Page 87 - Scientech 2014-15

CHALLENGES AND THE WAY FORWARD science communication has a promising future in
In spite of well-planned and well-structured efforts India and other developing countries.
of science communication in India, there are
certain challenges before us, to be met. In spite of CONCLUSION
repeated and multifold efforts of spreading scientific Looking at the population, size and make up,
information and inculcation of a scientific temper variety of languages, urban-rural, digital divides,
among Indian people, even today there prevail lots prevalent disparities, poverty, illiteracy, inadequate
of superstitions among people who are still ignorant opportunities, facilities, services, reach of mass
about common scientific principles of day-to- media, and so on, India is poised with many
day life. Hence illiteracy and ignorance are major challenges, that offer opportunities and possibilities
challenges. The level of literacy has increased as in S&T communication.
compared to earlier times, though it has not reached
the desirable level. Scientific literacy is drastically 1. The beginning of science communication
low in the country. The science communication during ancient period can be traced back from
has still not succeeded in attracting the media to the dissemination of the information about
the extent that it could appear on the front page development of primitive stone tools, through the
or become a lead story, like the politics, films or pedestrians from one place to another, sometime
sports. The coverage of science in print as well as around 150,000 years ago in Shivalik region of
in the broadcast media has not arrived even up to Himalayas.
a minimum desirable level (Patairiya, 2001). It is
rather disappointing to note that leading science 2. The exchange of technical information about
magazines have ceased their publication, like the use and control of fire and fire churning
Science Today, Science Age, Bulletin of Sciences, technology by sage Atharvan was the next step.
Research and Industry, Invention Intelligence, etc.
and Indian editions of foreign science magazines, 3. The cave drawings and cave paintings depicting
like Vigyan (Scientific American), World Scientist human life of Stone Age as well as illustrations of
(La Recherche), etc., could not survive. Several animals, plants are the true examples of science
Hindi and Indian languages’ science magazines communication, by the early man in Indian
have faced the same fate. India has 22 recognized subcontinent, about 40,000 years ago.
regional languages. Hence, communication in many
languages is yet another great challenge. The quality 4. Then the ancient man started exchanging
of scientific translation could not achieve the level information and knowledge about sowing,
of excellence in most instances; this is mainly due irrigation and other agricultural practices
to lack of equal command and training in both the through public relations or mutual discussions
languages and non-availability of appropriate terms some 10000 years ago.

The science writing is still dry and boring, and 5. The process of communication progressed from
interesting styles of writing, like fiction, poetry, body language to the well-developed oral and
satires, skits, discussions, etc., have not found written languages during the course of the time.
adequate space and time in the media. Even 6. Guru-Shishya Parampara communicated
most of the science writers could not contribute knowledge through oral communication to
sufficiently such an interesting science material generations after generations.
to the newspapers/ magazines. Merely occasional
appearance of something in the name of science 7. The scientific outlook has always existed in
fiction cannot serve the purpose. Indian Society, in the form of logic, reasoning
and method of acquiring knowledge, as evident
In view of the present pace of science communication from a number of ancient scientific works,
programmes, their potential and impact towards rendered during Vedic, post Vedic and classical
shaping the lives of the people and making them periods, in India.
more informed and rational, nobody would be able
to afford not to have the scientific information 8. The medieval period has been important for the
confronting day-to-day life of the people, as it will be preparation of a large number of commentaries
going to become essential and integral part of most on earlier and contemporary scientific works.
of the human activities in the near future. That is This can be considered a great milestone on the
why, even today, almost every parent is intended road of communication, as the information about
to provide modern scientific and technological most of the ancient and classical works mainly
knowledge to his or her child. Although, there reaches us only through these commentaries
may be ample scope for unevenness, deprivations, and commentators.
limitations and lack of effectiveness of various
science communication programmes and 9. Construction of Jantar Mantar by Sawai Jai
activities, however, despite various constraints and Singh II, preparation of scientific volumes under
impediments, it may not be an unrealistic idea that Mughal emperors, etc., are the notable examples

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