Inaugural fellowship for journalists at IISER commences with session on art & science

Explaining why science communication is important not just for the public but for scientists as well, Professor DasGupta said at the panel discussion, “The basic science that we do often is paid for by the taxpayer, right? And they’re so basic that often those things, those research ideas don’t lead to tangible products that the public can actually use. Obviously basic science has its value because you don’t know when it’s come to fruition and give us something incredible, but science communication is, I think, the best way to directly tell the taxpayer whether or not and here’s why the science that they’re funding is important.”

Professor Manna stressed the importance of not being held back by scientific terms while reporting on scientific issues. “If you are asking someone from Kolkata who is living in South City what is the effect of climate change, they will say ‘no, I don’t feel that I haven’t seen (it).’ But if you are asking someone from Rajasthan village, they do not know the term climate change, but they will just say, we do not have water. ‘Climate crisis’, that term, they don’t have. So we have to be inclusive first of all,” he said.

He added, “If something is happening in your village, report that. Like the ground water. Ground water is going down. You can report that. You really do not need some expert to tell ground water is going down.”

Professor DasGupta also stressed that more scientists should practice science communication along with their science. He said, “Science journalists will always exist. (But) Practicing scientists are in the trenches; they know the nuances and they know the boundaries of their research.”

On the fellowship, Professor Sunil S Bhagwat, Director, IISER Pune, said “As an institution committed to shaping thought leadership in science and society, IISER Pune sees the VOICE Fellowship as an important step toward strengthening informed public discourse on climate and health.” The first cohort comprises over 40 grassroots journalists and storytellers selected from across India. Further sessions will be conducted by experts like Professor Madhav Gadgil, Dr Kavindra Khaiwal, Dr Shraddha Karve, and others