Presentation at Workshop organzied by COSTI and Sci Dev Net on 27 May 2014: Mainstreaming Science and Technology and Innovation for Public communication

1. Science Communication in Sri
Lanka: A Critical Analysis
Prof Hiran Amarasekera
University of Sri Jayewardenepura

2. 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"

3. 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)

4. Communication between Scientists
• Scientific conferences, symposia, workshops
etc.
• Scientific journals (or magazines)
• Lecture series in scientific institutions

5. Science conferences, Symposia
Many events but
materials are not
published (on the
web)

6. Science conferences, Symposia
• Forestry and Environment Symposium since
1995

7. Science Peer-reviewed Journals
Only NSF Journal is indexed in
Science Citation Index

8. How to publish when we do not
have information?

9. How to get world ranking when we
do not publish?

10. How to get ranking?

11. How to
get
ranking?

12. 2011 –12 Subject areas in Sri Lanka

13. 2011 –12 Subject areas in Singapore

14. Need to put more offline data
online

15. Need to put more offline data
online

16. 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)

18. Who - Sri Lankan scientists and
science writers
• Bandusela de Silva (edited
• Late Dr: Upali M. Senanayaka,
• Athula Manchanayaka
• Dr. William de Alwis
• K. Ariyasinghe

19. 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

20. Science Communicators

21. Three forms of science
communication
• Traditional journalism;
• Live or face-to-face events,
• Online interactions
• Bultitude, K. (2011) “Why and How of Science
Communication”

22. Traditional Journalism
• Newspapers
• Magazines
• TV
• Radio

23. 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

24. Vidusara
• Launched in 1987 by Upali Newspapers

25. 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

26. How to get to TV prime time
news?
Eg As in Rice
1. Basic science and specialized Newspapers
(University websites?)
1. National News Papers
2. TV News

27. Face to face events
• Public lectures, Orations
• School Science days
• Science Centres and Museums
• Debates & dialogue
• Science Festivals

28. Public Lectures, orations
• Very few attend
• Routine events by
professional
organizations
• No media publicity
• Outcome not
published

29. School Science Days
• Very popular but …………
• Topics selected by teachers and students
based on global issues

30. Science centers and Museums

31. Science @ Exhibitions
• Dayata Kirula 2014

32. NSF Science and Engineering Fair
Need to promote in School
science days

33. Communicating to School Children
Science camps

34. School Science Program by NSF
Science projects

35. Universities organize mega cultural
events

36. Community events by University
students
• U of Kelaniya
students
donate
chemicals
and practical
knowledge
to rural
schools

37. 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.

38. Online - issues
• Visibility is less
• Many sites not updates
• Universities need to publish research news
• Current topics are missing

41. Visibility of Science on Web

42. Visibility of Science on Web

43. 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

44. • 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).

45. Current issues (Topics)

46. CKDu

47. Dengue in Sri Lanka

48. Ratupaswala wate acidity

49. Wallapatta

50. Media: Is there a place for science?