National Centre for Science Communicators Vidnyan Bhavan, V.N. Purav Marg, Sion-Chunabhatti, Mumbai 400022. Tel. :091-22-24054714/6268 Fax. 091-22-24056268 Website: www.ncscmum.org

From the Editor's Desk

Hello everyone! It has been a long time since we have communicated. Yet science just does not stop and stare. It is progressive and newer developments and happenings go on.

It was in January 2013 last year that India's new Science Technology and Innovation (STI) policy was put forward by our Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the centenary celebrations of Indian Science Congress. Taking that into consideration the National Centre for Science Communicators (NCSC), Mumbai organized a National conference jointly with Punjab State Council of Science and Technology (PSCST), Chandigarh on Public Understanding and Public Engagement with Science Technology and

Innovation. The conference was held on February 15 and 16, 2014 at the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), Mumbai.

The year 2014 has been fruitful in terms of science development for India. On January 5, 2014, ISRO's GSLV, the Indian-made cryogenically-powered rocket blasted off from the southern spaceport of Sriharikota. The 415-tonne rocket deployed a two-tone advanced communications satellite 17 minutes after blast-off. We have now joined the elite club of countries which have mastered the complex technology. The powerful booster technology uses super-cooled liquid fuel. The technology would now help India to launch commercial satellites in future.

The science world celebrated Albert Einstein's birthday on March 14. The theoretical physicist was born on this day in 1879 in Germany. An interesting piece of information is that March 14 is celebrated as the Pi Day commemorating the mathematical constant pi. On this day when math connoisseurs in USA gather to eat pie and discuss the importance of numbers.

We have a lot of news to convey to you. Our NCSC members and science communicators have been working very hard towards communicating science to society at large. We congratulate and accolade all those who have fulfilled the goal of science popularization, the motto of NCSC.

NCSC is striving hard to move forward in complying towards reaching out science to masses using every form of communication. Here is the list of all the science communication activities carried out by NCSC members during the year 2013- 2014.

Happy Reading!

Dr. Parul R. Sheth

NCSC

Newsletter

1NCSC Newsletter - April 2014

April 2014

Dr. Parul R. Sheth

A report on National conference by Suhas Naik-Satam, Dr. Parul Sheth and Dr. A. P. Jayaraman

The National conference on "Public Understanding and Public Engagement with Science, Technology and Innovation" was held on 15th and 16th February, 2014 at the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, Mumbai. The conference was jointly organised by Punjab State Council for Science & Technology (PSCST), Chandigarh and the National Centre for Science Communicators (NCSC), Mumbai.

Dr.Parul Sheth, Science Communicator, and Treasurer with the National Centre of Science Communicators, Mumbai, in her opening remarks mentioned that the aim of the conference was to focus on the various modes of science communication in order to engage the general public with science, technology and innovation.

Dr Suresh Mahajan. former Head, Molecular Biology and Agricultural Division, BARC, Gharda Professor of Biotechnology, Institute of Science, Mumbai, inaugurated the conference and delivered a keynote address. In his incisive and insightful keynote address he gave an exposition of the impact of innovation in developing countries undergoing globalization. He warned of the pressures to commercialize research results of foreign countries in developing countries with scant regard for indigenous regulatory agencies. He cited examples of such practices in bt-brinjal, cotton and bovine growth hormone. He exhorted science communicators to focus on innovation and keep vigil.

Dr. Neelam Gulati Sharma, Director for Popularizing science in the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology, Chandigarh presented a helicopter view of the multifarious SciCom initiatives in Punjab to bridge the knowledge gap.

She said Science communication is the need of the hour and the only way to enlighten the masses is by inculcating scientific temper to bring them in the main stream of development. She discussed how this can be done by using different media i.e. print, electronic and digital as well as traditional folk forms.

She reflected on the remarkable highlights of SciCom programs pertaining tothe thrust areas of provision of safe potable water, campaigns to eradicate superstitions and expose fake “miracles”, social intervention against foeticide and creating awareness against substance abuse.

