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On February 18, 2008, the Innovation, Policy and Science (IPS) program area of IDRC organized the Seminar on “Communicating Science for a Better World: The Challenges”, with the participation of Geoff Barnard, Head of Information at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), at the University of Sussex in the UK; Jean-Marc Fleury, Executive Director of the World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ); and David Dickson, Founding director of SciDev.Net.

 

During the Seminar, moderated by Richard Isnor, Director IPS, the speakers gave to an audience of more than 60 people their view on how science communication and science journalism can become cornerstone for policymakers and stakeholders to access better and reliable information about science and technology issues for development.

 

In his presentation entitled “Taking research communication seriously”, Geoff Barnard from IDS addressed how more research outputs and information could get to a wider audience instead of being read just for a handful of specialists. He argued that there is a new way of conceiving research communication as an integral part of the whole research process and based on a new array of communication tools. Among his conclusions is that this new focus on research communications is long overdue and that taken seriously it’s going to transform the way research is done …and the impact it can have.

 

From Jean-Marc Fleury’s presentation (WFSJ) called “Journalism and Science for Development”, one could perceive that science journalism is a profession that practitioners need to love, care about, and consecrate to.  He made a review of the SJCOOP (Science Journalism Cooperation) Project the Federation is undertaking with support of IDRC among others. SJCOOP is meant to improve the quality of science reporting and provide training and networking for science journalists through peer-to-peer mentoring. Jean-Marc underlined how this model of mentor-mentee has provide the opportunity for many young journalists to improve their skills; to start working in news outlets; win journalism awards; and even become a mentor or create a career from science journalism.

 

In “The role of science communication in building systems of innovation”, David Dickson from SciDev.Net, argued that there has been a growing awareness that reliable information about science needs to be effectively communicated to both decision-makers and to the public if progress and development goals are to be achieved in an informed and democratic manner. To David, science communication is a transformative activity through which science and technology journalists, as well as other professional communicators, fulfil a task that is essential to building successful systems of innovation in the developing world. He described science communication’s role within the innovation systems paradigm as an activity which enables networks to operate more effectively through diffusion of information; increases good governance through monitoring and oversight; and provides mechanism for feedback and democratic expression of views. In this role is where SciDev.net fits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

                  

 

 

Below you will find the Powerpoint presentation of the guest speakers.

 

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