towards Gender Parity” by Dr Ranjana Aggrawal, Dr Sandhya Wakdikar & Dr Praveen Sharma and March 2022 special issues of Science Reporter & Vigyan Pragati on women in science brought out on the occasion of the International Women’s Day (8 March). Besides, two science publications by two CSIR-NIScPR scientific staff were released: “Mere Chuninda Vigyan Lekh” authored by Dr Manish Mohan Gore, Scientist, CSIR-NIScPR and “Vaigyanik Jagdish Chandra Bose Ke Mahaan Vichaar” by Sawan Kumar Bag, Post Doctoral Fellow, Bar-Ilan University, Israel and Dr Meher Wan, Scientist, CSIR-NIScPR.
The inaugural session concluded with a vote of thanks by Mr Hasan Jawaid Khan, Chief Scientist, CSIR-NIScPR.
The seminar comprised two sessions. The first session was “Promoting Science Outreach & Communication” and was chaired by Dr Rajeev Kumar Mehajan, Scientist-G, SERB. The panellists of the session were Dr Jyotsna Dhawan, CEO, DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance; Dr C.M. Nautiyal, Programme Consultant (Science Communication), Indian National Science Academy (INSA); Dr Anurag Kumar, Director, Science City, Kolkata, National Council of Science Museums (NCSM); Dr Santosh Shukla, In-charge Officer (Science Popularization) National Academy of Sciences India (NASI); Shri Nimish Kapoor, Scientist, Vigyan Prasar, DST and Dr Rohini Garg, Member, Indian National Young Academy of Sciences (INYAS). Representing various organizations, the panelists presented the efforts being made to promote science outreach and communication in various ways and also the support being offered for science communication programmes.
The second session focused on “Innovative Science Communication Initiatives — A Showcase” and was chaired by Dr C.M. Nautiyal, Programme Consultant (Science Communication), Indian National Science Academy (INSA). The expert speakers of the session were Dr Rashmi Sharma, Scientist, DST speaking on “Augmenting Writing Skills for Articulating Research (AWSAR)”; Dr Arvind C. Ranade, Scientist, Vigyan Prasar presenting highlights of the VIPNET programme of Vigyan Prasar; Shri Kapil Tripathi, Scientist, Vigyan Prasar talking about India Science Channel being run by Vigyan Prasar; Shri Tarun Kumar Jain, Editor, Vaigyanik Drishtikon who gave details about India’s first S&T newspaper; Shri Zubair Siddiqui from Eklavya, Bhopal, who gave insights into the Srote Science & Technology Features; and Ms Sonali Nagar, Scientist, CSIR-NIScPR talking about the science popularization activities of CSIR-NIScPR.
The valedictory session was chaired by Dr Nakul Parashar, Director, Vigyan Prasar. Mr Hasan Jawaid Khan, Chief Scientist, CSIR-NIScPR presented the summary of the seminar. Guest of Honour, Dr Geetha Vani Rayasam, Head, CSIR-HRDG said that the pandemic has shown that science communication is essential, be it the hesitancy, vaccination, COVID tests, etc. Guest of Honour, Dr Rashmi Sharma, Scientist, DST, said that science communication plays a very vital role in society and during the pandemic time, we saw how science communicators worked hard to provide authentic scientific information. Lastly, the vote of thanks was proposed by Dr Manish Mohan Gore, Scientist, CSIR-NIScPR.
On the same day, in view of the International Women’s Day (8 March), CSIR-NIScPR also organised the “CSIR Women Scientists Meet” at CSIR-NPL, New Delhi. During the programme, a half-day workshop on “Women leaders in CSIR: Experiences on work-life balance” was held where women holding headships in various CSIR scientific divisions shared their experiences on balancing work with life. In the workshop, around 50 women staff and students of CSIR-NIScPR and CSIR-NPL attended.
