Kapil Sibal Calls Upon Science Communicators to Help Reach S&T Solutions to Masses

Kapil Sibal Gives Away National Awards for Science Communication

Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Shri Kapil Sibal has called upon science communicators to help reach the existing Science and Technology solutions to the masses. He was addressing a gathering of communicators and scientists at a function organized by the Rashtriya Vigyan Evam Prodyogiki Sanchar Parishad (National Council for Science & Technology Communication), Dept. of Science and Technology, in New Delhi to celebrate the National Science Day. Terming the 21st Century as the Age of Communication, he acknowledged the ability of media to mobilise public opinion through power of pen and power of images. The Minister, however, observed that there is a shortfall in the area of communicating Science and technology and expressed the need to enlarge the community of science communicators.

Expressing concern over the declining interest in science Shri Sibal pointed out that it was a global phenomenon – not only with youth coming to science but also with adults in aspects of understanding and appreciating science. He said that even in a country like USA, 50% of the adults surveyed didn’t know that it takes 365 days for the Earth to orbit the Sun or for that matter electrons were smaller than the atom and if a similar survey was carried out in India, the results will not be much too different. It is for this reason, the Minister said, that science communication is an important aspect of public education.

Shri Sibal said that communication ought to be a two way process - not just to bombard the public but also to bring in the feed back and information from the public to the decision makers. What we need today is a new mindset to use the power of communication to benefit all.

Terming this years’ topic for science communication ‘More crop per drop’ an appropriate one, the Minister observed that globally, about 160 billion tons more water is used than is replenished by the rain that feeds into water storages and emphasized an urgent need to find science-based solutions for ground water exploration and management and to maximize the use or returns from the available water.

The Minister also gave away the annual national awards for science and technology communication for outstanding work done in the past 5 years. The awardees are: Dr. V.A. Elavalagan, Chennai ; Swadeshi Science Movement, Kochi; Smt. Rekha Aggarwal, New Delhi; Dr. Madhu Pant, New Delhi; Shri Kuldeep Sharma, New Delhi; Shri S. Ananthanarayanan, Mumbai; Shri Dinesh C. Sharma, New Delhi; Shri Niret Alva,Gurgaon; Shri H.B. Muralidhara & Smt. Seema Muralidhara, Mumbai.

On the occasion, Dr. R. Chidambaram, Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, delivered a lecture. Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Dr. T. Ramasami presided over the function.

Source : Press Information Bureau
Date : March 01, 2007