“scientists must use social media to spread correct information among young people” | Kolkata News
Kolkata: Science communicators should use social media to spread correct information about their work among young people and wean them off from misinformation and superstition, participants of the 14th Meeting of Science Communicators said on Friday.
The program was organized by the Indian Science News Association (ISNA) and Vigyan Prasar from the Department of Science and Technology, Rajabazar Meghnad Saha Auditorium, Rajabazar Science College.
Reflecting on how the reach of social media can be harnessed to deliver scientific information to the public in lucid, jargon-free language, an all-women panel discussed the contradictions between massive advances in science and technology. in India and a society still struggling with superstition.
“Science communicators should use social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, blogs, video streaming, Google Trends, virtual reality, gamification and smartphone apps to spread science information,” Moumita said. De Das, Assistant Professor in the Department of Media Studies at Adamas University.
Bakul Srimany, a professor in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication at Vijaygarh Jyotish Ray College, said Instagram was a key avenue for science communicators to tap into. “‘Scientists Selfies’ is a project on Instagram through which scientists try to improve their profile picture by interacting with followers,” Srimany said.
Ambika Ghosh, assistant professor in the Faculty of Media Science at the Heritage Academy, focused on the role of science communicators as conversation starters. “Use as many platforms as possible to popularize science,” she said during the program.
“INSA has been publishing a ‘Science and Culture’ journal for 89 years and has been running training programs on science communication and media practice since 1983,” said Prashanta Bose, chair of ISNA’s organizing committee.
ISNA’s e-paper, “Scientifica Communica”, was also launched at the event.
