Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 19: A study, recently published in Weather – an international research journal published by the Royal Meteorological Society, UK – says that most Indian scientists recognised the importance of communicating science to the public and its relevance in strengthening science-society relations.
The study is authored by Dr Abhay SD Rajput of the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune and Prof Sangeeta Sharma of BITS-Pilani, Pilani.
Senior and experienced Indian scientists who were elected fellows of three prestigious national science academies of India (Indian Academy of Sciences (IASc), Bengaluru; Indian National Science Academy (INSA), New Delhi and National Academy of Sciences, India (NASI), Prayagraj, were invited to participate in an online cross-sectional survey on science communication by scientists in India.
Results of the survey reveal that a vast majority (~97%) of top Indian scientists perceived science communication with the general public as an essential activity. Authors also report that 78% of the top Indian scientists believed that they have a moral duty to inform the public about what research they are doing with taxpayers’ money.
“These findings are particularly interesting as these counter the popular narrative that scientists do not give any importance to science communication with the public. And it is further encouraging that it comes from senior scientists occupying top scientific/administrative positions. More than half of the respondents were Vice-Chancellors, Directors of institutions, heads of departments or group leaders,” said the study’s lead author Dr Rajput who hails from the remote village Pargwal in Akhnoor area of Jammu.
The study further revealed that most of the Indian scientists surveyed were concerned that scientific ignorance of the public can potentially lead them to oppose scientific projects (81%) and hinder the advancement of science (80%). Being aware of these negative impacts of scientific ignorance, a vast majority of them favoured increasing public awareness about science (96%) and establishing better science-society linkages (95%).
Another interesting result of the study is that most of the respondents (73%) were willing to participate in public engagement activities in the future. “It is heartening to note that Indian scientists are not only aware of the importance of science communication, but most of them are also willing to engage with the public. Such encouraging attitudes of top scientists would certainly motivate and inspire young scientists and researchers to contribute more to public engagement,” emphasised Dr Rajput.
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