2NCSC Newsletter - April 2014

From (L to R): Dr. Parul R. Sheth, Mr. A. P. Deshpande, Dr. Suresh Mahajan, Dr. Neelam Gulati Sharma

Attentive audience

Dr. Suresh Mahajan giving the keynote address Dr. Neelam Gulati Sharma

In the session on communicating science through print and electronic media, Mr. Mrityunjay Bose, Assistant Editor, Sakal Media Group, Mumbai lamented the absence of dedicated science correspondents in the Media and the editorial disdain for science news.

He remarked that frankly speaking, the government is doing better than the private sector, for instance Science Reporter. Doordarshan and AIR have been beaming scientific programmes. Current Science publishes scientific papers and often PTI or UNI release some of the interesting stories from it by simplifying it. He ended his presentation mentioning that the scientific community needs to start speaking the language of the common man,

Mr.Biman Basu, former editor, Science Reporter, NISCAIR, CSIR, New Delhi, while speaking onpopular science magazines traced the growth trajectory of science magazines and outlined the history of Science Reporter and dynamic sustainability. He mentioned that a popular science magazine is one of the most effective media for dissemination of newest developments in science and technology. They are easily accessible and provide a broad-based platform for popular treatment of wide-ranging science disciplines not available through scholarly journals. Popular science magazines can present scientific issues in a way not possible through any other print media.

Mr. K.V.S.Seshasai, CEO, Zee Learn, Mumbai talked on science communication through television. He said one of the popular images associated with Science in India is a scientist in a lab coat. A technocratic image of science limits the communication about Science to the field of discoveries and technological innovations. Despite many attempts of making science a 'way of life', it is often treated as a possession. A dedicated edutainment TV channel for children has a great scope of making science look less like a possession and more like a lifestyle experience. Communication through television is a powerful tool of shaping attitudes and preferences at an early age. He stressed the need to make science fun and to focus on every day science with caution to not throw away classic textbooks.

Talking about radio programmes, Mr. A. S. Dhindsa, lecturer, District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) at Sangrur, Punjab, described the methodology and techniques for the production of science radio serials. Good radio programmes are a mixture of inspiration, talent and craftsmanship. Radio drama/play used to be in the mainstream but recently it has lost out to TV, Mobile and Internet. He outlined protocols for radio storytelling illustrating with examples. He also explained how to get the listener inside the realm of your programme by creating curiosity about the subject.

Dr.Anil Sharma, Assistant Director, Centre for Communication and International Linkages, PAU, Ludhiana spoke in the second session on communicating science, technology and innovation through multimedia. He talked about science communication through traditional media like plays and vernacular songs.

Prof.Rohini Chowgule, Professor and Head of the Department of Medicine, Pulmonary physician at Bombay Hospital, Mumbai, talked about telemedicine. She described the rapid integration of technology into medical practice. She mentioned that 700 million Indians are outside the medical support umbrella and pointed out inadequate allotment to health care sector at 2.5 % of GDP. Her stress was on different types of telemedicine and video conferencing, Real Time and Store & Forward technology.

3NCSC Newsletter - April 2014

Mr. Mrityunjay Bose Mr.Biman Basu Mr. K.V.S.Seshasai

Dr.Anil Sharma Prof.Rohini Chowgule Dr. Alok ThakorDr. Balwinder Singh Sooch

Dr. Balwinder Singh Sooch, Assistant Professor, Department of Biotechnology, Punjab University,Patiala talked about Protection of Innovations under Indian IP regime, he mentioned that Intellectual Property is the property of one's mind or intellect that leads to an innovation. Innovation is the driver for economic development and wealth creation in the 'knowledge based economy'. Further the progress and prosperity of a nation depends on the level of scientific, industrial and technological development.

Dr. Alok Thakor, Director, Font & Pixel Media Pvt. Ltd focused on the inherent problems of language in communicating 'science'. He emphasized the need for jargon free natural language in SciCom and advised scientists to check on reality rather than on textbook sermons. He shared the difficulties of a creative artist collaborating with a scientist to make science comprehensible.

