 Hello everyone, welcome to today's segment of discussion. Today we are going to discuss on the evolution of science communication in India, the ethics and laws which are concerned with science communication as well as a brief overview of environmental communication. And we have with us Dr. Manesh Kumar Patariya. He is a scientist. He was the director of National Council for Science and Technology Communication, Ministry of Science Technology in the Government of India. Welcome to our show, sir. Hello, thank you very much. Sir, today's discussion is basically about the evolution of science communication. Like how did it evolve? What are the genesis of it? What factors led to its evolvement? So could you just briefly elaborate on that? Science communication in general is very important for the common well-being of the society. And generally, the country is now facing various kinds of problems, be it illiteracy and general interest in taking science as a career among the youngesters is declining. There is insurgency in various areas, unrest among the youth. General recession, financial recession, although we have been able to overcome that very swiftly. But these are the issues. These are the problems. And the general people are lacking of important information confronting their day-to-day life, especially the scientific information. And by virtue of that, they can shape and save their lives. So in these perspectives, science communication is very, very important as far as the developing country, especially India, is concerned. How it came into being, that is very interesting to understand and to know. As a matter of fact, the development of science and technology itself has paved the way for the evolution of science and technology communication as a fundamental activity of humankind. You know communication is very important. It began from the body language and from the ancient kind of communication that we can call it the primitive aspects of communication, like communicating through signals, communicating through science, you can make some sign. So such kind of communications were available. But science communication can be attributed from the development of the fire churning technology. Fire was one of the greatest invention, innovation of humankind. Because prior to the innovation of fire, people used to eat the raw food. So they started roasting their food. They started cooking off their food. The innovation of fire churning technology that was spread all across the world, all across the country through a jungle, like a jungle fire news. So there were some sages who were able to develop some kind of technology that was called the fire churning technology. It consists of some kind of rod and some cavity and that rod has to be churned into the cavity. Then some rays of fire used to trigger and throw cotton, throw some dry leaves that fire was being used for cooking off the food. So that fire churning technology that was the first kind of communication channel that was being used for that can be attributed as a primitive kind of science and technology communication. Then came the spoken word, then language has been developed. Through language they were able to communicate. Then came the written word. They started writing on leaves, on barks and subsequently the paper was invented and they started writing on paper. So that is how the science communication has progressed. But one problem remains all the time of antiquity. The problem was that the scientific communication or what we call the knowledge communication was confined to a particular language and that language was never been the language of the common man. So there was a requirement how to convert that technological language or that literary language to the common man's language. So that interpretation was very very required and for that purpose we required communicators. These days this terminology of communication or communicators may not be in existence. There were interpreters, there were narrators in the royal courts, in the courts of royal kings. So there were interpreters. They used to interpret the scientific knowledge from the scientifically composed texts, interpret them to the king, to the people who are really the beneficiary of that knowledge. So there were three sets of people were available. One, the creators and custodians of the knowledge. Two, the narrators and communicators or interpreters of the knowledge. And third, the end users of that knowledge. So that prevailed for quite a long time. Then subsequently a proper system of communication has been developed. Newspapers came into being and through newspapers they started spreading scientific knowledge to the people and the science itself is a latest development and scientific temper is more latest development. So then subsequently there were editors, especially science editors, science reporters, science communicators. So they added to the process of science and technical communication. Prior to independence there were hardly any trained science communicators only in the science communication people came out of their passion, out of their inclination and out of their interest. And I am happy to learn from the history of science and technology communication, history of science and technology, especially the Indian National Science Academy they have brought out a concise history of science in India as well as they have brought out a concise history of technology development in India. These two books are very, very important while understanding the growth of science, growth of technology and growth of science and technology communication as far as Indian subcontinent is concerned. And from that I have learnt that over the period there were many activities they came into being like writing books. Dig Darshan was the first newspaper, recorded newspaper from West Bengal, from Sirampur, it was brought out in 1818. Initially it was being published in Bengali and some people say it was also translated in English. It was also translated in Hindi. So it was available in three languages and which is started giving some science articles. That was the first one. That was not the first science publication. That was the general publication, carrying some scientific information into them. And that information... The medium of language was in English or...? It was basically in Bengali. It was also available in English. It was also available in Hindi. Because the copies are not available of that publication but only it is learnt through some reports, through some publications, through some review articles. So that is the information we are able to gather. So this is how the science communication has progressed. Then prior to independence they came into being some societies. Like there was in Udisa, Udisa Bighyan Samiti was there. They have brought out some books. They have brought out some more publications. In Assam