Must encourage effective communication for scientific temperament: Manipur Dy. CM

Imphal: Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Yumnam Joykumar Singh on Tuesday said that effective communication should be encouraged for spreading scientific temperament among masses in the state.

He was speaking as chief guest at the inaugural session of a three-day training workshop for science communicators on Script Development/Writing at the auditorium of Manipur Science Centre at Takyelpat in Imphal.

The deputy CM said communicators should be able to convince people by using simple and easily understandable words while spreading scientific message to the people. He said there may not be problem in verbal communications but there have been difficulties in written communications. 

Singh added that the younger generation should be encouraged to learn things existing in nature. It will help them to imagine and think what science is all about.

Expressing concerns about less space given for scientific articles or messages even in local dailies, Singh asked the officials to start publication of scientific journals at the earliest to enable the science communicators to publish their writings on different topics. Using the internet will also be helpful for spreading scientific information, he added.

Former Vice Chancellor of Manipur University Prof. H.N.K. Sharma, while speaking at the session, said the role of science communicators are very important to spread scientific knowledge to the masses. Although there have been difficulties in spreading scientific information due to many reasons, communicators should always try to use simple words and minimize formulas and mathematical equations. Such workshops will be very helpful in developing easy techniques in disseminating scientific information to the society, Prof Sharma said.

MASTEC Director Dr L Dinachandra Singh said the MASTEC has been organizing such workshops especially for science communicators regularly since 1999. Eight such workshops had been organized in the state.

Director Science & Technology, Homila Hongrei also spoke on the inaugural session. Dr CM Nautiyal, Consultant (Science Communication), Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi, also spoke on the importance of science communicators in spreading scientific information to the masses. At least 52 participants are part of the three-day workshop. 

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