The CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (NIScPR), New Delhi, hosted a workshop on 23 February 2024 at CSIR-NIScPR, Pusa, New Delhi, aimed to equip the Science Media Communication Cell (SMCC) with effective strategies to communicate science and technology related information about Indian science to the public.

Dr Dipendra Mazumder, Faculty, National Academy of Broadcasting and Multimedia (NABM), Prasar Bharati, shared his experiences on “Communicating S&T information effectively via radio,” highlighting the power of this medium to reach diverse audiences across the nation. He elaborated on the activities of All India Radio to effectively communicate science to the public.

Ms Rakhee Bakshee, Communication Advisor, Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), offered valuable insights on “The role of short videos and reels in communicating science,” emphasising the growing importance of engaging, short, precise and crispy content in today’s digital age. She said that we need to be careful about growing misinformation on social media and how we should tackle it by verifying the information with an instant fact check.

Dr BK Tyagi, Renowned Science Communicator, focused on “Communicating science through traditional folk Media”. He showcased the power of leveraging familiar cultural expressions to connect with communities and promote scientific understanding. He described examples of how to approach, communicate and present scientific information through traditional folk media.

Dr Sujit Bhattacharya, Chief Scientist and officiating Director, CSIR-NIScPR, emphasised the importance of effective science communication in bridging the gap between scientific research and the public. “This workshop equips the SMCC with the necessary tools and strategies to disseminate complex S&T information in a clear, engaging, and accessible manner”. He also suggested a peer-review committee of scientists & experts for social media content-related fact-checking.

The workshop provided the SMCC with a comprehensive understanding of diverse communication channels and techniques, enabling to tailor approach to reach specific audiences and foster greater public engagement with science.

Dr Naresh Kumar, Head, Project Monitoring and Evaluation Division of CSIR-NIScPR, emphasised the significance of the Science Media Communication Cell (SMCC) and its role in disseminating Indian R&D breakthroughs to various media platforms. Dr Manish Mohan Gore, Scientist, CSIR-NIScPR and Principal Investigator, SMCC provided a brief outline of the mandate of SMCC, its key activities and orientation workshop to motivate the participants about science communication. Staff members of SMCC, as well as PhD students, actively participated in the workshop and learnt a lot from the experts.