Mrs. Margie Sastry Majumdar, former Associate Editor, Tinkle and Amar Chitra Katha, presently based in Baroda, talked in the session on Enhancing science education and media networking. She narrated the colorful history of SciCom by her creation of science characters of the popular features Anu Club and Tinkle tells you why and the massive impact it created in the minds of children making science attractive and acceptable.

Dr.T.V.Venkateswaran from Vigyan Prasar, New Delhi briefed about Edu Sat – Education Satellite Technology. In his presentation he brought out Tele-education Mission Document, a report published in 2001 by the Gramsat Programme Unit of ISRO's Development and Education Communication Unit (DECU) identified the need for a dedicated satellite dedicated to education. He said EduSat was expected to fulfil several of India's needs in education. He presented the objectives of Edu Sat for capacity building of quality teachers.

Ms.Saraswati Iyer, former Director, Jawahar Bal Bhavan, Mumbai demonstrated low cost high-impact educational aids that would help teachers deliver easy and effectivescience education with an object to kindle the curiosity of children by engaging them in various novel, ̀ Scientific Activities` involving Innovative object based learning techniques.

Dr. Narottam Sahoo, Adviser of Gujarat Council of Science & Technology (GUJCOST) of Government of Gujarat, talked about the approach and methodology of the Gujarat Science City whichis focused on informal community based learning which is different from the formal mode of education. All of the programs are intended to enliven the imagination, foster creativity and develop a spirit of inquiry, especially in young minds. He mentioned about school children visiting Gujarat Council of Science City who discover the wonders of science and technology and get an access to the most exciting and contemporary form of entertainment regardless of the social stratum, education or age group and create a culture of learning. He shared the experience of planning designing and executing a state of the art Science city and making it economically sustainable.

Dr. Manasi Rajadhyaksha, former secretary, Marathi Vidnyan Parishad, Director, Concepts India Ltd., spoke in the last session pertaining to evaluation, impact and strategic monitoring of science communication. She presented the structure and dynamics of a social survey conducted by Marathi Vidnyan Parishad (MVP) to assess base line scientific literacy and post program status to produce evidence based metric for monitoring SciCom projects.

4NCSC Newsletter - April 2014

Mrs. Margie Sastry Majumdar Ms.Saraswati Iyer Dr. Narottam Sahoo

Dr. Manasi Rajadhyaksha Dr. T. V. Venkateswaran Prof. Chhaya Datar

Dr. T. V. Venkateswaran from Vigyan Prasar, New Delhi spoke on some Reflections about evaluating SciCom programmes. He said that evaluation of a SciCom project is not simple or straight forward as it may appear at the first sight. As a social science activity it is embedded in many levels of contestations and hence requires conscious choices to be made. He also said that large number of SciCom activities aim broadly to generate public interest in science. Most TV shows, radio broadcast, panel discussions and so on are actually largely one-way information flow.

Prof. Chhaya Datar, former Professor of Tata Institute of Social Sciences, (TISS), Mumbai expounded the concept of Jalswarajya as a tool for women empowerment .She presented a study case of demand and supply side of a water management project with conflicts from privileged and under privileged communities.

Dr. Arnab Bhattacharya from Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai talked about Chai-and-Why? A unique outreach initiative of TIFR to take science out to the public based on an informal, accessible science-café-like platform. Though science and technology underpin societal progress, there is a general lack of awareness in the Indian public. The programmes are conducted by professors, postgraduate students from TIFR.

He said Chai-and-why was started in 2009 to bring TIFR's science into the public domain. It now runs twice a month with a remarkable range of topics such as science of colour during Holi, fireworks during Diwali, science behind topical news such as wireless networks etc. He remarked without being in formal Science education, the programme excites children into the realm of science.

India's Prestigious Awards

On the eve of the 65th Republic Day, January 26, 2014, the list of awardees of Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri was announced. The President of India has approved conferment of 127 Padma Awards including one duo case (counted as one). The list comprises two Padma Vibhushan, 24 Padma Bhushan and 101 Padma Shri Awardees. 27 of the Awardees are women and the list also includes 10 persons from the category of foreigners, NRIs, PIOs and Posthumous Awardees.NCSC congratulates all and would like to make a special mention about a few chosen luminaries.

