Science communication is an emerging interdisciplinary professional branch of learning. Science and Technology have become an inseparable part of our daily life; hence creation of scientific awareness has now become the need of hour. It is one of the recommendations of the National Knowledge Commission to launch a massive science outreach and extension programme. Mass awareness of Science and Technology cannot be achieved however, without adequate trained human resources. Depending upon requirement and need various types of Science Communication Education is available.
National Council for Science and Technology Communication offers a one week course on skill enhancement of promising science writers and three months course on use of mass media for science popularization. NCSTC and Indian Science Communication Society (ISCOS), Lucknow has jointly undertaken a program to train science communicators, writers, and journalists in presenting scientific information in educating and entertaining manner. ISCOS offers a one year training program in Science Journalism through Distance Education mode. The eligibility criterion is graduation in any discipline with Intermediate in science. Diploma holders in agriculture/engineering are also eligible.
Devi Ahilya University, Indore offers two programs. M. Sc. and PG Diploma in Science Communication. They are also planning to start a doctoral program in Science Communication. For admission to M.Sc. program the eligibility is B.Sc./BCA. There are only 30 openings at present and the selected candidates are provided with a monthly fellowship of Rs. 700. PG Diploma in Science Communication is offered through Distance Education mode. This is a two semester course and there are 200 seats. Eligibility criterion is a Bachelor degree in any discipline.
The Institute of Mass Communication in Science and Technology, Lucknow University, is also running a similar course – M Sc Mass Communication in Science. It is also a two-year full-time regular programme funded by the NCSTC. The Institute admits 40 students each year.
Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication, Bhopal has also started a one-year PG Diploma in Science and Technology Journalism.
Madurai Kamraj University too offers an NCSTC-funded PG Diploma in Science Communication.
The National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources (NISCAIR), CSIR, New Delhi organizes short-term science-writing training workshops.
Centre for Science Education and Communication Delhi University is involved in short term training and workshops related with science education and communication.
National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), an autonomous scientific and research organization under Ministry of Culture has also started a four semester M.S. course in Science Communication from 2005. NCSM’s MS course is meant for first class engineering graduates and science post graduates. Course contents include history and philosophy of science, mass communication, exhibit presentation and museum management. Course also includes the tools of Science Communication and writing scientific articles. The final content of the course is a dissertation. This program is conducted in joint collaboration of NCSM and BITS, Pilani on an off campus mode. The lectures and tutorials are held at NCSM, Kolkata. NCSM also offers a total of 5 fellowships of amount Rs 5000/- per month with annual book grant.
Registration as science communicator: Persons involved in science communication can register themselves in Vigyanprasar’s website.
Career Prospects: In mainstream media viz., Print (Newspapers, Periodicals, and House Journals), Broadcast media (Radio & Television) and organizations engaged in Science and Technology extension and outreach activities like NCSTC, NCSM, NISCAIR, HBCSE, Vigyanprasar and state councils of Science and Technology etc. Training in science communication would also provide opportunities as curators of science museums. At present there are 27 science museums/centres under NCSM. There is proposal of setting district level science centres. Science centres along with Science and Technology Parks are great tool of informal education of masses. Large numbers of private sector companies and corporate houses are also setting up science museums and technology parks as part of their corporate social responsibility thereby increasing the demand of science communicators.
Awards: National awards for science communicators are presented every year to individuals and institutions in following categories.
- Outstanding Effort in Science & Technology Communication - (Rupees Two Lakhs)
- Outstanding Effort in S&T Communication through Books & Magazines - (Rupees One Lakh)
- Outstanding Effort in S&T Popularization among Children - (Rupees One Lakh)
- Outstanding Effort in Translation of Popular S&T Literature - (Rupees One Lakh)
- Outstanding Effort in S&T Communication in the Print Medium - (Rupees One Lakh)
- Outstanding Effort in S&T Communication in Electronic Medium - (Rupees One Lakh)
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