New Delhi, September 15, 2023: The CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR) organized an event focused on “Science Communication: Public Engagement with Science” on September 14, 2023, as part of its ongoing “One Week One Lab (OWOL) programme.”
The event, held in New Delhi, witnessed the participation of esteemed dignitaries and experts, including Chief Guest Dr. Santosh Choubey, Chancellor of Rabindranath Tagore University, Bhopal, and other notable personalities such as Shri H.J. Khan, Dr. Ranjana Aggarwal (Director, CSIR-NIScPR), Dr. Tsering Tashi (Deputy Project Director, ISRO), and Dr. M.M. Gore (Scientist, CSIR-NIScPR).
During the inaugural session, Dr. Ranjana Aggarwal extended her warm welcome to the event’s distinguished guests. She highlighted the significance of the “One Week One Lab” campaign, emphasizing its role in showcasing the accomplishments and technological breakthroughs of 37 CSIR laboratories across India to a diverse range of stakeholders in society. Dr. Aggarwal also expressed gratitude to Dr. Jitendra Singh, the honorable Minister of Science and Technology and Vice President of CSIR, and Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Secretary of DSIR & DG of CSIR, for their continuous support.
The event’s central theme was science communication and its critical role in engaging the public. Shri Hasan Jawaid Khan, Chief Scientist at CSIR-NIScPR, outlined the challenges of science communication and discussed various approaches, including puppet shows and street plays, to make science accessible to the masses.
Dr. Tsering Tashi, Deputy Project Director of Navigation Spacecraft at the U.R. Rao Satellite Centre, ISRO, shared his journey in scientific research at ISRO and highlighted the potential of science popularization in rural areas.
The Chief Guest, Dr. Santosh Choubey, stressed the historical roots of science communication and its transformative power. He advocated the creation of science communication hubs across the nation and highlighted the evolution of science communication before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the event, several books and magazines were released, including “Vigyan Sanchar Ki Anwarat Yatra,” focusing on Indian organizations’ contributions to spreading science in society, and three popular science books in Indian languages (Marathi, Kannada, and Bangla). Additionally, the “Navasanchetana” magazine (July-Sept 2023 Issue) and the “e-Hydrogen Digest compendium” based on hydrogen research were launched.
The inaugural event concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Manish Mohan Gore, Scientist at CSIR-NIScPR and Coordinator of the Science Communication Event. Dr. Gore commended ISRO scientist Dr. Tsering Tashi for his outstanding contributions to science communication and called for more scientists to actively engage in science communication and popularization activities.
Subsequent technical sessions featured discussions on organizations engaged in spreading science to society, featuring experts from reputed organizations across the country.
The event also featured a panel discussion on the completion of 70 years of “Vigyan Pragati,” a popular science magazine published by CSIR-NIScPR. Notable poets participated in a “Vigyan Kavi Sammelan” to commemorate Hindi Diwas, promoting science-literature integration as a means of communicating science to society.
About CSIR-NIScPR: CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR) is a constituent laboratory of CSIR under the Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India. It specializes in science communication, STI-focused evidence-based policy research, and related studies. The institute publishes various scientific journals, books, magazines, newsletters, and reports, conducts research on science communication, science policy, innovation systems, science-society interaction, and science diplomacy.
