Science Communication in Sri Lanka: A Critical Analysis

Science Communication in Sri Lanka: A Critical Analysis

Prof Hiran AmarasekeraUniversity of Sri Jayewardenepura

Communication by Arahat Mahinda to King Dewanampiyathissa – 2500 years ago

• "0 great King, the birds of the air and the beasts of the land have has equal right to live and more about in any part of the land as thou. The land belongs to the people and all living beings; thou art only the guardian of it"

Science communication Two types

• Communication between scientists (e.g. through scientific journals)

• Presenting science-related topics to non-experts (Popularization) – by professional scientists – by professional communicators (Science

Journalists)

Communication between Scientists

• Scientific conferences, symposia, workshops etc.

• Scientific journals (or magazines)• Lecture series in scientific institutions

Science conferences, Symposia

Many events but materials are not published (on the web)

Science conferences, Symposia

• Forestry and Environment Symposium since 1995

Science Peer-reviewed Journals

Only NSF Journal is indexed in Science Citation Index

How to publish when we do not have information?

How to get world ranking when we do not publish?

How to get ranking?

How to get ranking?

2011 –12 Subject areas in Sri Lanka

2011 –12 Subject areas in Singapore

Need to put more offline data online

Need to put more offline data online

Who - Sri Lankan scientists and science writers

• Dr. E .W Adikaram (Editor- "Naweena Vidya Sagarawa")

• Dr. M.W Karunananda,• Dr. Buddhadasa Bodinayaka (editor- "Vidya

sagarawa"),• Danasiri Bodinayaka (editor-''Vidunena", Lake

house Publication)• Prof. Nandadasa Kodagoda (UNESCO Kalinga Price

winner)

Who - Sri Lankan scientists and science writers

• Bandusela de Silva (edited• Late Dr: Upali M. Senanayaka,• Athula Manchanayaka• Dr. William de Alwis• K. Ariyasinghe

Who - Sri Lankan scientists and science writers

• Edwin Ariyadasa,• Perci Jayamanna• D. Amarasinghe• R.D.J, Athapaththu• Late Mahinda Ranaweera• Benadikt Dodampegama • Prof Carlo Fonseka

• Science Communication - Yesterday, Today an Tomorrow by Dr Jayantha Wattavidanage. Vidurawa 27 (1)

Science Communicators

Three forms of science communication

• Traditional journalism;• Live or face-to-face events,• Online interactions

• Bultitude, K. (2011) “Why and How of Science Communication”

Traditional Journalism

• Newspapers• Magazines• TV• Radio

Traditional Journalism in Sri Lanka

• "Vidya dipa".• "Vidusara" from 1987, was edited by Anura

Siriwardana and now by Rajendra Kulasinghe • ''Vidurawa" from 1976 by National Science

Foundation

Vidusara

• Launched in 1987 by Upali Newspapers

Traditional Journalism in Sri Lanka

• "Nawayugaya"• Dr. E.W Adikaram edited the science bulletin for" Lankadeepa" weekly, and later it was edited by Thusitha Mallalaseakara.• "Wijaya", "Mihira" and womens new papers; "• Tharuni", " Sirikatha" and " Nawaliya".• "Samudura", which is distributed with the "Lakbima" newspaper

How to get to TV prime time news?Eg As in Rice

1. Basic science and specialized Newspapers(University websites?)

2. National News Papers

3. TV News

Face to face events

• Public lectures, Orations • School Science days • Science Centres and Museums• Debates & dialogue• Science Festivals

Public Lectures, orations

• Very few attend• Routine events by

professional organizations

• No media publicity• Outcome not

published

School Science Days

• Very popular but …………• Topics selected by teachers and students

based on global issues

Science centers and Museums

Science @ Exhibitions

• Dayata Kirula 2014

NSF Science and Engineering Fair

Need to promote in School science days

Communicating to School ChildrenScience camps

School Science Program by NSFScience projects

Universities organize mega cultural events

Community events by University students

• U of Kelaniya students donate chemicals and practical knowledge to rural schools

Online

• Internet sites incl. online journalism• Blogs, wikis and podcasting• Facebook, twitter and other social media• Citizen Science movement - Involving public

directly in research, usually via online.

Online - issues

• Visibility is less• Many sites not updates• Universities need to publish research news• Current topics are missing

Visibility of Science on Web

Visibility of Science on Web

Citizen Science

• Involving public directly in research, usually via online

• For data gathering exercises or • Data analysis

• Eg- Bird watchers reporting bird observations – U of Colombo

• Gradual shift in policy discourse from keywords such as ‘popularisation’ and ‘public understanding of science’

• to ‘dialogue’, ‘engagement’ and ‘participation’.

• Bucchi, M & Trench, B (eds) (2008) Handbook of Public Communication of Science and Technology (London & New York: Routledge).

Current issues (Topics)

CKDu

Dengue in Sri Lanka

Ratupaswala wate acidity

Wallapatta

Media: Is there a place for science?