Books and resource material on science communication are not widely available in India. Adding to its existing repertoire of over 300 popular science titles and nearly 4000 short videos, Vigyan Prasar, an autonomous organization of the Department of Science and Technology, has brought out two new titles, ‘Minimum Science for Everybody’ and ‘Packaging Science for Public Interest’, addressing people interested in science education and science communication, respectively.
The books were released on Wednesday, at the NEP Events Corner, New Delhi World Book Fair, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, in collaboration with National Book Trust. Shri Mike Pandey, the eminent wildlife filmmaker, graced the event as the chief guest, in the presence of Dr Nakul Parashar, Director, Vigyan Prasar, and other dignitaries and book lovers.
Dr Nakul Parashar talked about Vigyan Prasar’s efforts on SCoPE in Indian languages other than Hindi and English and how the released books will be valuable for researchers, students, content generators, and people who wish to make a career in science communication.
Dr Rashmi Sharma, Senior Scientist of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and also one of the contributors of the book ‘Packaging Science for Public Interest’ underlined the need for researchers to write about their work in a language that common people will understand.
Y.S. Gill, a journalist, filmmaker, science communicator, and the Trustees-Director of Media Art Research and Studies (MARS), New Delhi, emphasized the need to communicate science through films made with mobile phone cameras. Shri Hasan Zia, Senior Editor from the Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, underlined the need for developing more helpful content on scientific topics, with increasing literacy in the country.
Speaking on occasion, The Chief Guest of the event, Shri Mike Pandey stressed the need to educate people on conservation efforts to save the Earth and sustain lifeforms in it. Commending Vigyan Prasar’s effort on spreading scientific information in a language that is understood by common masses, he said, it is time Vigyan Prasar launched a satellite television channel fully dedicated to educational content laced with simple, understandable science, one that can reach the remotest areas with value based ‘citizen science’ content.
The title, ‘Minimum Science for Everybody’ by late Dr Rakesh Popli and Dr Ashok Sinha was released by the dignitaries in the presence of Smt. Rama Popli, wife of Dr Popli and Dr Gagan Gupta, Associate Professor at the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).
Dr Zahid Hussain Khan of Jamia Millia Islamia, Dr Ambrish Saxena, Dean, DME Media School, and Dr Ajit Pathak. National President, Public Relations Society of India, congratulated Vigyan Prasar for bringing these two valuable publications that will help students and media researchers bring science closer to everyday life.
‘Minimum Science for Everybody’ by Dr Rakesh Popli and Dr Ashok Sinha ponders whether science teaches us to overcome and win over nature or is it about understanding natural phenomena to live with nature. It provides insight for the policymakers, planners and implementers of Education, Agriculture, Health and Skills Development as they must cultivate scientific temperament, sustain nature, immunity and prosperity for all.
‘Packaging Science for Public Interest’ is a valuable resource for science communicators, science and social science filmmakers, producers, scriptwriters, and content creators for text, audio, and visual medium in general. Filmmakers, producers, and technical experts of national and international fame from India, Israel, Nepal, Switzerland, UK, and Taiwan have shared their experience in penning the articles will be of immense help to the students and common masses.
It is worth noting that Vigyan Prasar has been working on ‘Science Communication, and its Popularization, and Extension (SCoPE)’ for over three decades. Nimish Kapoor, Senior Scientist in Vigyan Prasar, presented the vote of thanks. (India Science Wire)
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