Various aspects of science and technology were discussed and brain storming session was held on the application of media and social media in science communication on the second day of the 10th Uttarakhand State Science and Technology Congress at the Vigyan Dham campus of the Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology (UCOST) in Dehradun on Thursday.
In the session on status of research and development in higher education, speakers stressed on the need for driving sustained innovation. Stress was also laid on research and development on issues of the mountain State in various sectors. Identifying
R&D constraints in the State’s higher education system, exploring possibilities for resource sharing, scientific validation of traditional knowledge system and implementing R&D for exploring, augmenting, developing and utilising clean energy resources were among the recommendations made in this session. Experts and young scientists presented their research work on 16 subjects apart from the brain storming session. Speakers pointed out to the degradation of natural resources followed by environmental pollution which has affected the earth as seen in the global climatic changes. Consumerism-fanning and science marginalising medium is also a factor related to the climatic imbalance. Noted science writer Devendra Mewari spoke on varied aspects of communicating science while also stressing on the need for building rapport between the scientific and journalistic fraternities. Independent science journalist P Sunderarajan, journalists Rajeev lochan Shah, SS Bhatia, Jyotirmay Thapliyal, Neha Pant and Paritosh Kimothi from The Pioneer among others also expressed their views on the occasion. Expressing concern over growing commercialisation of media and decreasing space or importance being accorded to scientific reports, the speakers elicited focus on the need for simplifying communication to convey correct information without boring the reader with jargon and academics.
The UCOST director general Rajendra Dobhal also expressed his views on the role of media and other aspects of science and communication at the brain storming session.