Rapid scientific advances and
technological changes have pervasive effects and many repercussions on social
structures and the daily life of individuals. These S&T advances and/or
changes have raised both expectations for increased well-being and concerns about
the possible risks associated with new technologies and their adverse effects
on the lifestyle, culture, economy and environment. It has also raised some
ethical and moral questions about the pursuit of science. There are
mal-practices (pseudoscience) in the name of science. In such a context, social
acceptance of new avenues for scientific research increasingly requires a
permanent dialogue with an informed civil society. This calls for efforts aimed
at a better understanding of S&T related issues by the public. Science
journalism is to play a great role in this regard. It offers opportunities to
learn about scientific advances throughout one’s life but in an informal
setting and can promote scientific awareness and scientific temper among the
masses and can serve for the cause of science popularization. No doubt,
presently it’s in the formative stage in developing countries like India. But
it has miles to go ahead and has many roles to play. Here are some important
ones:
a)
To inform
policy-makers and the public about science.
b)
To make aware/educate
the masses about S&T advances and their implications.
c)
To make the public
appreciate the benefits of science in long term.
d)
To familiarize the
public and the government about the pseudoscience and science frauds.
e)
To develop scientific
temper among the masses, especially children.
f)
To motivate and
inspire the young minds to take up science as their career.
g)
To help making the
practice of science a fair play and in the direction of development and global
prosperity.
h)
To improve the
standard of lifestyle.
i)
To eliminate the
blind-faiths, superstitions and ignorance still existing in the society.
j)
To generate support of
government and the public for science.
k)
To highlight the
problems of public, etc. for scientific resolution.
l)
To inform the public
and government about the implications of S&T or R&D.
m)
To break the monopoly
of scientists on the practice of science.
n)
To advocate the
appropriate sides in the scientific issues/controversies.
o)
To make a platform for
open discussion and debate on any scientific issue or development.
p)
To make the available
scientific knowledge ready for public consumption.
q)
To initiate public
debate on emerging issues of scientific importance which are relevant to the
people and are of their immediate concern so as to enable them to take informed
decisions to lead their life in a democratic society.
r)
To improve the
scientific literacy.
s)
To help people
developing scientific reasoning/thinking.
t)
To make science easily
accessible to the public in a jargon-free and comprehensive language.
u)
To commonise the
scientific culture and the scientific methodology among the public for use in
their day-to-day life.
v)
To educate masses so
that they can have a say in policy-making on S&T and the related issues, in
adopting new technologies or funding R&D.
w)
To equip the public
with the tools of scientific knowledge so that they can make better decisions
at personal level to make life better and easy.
x)
To generate science
literate and aware citizenry.