also, many such efforts were taken at individual level, at societal level and they have brought out various publications. Similarly, then after independence they came into being Kerala Shastra Sahitya Parishad, Karnataka Rajya Vighyan Parishad and Vighyan Parishad Prayag. They have started a science magazine called Vighyan in 1915. So since then it is continuing like a monthly, monthly popular science magazine. CSIR also started in 1952, Vighyan Prakati. Subsequently they started Science Reporter, then Science Kiduniya and Urdu, Science Reporter in English, Vighyan Prakati in Hindi. So that is how these publications and various popular science publications they progressed in a way so that they can cater to the common man's interest in science and technology communication. And in 1982, to coordinate and to motivate and to bring all these efforts under one umbrella, Government of India has decided to constitute a body in the name of National Council for Science and Technology Communication in 1982 that has formally started working in 1984. Since then, this organization is bringing all of them together and combining all the efforts of science and technology communication in seven major areas. One, the training imparting for any kind of work we require trained manpower, so as in science and technology communication. So one aspect is very important that is training. The council provides training. It catalyzes and supports various training programs, short term training, immediate training, long term training with the help of various institutions, various organizations, NGOs, universities, scientific organizations. The second one is development of science and technology software. Software has nothing to do with this computer software. It is not computer software. Software means any material that contains a scientific information. It could be a CD, it could be a book, it could be a TV script, it could be a radio script, it could be a cassette. So whatever stuff printed or in the form of digital communication, if it carries some scientific information, it is called science software. So NCSTC, apart from training programs, it also promotes development of proper science software in various languages. Incidentally, we have 22 regional languages. So we are not only responsible for only one or two languages. We are responsible for the entire country. So we are promoting science software development in various languages and not only in basic areas but applied areas also. So all scientific issues, all scientific aspects, they are covered under this area. Third one is networking. Networking is the buzzword, the key word in today's global scenario. Unless we have the right kind of networks, we are unable to reach to the noxious corners of the country. So for doing so, we have evolved networks at local level, at state level, at national level as well as in the international level. Networks of individuals. Like we have a network in the form of Indian Science Writers Association. ISWA. And that is a professional body of science communicators of the country. You need to become a member of that to get access to it. Yes, if you like, you can access the website. Anyone can become a member of that? Anyone, if you have an inclination, if you have proven ability, if you have published some articles, you have broadcast some articles or some talks or you have given some TV shows especially on science and technology communication, it should be evident from your work. So if you get all these things together, then you can apply and then definitely it's, they hold meetings from time to time and they will give you the membership. Apart from NCCC network, we have yet another network in the country that is also a very important network that is called All India People Science Network, AIPSN. What is it called in Delhi? It's generally it originated from Kerala and yes, some people they stay in Delhi, they have some offices in Delhi also but it is moving. Sometimes they organize their conference. Incidentally couple of years back they have organized a conference in Govahati. It takes place once in two years almost. So from time to time they organize a conference and bring all the science communicators, science communication, professional science communication organizations together to discuss and churn out some new ways and means for making science communication more effective. And apart from that, we have also yet another international network that is called International Network on Public Communication of Science and Technology. And recently last year in 2010, December, we have organized an international conference with participation of something like 600 people from 53 countries in New Delhi and the topic wise science communication without frontiers. And so these are the various networks and prior to that we have organized another international conference under the umbrella of International Network on Hands on Science because to trigger an interest among the younger students we have to use the hands on experimental things. So for doing so, we are part of this network also and Ahmedabad in 2009 we have organized the sixth international conference on Hands on Science with participation of something like 300 people altogether. So that is how this science communication is growing simultaneously in the world as well as in the country in India. And NCSTC being a nodal agency is taking role and so these are some of the areas and now we are trying to emphasize not only on training and software development part but also networking. So third point was networking. Fourth point is policy making. So NCSTC is also responsible for making policies on various aspects of science and technology communication like what elements should be covered in science and technology communication like sometime we come across various superstitions, various problems incidentally we have devised a program for wiping out these superstitions in the name of such to kuch aur hai. I mean seeing is not always believing. Generally it is believed that seeing is believing but through this activity we try to prove it seeing is not always believing. So that kind of program is becoming very, very popular especially in the far flung areas of the country and now as a result we have been able to observe some changes if someone goes into the villages, deeper into the villages and try to just be full the people through their tricks they say no, no, we know all these things, all these things don't do it here, go away. So that is how these changes are taking place through efforts of science and technology communication. Then a special program on environmental communication we have devised. Women component program because women's are very, very important the first half of the society. So we are trying to focus on women oriented program as well. So these are various areas of science and technology communication