Bharat Ratna

The star list tops with Dr. C.N.R. Rao, one of the World's foremost solid state and Materials Chemists who has been awardedby Government of India, the country's most prestigious and the highest Civilian awards Bharat Ratna. Dr. Rao FRS is a well-known researcher in nanotechnology..

5NCSC Newsletter - April 2014

Dr. Arnab Bhattacharya

From (L to R):

Mr. A. P. Deshpande, Dr. Suresh Mahajan,Dr. Neelam Gulati Sharma and Mr. Suhas Naik-Satam

Conference delegates and invitees

Dr. C.N.R. Rao

Padma Vibhushan

India's second highest Civilian Honor for excellence in science and engineering has been awarded to the former chief of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Dr. R.A. Mashelkar and the world famous yoga guru, B.K.S. Iyengar. Dr. Mashelkar has played a significant role in evolving science and technology policies in post-liberalised India. A chemical engineer, he is also a former head of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. He has made significant contribution to raise awareness of patents in India.

Mr. Iyengar founded the Iyengar School of yoga that has millions of followers across the globe including in China, was once named by TIME magazine as one of the 100 most influential persons in the world.

Padma Bhushan

The third highest Civilian Honor in science and engineering has been awarded upon Dr. ThirumalachariRamasami, researcher and leather scientist from Tamil Nadu, Prof. PadmanabhanBalaram, Director, Indian Institute of Sciences, Editor, Current Science, Bangalore and Prof. Jyeshtharaj Joshi, Former Director of UICT, Mumbai.

Padma Shri

Mr. Shekhar Basu, Director, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, Dr. Ravi Bhushan Grover, principal adviser, Department of Atomic Energy and founder director of the Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, Dr. Ramakrishna Hosur, Scientist, Department of Chemical Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai and Dr. Indira Chakravarty, Chief Adv. Public Health Enj Dept, Former Addl DG All India Institute of Public Health and National Cancer Institute at Govt of India and Govt of West Bengal received Padma Shri awards amongst the many others.

6NCSC Newsletter - April 2014

National Awards 2013 for Science Communication

Department of Science & Technology (DST), Govt. of India National Council for Science & Technology Communication Division (NCSTC), celebrated National Science day on February 28, 2014 in New Delhi. On this occasion chosen people for the year 2013 were awarded the NCSTC prize for their outstanding contribution in communication of science and technology and promoting scientific temper that had the widest impact in the country during the past five years. The awards were given away by Dr. T. Ramasami, Secretary, DST and DG, CSIR and Padma Shri Dr.K.Vijayraghawan, Secretary, Dept. of Biotechnology, Government of India.

The National awards have been instituted by NCSTC in 1987 to stimulate, encourage and recognize outstanding efforts in the area of science popularization and communication and promoting scientific temper.

The awardees honored for the year 2013 awards included Dr. K.K. Aggarwal, New Delhi and Society of Pollution & Environment Conservation Scientists, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, being the National Award for Outstanding Efforts in Science & Technology Communication in general. The award consists of Rs.2,00,000/- (Rupees two lakh), a memento and a citation.

Dr. R. A. Mashelkar Mr. Shekhar BasuProf. Jyeshtharaj Joshi

Mr. Hemant Lagvankar receiving theNCSTC award

Collection: Ms.Meenakshi Ambasankaran

7NCSC Newsletter - April 2014

Dr. Oum Prakash Sharma, IGNOU, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi, Shri Hemant Achyut Lagvankar, Thane, Maharashtra, Shri Bhabesh Mahanta, Guwahati, Assam, Dr. N. Rajagopalan, Chennai have been conferred with the National Award for Outstanding Efforts in Science & Technology Communication through Print Media including Books and Magazines. The award consists of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees one lakh), a memento and a citation. Shri Jaswinder Singh, Patiala, Punjab, Dr. Kailash Chandra Goswami, Guwahati, Assam have wonthe National Award for Outstanding Efforts in Science & Technology Popularization among Children.

