Research Papers/Articles - Institute of Management Studies Dehradun

Scientific Temper, Science Communication and Development
ABSTRACT
Late Jawahar Lal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister maintained that modern life is an offspring of science
and technology. Nehru had the vision to recognize the importance of science and technology in the social
and economic development of a Nation much before our country gained independence. Since
independence, Science and Technology developments in India has come a long way but the fact remains
that a sizeable section of India’s population is still deprived of the benefits of Science & Technology.
Therefore, need of the hour is to communicate science to the people as science communication can play
an important role in the speedy development of the Nation by inculcating scientific temper among the
masses.
Key words: Scientific Temper, Science Communication, Science, Technology, Development, Masses
Introduction
Media, all over the world play a significant role in covering
the controversial issues such as climate change, cloning,
Genetic Modified food or nuclear energy. India too has
had its share of public scientific controversies in Bt brinjal,
123 Nuclear Agreement with USA and recent Kudankulam
Nuclear Power Plant. These public scientific controversies
have also highlighted the tension that exists between
scientific experts and the general public. Masses are often
blamed for not having enough understanding about
scientific matters and thus taking an erroneous stand on
such issues.
Media too strategically frame the news according to their
editorial policies. Overall what one witnesses today is a
growing mistrust between scientists and the public as well
as between scientists and the media. Though, researches
suggest a growing interest in science, the fact remains that
majority of the people feel left out of the business of
science both in terms of understanding and also their
agreement on the way science is being practiced today.
The Constitution of India through Article 51 A (h) under
Fundamental Duties prescribes that, “It shall be the duty of
every citizen of India to develop the scientific temper,
humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform”. The term
scientific temper is the creation of Pandit Jawahar Lal
Nehru, India’s first prime minister. In fact Nehru had the
vision to recognize the importance of science and
technology in the social and economic development of a
nation much before our country gained independence. It
would not be wrong to assume that a society without
scientific temper would be at a loss when it comes to
deciding the scientific and technological priorities. In order
to effectively participate in decision making, the general
public need to understand science and its implications as
well as the impact of new technologies on society and
environment. It is only through communicating science
that we can aim at making the general public scientifically
literate.
The Present Scenario
* Associate Professor, Dept. of Mass Communication, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh
Afrina Rizvi*
Unfortunately, in most societies, science and technology
are seen as specialized areas of study meant only for a few
gifted individuals. This inevitably leads to public ignorance
of the complexities of scientific developments and even
indifference to its implications. Surveys in the Western
world too present a dismal picture of the scientific literacy
of the masses. Of course there are people who accept the
ideas of science. But this acceptance has less to do with
conviction than with the human urge to comply with a
dominant ‘truth’.
Little help is gained by the fact that the style of science
teaching at schools and the feeling of alienation are
inextricably linked. Most education in science avoids
personalities and gives less emphasis to the process of
science.
"Pragyaan: Journal of Mass Communication" Volume 10, Issue 1, June 2012 47