5th National Seminar on Physics and Emerging Sciences July 4-5, 2017 Allama Iqbal Open University Islamabad

Invited Lecture Science & Society Increasing Science Public Value By Improving Science Communication Dr. Syed Javaid Khurshid Visiting Research Fellow, Center of International Strategic Studies (CISS)

Science & Society Scientist are seen as Cold How to overcome this stereotype-there is disconnect in our society Science has lot to offer to the society Science should be seen as trusted on its merits Society need scientists - who can communicate to the non scientists

What is Science Communication? Science communication generally refers to public communication presenting science-related topics to non-experts or non-scientist. Science has great potential to do much more, but its public value depends on how well scientific information is communicated. While evolving communicative technologies – we have to change communicative behaviors and expectations -- scientific communities have been slow to adapt to these changes. As a result there are instances where scientific findings that could improve quality of life are masked by more sensational claims that are inconsistent with the evidence

Current Realities: Scientific research has revolutionized medicine, transformed industry, altered food production, and changed how, with whom & how fast we communicate. Science has altered quality of life. Science tells how our actions can & can’t affect our environment. People in many parts of the world are learning and using scientific methods. In the “pre-Internet” era, people who want information about scientific research, had to approach the scientist directly. Science Communication had made it easy where few Science communicators can play a strong role. Scientists who know a lot about something–would be able to talk to a non scientist

Scientific opportunities and challenges Science has significant unrealized value producing potential Science has been slow to adapt to these changes Scientists face increased competition in the public sphere The most important is to achieve UN 17 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs) essential for development and to remove poverty. These goals can not be achieved without the help of scientific innovations

Policy Issues: Few scientists are trained to communicate the value of what they do, to researchers outside of their subfields or disciplines. Most scientists have even less experience communicating with potential nonacademic beneficiaries of scientific research. Scientist need to develop greater knowledge of how to more effectively serve society and important public. Scientific funding agencies and universities can incentivize such expertise. To maximize impact, science communicators must become more skilled at finding the intersection between the knowledge scientist create and the types of information audiences’ desire.

what people actually understand

How to popularize Science Communication Science communication can be popularize through: Academia Industry Public

Academia Academia - In universities of Pakistan “Science Communication” is not treated as a subject. Scientific societies, universities, and research groups can foster excellence by creating, competitive grant programs to support skill development. Federal funding agencies can also look to key policies, such as broader impacts criteria and requirements for trainee career development.

Academia Continued….. Interested parties need mechanisms for: 1) finding each other, 2) building and accessing shared repositories of information; and 3) engaging in discussion. The exchanges of ideas, requires both technology infrastructure and human resources. Institutions and individuals should leverage digital communication and collaboration platforms and periodic in-person conferences.

Academia Continued….. Develop best practices for narrative persuasion. Education reform is time and resource-intensive, and requires appropriate design and evaluation. Those developing workshops and courses should work with academics specializing in communication and curriculum design to develop consensus around the core knowledge, skills, and attitudes Training is intended to impart knowledge, and how to evaluate the knowledge

Industry & Public Industry - There is no qualified human resource for science communication in media organizations. (Print/Electronic) Public - In Pakistan “Science Communication” is not practiced therefore, therefore the benefit of scientific findings are not popularizing and utilized effectively for the benefit of the society.