Mr. Hemant Lagvankar from Thane, was conferred upon the award for outstanding efforts in Science & Technology Communication through Print Media including Books and Magazines has authored more than 25 popular science books and has written more than 650 articles on various science related topics in various dailies and magazines. The award consists of Rupees one lakh, a memento and a citation.Mr. Lagvankar is a member of editorial board of science monthly 'Patrika' which is published by Marathi Vidnyan Parishad. He is also a governing body member of National Centre for Science Communicators (NCSC).

Mathematics lectures

NCSC is organizing lectures 80- minutes each, by Dr.A.P.Jayaraman on Mathematics for school children of 9th standard. This interactive program interweaves maths and science and is designed to create and sustain interest in the subjects for school students.

Dr. A.P. Jayaraman, Vice-Chairman, NCSC conducted 5 Scientific Thinking Skills Workshop for School teachers ,15 lectures on science and 3 Demonstration session on Science Story telling during December 2013 to March 2014.

An original illustration created by Dr.C. V. Raman to explain his experiment on the scattering of light was used by Dr. A. P. Jayaraman to introduce Raman Effect to the IB Principals, teachers and students at NES IB School at Mulund on National Science Day. The illustration is in the possession of Ms. Meenakshi Ambasankaran who was kind enough to show it to Dr. A .P. Jayarman from her personal archives.

Radio serials

Dr. Rajeev Chitnis co-ordinated radio serials on mathematics in Marathi for All India Radio, which was broadcast on every Sunday from 9.30-10 am since October 27, 2013.

The first episode was a curtain-raiser, the participants being Dr. Mangala Narlikar, Dr.S.A.Katre (University of Pune) and Dr. V.M.Solapurkar (S.P.College, Pune). This was then followed by 25 episodes written by our mathematics team of NCSC.

The script writers included Prof. Manik Tembe, Prof. Sangeeta Joshi, Shri Shriprasad Tambe, Dr. Manasi Rajadhyaksha, Shri Makarand Bhonsle, Shri Sushil Chavan, Dr. Vivek Patkar and Shri Hemant Lagvankar, Both Dr. Patkar and Shri Lagvankar were the experts for the programs.

The topics include Srinivasa Ramanujan (2 episodes), Ancient Mathematicians of India, Medieval Mathematicians of India, Pythagoras, Euclid, Archimedes, Blaise Pascal, Isaac Newton,Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, Leonhard Euler, Pierre – Simon de Laplace, Jean Baptiste Joseph Fourier, Marie - Sophie Germain, Carl Friedrich Gauss, Niels Henrik Abel, William Rowan Hamilton, Evariste Galois, Henri Poincare, David Hilbert, Hermann Minkowski, Emmy Noether, John Newman, Paul Erdos and Harish Chandra.

Dr. A.P. Jayaraman judging the contestants

Dr. Parul R. Sheth as a judge at the BrainCafé Budding scientists contest

Winners of BrainCafé Budding Scientists Contest

8NCSC Newsletter - April 2014

Budding Scientists Contest

BrainCafé Budding Scientist Contest, organized by Zee learn, is a hunt to discover the future scientists from the country. It is India's largest annual science competitions.The contest provides students with a unique platform to showcase their ability to translate textual concepts to exciting practical applications by applying scientific principles for creating working models.Looking at the popularity and the eagerness among young students, from this year onwards the contest was made open for all schools across the country to participate.

The contest has been running over the past 4 months across 13 states and over 300 schools and as many as 8600 students participated in the contest. Grade-wise there were five categories and a total of 45 students who won the state-level round competed at the finale. In its third year, the contest has generated great response from schools and students across the country. The Grand National Finale of 'BrainCafé Budding Scientist Contest 2013-14' was held at Nehru Centre, Worli, Mumbai on January 18, 2014.