activities taking into place in the country and we are also well aware of the international scenario and we are trying to develop some international programs collaborative programs with various countries and this year we are working on a joint project with Brazil and as part of this program we will be organizing a workshop in India and simultaneously in Brazil to train the proper policy makers and stakeholders and bring all of them together to exchange to have exchange program because we might have developed some new modules like Vigyan Jattha is the Indian innovation. So some other countries if they wish to utilize this activity so we can provide the technical know-how or the knowledge. Similarly if they might have developed some new kind of methodology for science communication we can bring that to our home country. So that is how we are developing the exchange programs for respecting the science and technology communication. So these are some of the areas I thought to share with all of you so that you have an understanding that how the science communication has progressed and evolved and now shaping taking various shapes and various directions as far as Indian scenario and international scenario is concerned. You have talked about like the government's role and different organizations are there. What about the private organizations? I mean are they also contributing the same way and about the NGOs? I mean which are the major areas these NGOs or private organizations are working upon? Are they spread all the length and breadth of the country or in a particular localized area they are doing? Okay so I think that is a very very important question and while describing the evolution of science and technology communication I have mentioned some NGOs already I have mentioned some NGOs and these NGOs are already part of our whole campaign all campaign of science and technology communication and one element I wanted to bring over here that is that is called the CSR Corporate Social Responsibility This most of the companies they have Yeah so between the government sector, private sector and the NGO sector we have very very potential sector the corporate sector and corporate sector is the one they have the funds, they have the infrastructure so at the same time they are using they are using our water, they are using air they are polluting air, they are doing all these things they are using various resources, natural resources other countries resources so they have the responsibility to serve the people and take care of their interest as well so as part of that CSR corporates social responsibility they are doing some kind of program and we are joining hands with them like with CII Confederation of Indian Industry we have developed some programs on science communication even Intel has also come forward for a program on innovation and we organize some fairs on innovation subsequently it is national level fair then our participants they also get the opportunity to participate in the international innovation fairs as well so these are some of the programs we are now taking place and especially the NGO sector because NGO are they require funding they require funds, they do not have their own funds government organizations give them funds yes so they also come forward and joining hands for taking up various kinds of programs and whatever activities NCSTC or some other organizations the government organizations are organizing definitely they are organizing through the NGOs and through state governments as well because when we want to spread the message of science and technology we require various hands and our hands our arms are state council of science and technology in various states of the country NGOs, universities, scientific and research organizations private sector, corporate sector all of them they come under one umbrella for the common cause of science and technology so there is like a private public partnership oh yes why do you go for this in the science communication and we are trying to enhance these activities also because this is the time we can promote public-private partnership as well and these are the areas where we can explore more opportunities and go much deeper and in a much bigger perspective okay now like we are quite well aware of the different laws as well as the ethics which are related to media and like we have different laws even I think in science communication we have such laws so can you just briefly elaborate one or two laws and how are they applicable in science communication what are the benefits that they give for instance we have this Indian patent law so for this purpose like we give patent to those people who go for innovations and discoveries or something else these laws and ethics are very very important especially when it comes to science communication profession and one of the important thing is the copyright act copyright act is also very important as far as science technology communication is concerned generally as I sometimes used to say that science communicators or science writers they are generally blamed or criticized for plagiarizing the things because they generally it is understood that they generally collect information these are not the creative communication like writing a poem, writing a story so these are the creative kind of communications creative kinds of literary materials they come from within but here he requires some information he requires some scientific inputs so these inputs have to be collected from various publications through internet through various documents and these documents can be referred properly sometimes it happens that if you take information as it is so that comes under the that is infringement of the copyright act so what is the suggestion what would be the suggestion for the science communicators or the science writers you collect the information you are free to take the information but that information you should be able to interpret in your own words that is very important you should not take as it is and don't blame the other your trainers that you have told that you can collect information from primary sources incidentally there are four kinds of sources of collecting information number one is primary sources primary sources they are known as research papers thesis patent specifications or scientist himself or herself who is conducting the research in the laboratory on his or her own area the scientist is the primary source his research paper because research paper is written by the scientist himself who has conducted the research himself or herself research paper is the primary source then thesis you have done PhD and you have written your thesis so you are the originator you are the creator of that knowledge in your thesis so you could be attributed as the primary source so always we keep on suggesting to science communicators always go for the primary