National Awards for Science Communication

The nation will observe National Science Day on 28 February 2008 with “Understanding Planet Earth” as the theme. Most research laboratories will organize “open-day” inviting members of the public to visit their facilities and interact with researchers. Universities are organizing lectures by eminent scientists on the theme.

The Outreach Campaign for Understanding Planet Earth was launched by the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, on January 03, 2008 at Andhra University, Vishakhapattnam. Community awareness programmes have been initiated on issues of climate change, natural hazards, coasts and oceans, urbanization and health of the planet.

The national function for Science Day will have the eminent agriculture scientist Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, sharing his views on the theme.

The national awards for science and technology communication for outstanding work done in the past 5 years by institutions and individuals will also be presented. These include science and technology communication, science communication through books and magazines, science popularization among children, science and technology communication in print medium and science and technology communication through electronic medium.

These awards were instituted in 1987 by the government with a view to encouraging and recognizing the efforts in the area of science and technology communication and were first announced on National Science Day in 1988. No award is being given for the category of science translation in Indian languages this year.

A Science Exhibition would also be organized on this occasion at Technology Bhavan, New Delhi.

A number of science communication software materials have been developed for different target audiences including teachers and students on various aspects of Planet Earth in connection with International Year of Planet Earth 2008.

Source: Press Information Bureau
Date: February 27, 2008