The themes for experiments this year included environment, force and energy, food and body systems, magnet, electricity and circuits, friction and pressure, heredity and evolution, electromagnetism, etc. The contest was judged by an esteemed panel of scientific professionals including Mr. Y S Rajan (associated with ISRO, NASA and MIT Massachusetts), Dr. A P Jayaraman (Nuclear Scientist), Dr. Parul R. Sheth (associated with the National Centre for Science Communicators, Mumbai) and Mr. Arvind Paranjpye (Director of Nehru Planetarium, Mumbai).

Five students bagged the first position in each of the categories and won cash reward of Rs 5 lakh each. Runners up from each category received Rs 2 lakh each. A total of 45 students from standards I to X showcased their innovative projects.

From L to R : Dr. A. P.Jayaraman,Prof. MarkNowacki, Dr. R.Varadarajan, Prof. Alexander Boksenberg, Mr.Seak Poh Leong and Dr. Kaisar Dopaishi at the Inaugural function of National Science Day at National Education Society, Mulund.

Chairman Mr. A. P. Deshpande delivered three lectures at a 3-day celebration of National Science Day from February 28 onwards at Shiroda, Kudal in Sindhudurg district of Konkan.

Dr. Parul R. Sheth judging scientific story-telling competition.

Distinguished audience at the event

9NCSC Newsletter - April 2014

National Science Day Celebrations

National Science Day was celebrated with a 3-day program from February 28 to March 1, 2014 at the NES School in Mulund, in association with SAIBSA (South Asian IB School Association) in honor of Sir C.V.Raman to mark his achievement - “The Raman Effect”. IB teachers' workshop on 'Thinking Skills and Scientific Thinking Techniques' was conducted by Prof Mark Nowacki from Singapore Management University and Dr. A.P.Jayaraman.

Distinguished guests who graced the occasion included Prof. Alexander Boksendberg from University of Cambridge, Seak Poh Leong CEO Logic Mills, and Kaiser Dopaishi, president of SAIBSA.

Various contests were organized by the school such as scientific storytelling, drawing, poster presentations, scientific writing etc. NCSC committee members Dr G. P. Kothyal, Dr. Paresh Vaidya and Dr. Parul R. Sheth were amongst the invited guests at the event.

Published for National Centre for Science Communicators by Mr. Anant P. Deshpande at Vidnyan Bhavan,V. N. Purav Marg, Sion-Chunabhatti, Mumbai - 400 022.Tel: 091-22-24054714 / 6268Fax: 091-22-24056268

Editor: Dr. Parul R. ShethWith Inputs from: Dr. A. P. Jayaraman, Dr. Rajeev Chitnis, Mr. Suhas Naik-SatamPhotos: Public domain, Event Organisers, Ajay DivekarNewsletter Design & Layout: Imtiaz Kalu

10NCSC Newsletter - April 2014

Innovation for India Awards

The Innovation for India Awards of The Marico Innovation Foundation is a platform that seeks to recognize, reward and nurture innovation in the fields of business, social and public service in India. But more importantly, it is a learning experience – where you can learn from, engage with, and be inspired by the most innovative minds in the country.

The awards function, was held on March 25, 2014 at the Jamshed Bhabha Theatre, Mumbai.

A special award - Global Game Changer award was awarded to ground-breaking innovations, which herald the emergence of a new, bold and ambitious 'Innovative India'.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) won the `Game Changer Award' for their impactful innovations, ranging from the frugal innovations with high technology like the launch of Mars Orbital Mission (MOM) on one hand to denial driven innovations like ̀ cryogenic engines' on the other.

Dr.S.Radhakrishnan, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organization received the award on behalf of ISRO. In a 15-minute conversation with Dr.R.A.Mashelkar, Chairman, Marico Innovation Foundation, Dr Radhakrishnan said that MOM costs each Indian a pittance of Rs four only, which was a one-time payment.

The other Awards were given away for Business and Social categories, and the most deserving innovations stood apart in the criteria of uniqueness, scalability, sustainability and transformational impact.

From (L to R): Mr. Harsh Mariwala, Founder of Marico Innovation Foundation; Dr. R. A. Mashelkar, Chairperson, Marico Innovation Foundation; Dr.Radhakrishnan, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organization and Vidya Balan, leading actress was the Chief Guest.