source don't go for the secondary tertiary or other sources of communication because the primary sources are only reliable sources if you go to tertiary and other sources there is it is likely that the information gets distorted so you should not be you should not take the responsibility of distorting the information so it happens it is a natural process sometime it happens because if you take information from the newspaper suppose newspaper is the worst source source of writing and article newspaper you can take a cue if something happened there is some news break you can take that only but for collecting the scientific information you have to refer the original source the original data that is the research paper even encyclopedia is not the primary source encyclopedia is considered to be authentic but encyclopedia is not written by the same scientist who has conducted the research the encyclopedia article has been written by a professional by a professional who might have not conducted the research himself or herself so encyclopedia also comes under the secondary tertiary sources then your secondary sources are semi-technical kind of communication like your various various magazines are there they are semi-technical half of the stuff is on research and half of the stuff is on popular like writing technical reports technical reports is neither popular nor primary so these are the sources available for the primary sources of communication and don't go for the secondary tertiary or other sources of communication even internet is not considered to be the authentic source of communication sometimes we tend to collect information from the internet that is not a good practice always go if you find the original research paper in the internet that is fine but from internet you cannot collect information from here and there or from some unreliable websites or unreliable sources so suppose if you are taking information from a reliable sources so always give it's credit that is very important and don't copy the material as it is just try to convert it into your own language so that is the way how we can overcome the problem of the copyright act and copyright is for writing book reviews and if you are taking some excerpts of that book it doesn't come under the category of copyright similarly in digital in electronic media also if you are taking something like some 10 second stuff if you are taking it also doesn't come under the copyright act so there are some exemption also but generally if you are taking some information you are liable to give some credit to them so that is one then comes the patent act patent act is also very important suppose some innovator something and you being a media person the innovator approaches you or you approach the innovator for a coverage of his innovation and if you are giving the coverage in the media now three elements come in your way and as well as in the way of the innovator number one the innovator might have invented something that someone else might have invented earlier who knows then he or she can claim that he is the first and two innovator not this gentleman then you are in the problem and that innovator is in the problem number one number two second problem is as per the patent act any innovation what is already published that cannot be patented so by way of publicizing his innovation you are in fact generally diminishing the possibilities of his patenting eventual patenting he will be unable to get the patent for his innovation if it is published because the idea is something is published so after reading after viewing after watching there could be many claimants of that innovation incidentally when Graham Bell the innovator of telephone he invented the telephone and he did a mistake he demonstrated his model in an exhibition and after watching that model in the exhibition something like 100 patent applications already in the patent office before Graham Bell himself applied for a patent and he had to fight a long battle finally he won and he had to prove that he is the first and true inventor but there was a long battle long hassles he had to face to avoid all of them the publication of an innovation unless you have a patent certificate in your hands so always as a media person you always ask an innovator you show your patent certificate so if he or she possesses a patent certificate valid patent certificate only then you go for its publication there is no hurry for that so that has to be taken care of even he is a true and first innovator if you publicize that there are chances that he should not get for his innovation various aspects are attached to it and whenever you are reporting new research so ask for research paper generally what happens some research is going on but that research may not be patented research cannot be patented in general because patents are a different innovations research is not patentable research is validated by the peers who are the contemporary scientists who are the experts in that area they validate that research suppose you have done some research this research is being published in the form of a research paper research paper has a peer review system journal has a peer review system then research paper is sent to various reviewers reviewers give their reports and accordingly that research paper is being published so unless the research paper is published you cannot publicize that research also because that research is yet to be validated by the experts in that particular area so be careful about all these issues so these are some of the laws you must take into consideration similarly there is one environmental protection act environmental protection act also helps you to give the information that is reliable so always go for a reliable information similarly there is atomic energy act atomic energy act prohibits you giving the interior information of a nuclear plant in the media you cannot enter a nuclear plant unless you have a valid permission for that although it is a government establishment but you cannot enter over there at the same time you cannot give the internal internal information the structure you can give the scientific information involved but for a particular plant this particular plant has this kind of this thing and these are the interiors these are the length, width and all the technical details you are not supposed to give so reference from infringing all these such acts and that is important these are the scientific acts and science communicators must be aware of all of them so thank you sir so much for your healthy and very description regarding the development of science communication in India as well as the discussions regarding the laws which are concerned with science communication and a little part of environmental communication so thank you once again for being in the studio with us thank you very much and thank you to you all