'There is a perceptible improvement in awareness'

Interview with Dr. V.B. Kamble, Acting Director of Vigyan Prasar.

Having kindled the interest of students and the general public in science and technology (S&T) over the past 10 years, Vigyan Prasar is all set to expand its activities by adopting the latest digital communication technologies and enlarging its network of science clubs. Its Acting Director Dr. V.B. Kamble explained to B.S. Padmanabhan the impact of the initiatives taken so far and the future plans of the organisation to inculcate a scientific outlook among the people. Excerpts from the interview:

The basic objective of Vigyan Prasar is science popularisation. What exactly does this mean?

It is necessary to have a scientific outlook in life. Unless we are able to think in a rational manner it becomes difficult to look at problems in such a way as to arrive at logical solutions. That is one of the reasons for taking the initiative to make the people aware of the progress in S&T and the scientific principles behind the technologies they have been using in their daily life. Creating awareness about science does not mean popularisation of science. What is important is to inculcate a scientific temper and outlook so that people are able to think logically and rationally. Scientific method has to be emphasised along with scientific awareness. This, in my opinion, is science popularisation.

I would like to give a couple of examples. Some 12 years ago in a nondescript village in Madhya Pradesh people suddenly stopped eating bitter gourd because they found white lines on the leaves of the plant. They thought that it was due to the curse of the snake god. An NGO [non-governmental organisation], which was working in a school in this village, had been given some small plastic microscopes. Some girl students tried to find out the cause of the white lines on the bitter gourd leaves with the help of the microscope. They discovered that a tiny insect left its traces while moving on the leaves. The people then realised that it was not the curse of the snake god after all. This is where science popularisation becomes important.

I will give another example. This happened a few years ago in Gwalior. The drinking water supplied by the municipality was found to be polluted and some schoolchildren with the help of an NGO took it upon themselves to determine the quality of water. They collected samples from different areas and tested them with a kit supplied to them. The tests confirmed that the water quality was not up to the mark. Once this was highlighted in the newspapers, the municipality took remedial measures. This could happen because of people's participation. With improvement in literacy levels and increasing scientific awareness, people want to know what effect modern technologies, such as genetically modified foods, would have on their lives before accepting them. They would like to be involved in decision-making. The objective of Vigyan Prasar is to help the people in this process.

What strategy is Vigyan Prasar adopting to achieve its aims?

Dream 2047

What is your assessment of the impact of these efforts?

Surely, we cannot quantify the impact. But I can tell you what we perceive. A few years ago we conducted a survey of S&T coverage in newspapers and found that only 3.3 news items and articles on S&T-related topics appeared every day in a newspaper on an average. Most newspapers did not provide adequate space for S&T news and whatever they carried was from foreign sources. The coverage has been improving of late. Another indicator of the impact of our efforts is the changing perception among the people about eclipse. I have seen the last three total solar eclipses. In 1980, I was in Karnataka and it was a self-imposed curfew on the day of the total solar eclipse. Nobody would come out of the house. Even hotels were closed during the eclipse. In 1995, there was a drastic change. Thanks to the initiative taken by Vigyan Prasar and the National Council for Science and Technology Communication, the entire sequence of eclipse was shown on television. Many people directly observed the eclipse through the safe solar filters supplied by Vigyan Prasar. It was a satisfying sight. People, including children, came out to observe the eclipse. A similar thing happened in 1999. We have been able to remove the superstitious beliefs about solar eclipse to a considerable extent.

I would like to mention another development. As you know, in the late 1980s and early 1990s, science popularisation efforts were done through jathas. The Bharat Jan Vigyan Jatha in 1987 brought together a number of organisations engaged in science popularisation, which led to the formation of the All-India People's Science Network. That was a landmark in the history of S&T communication in the country. Then the 1992, jatha combined literacy programmes with science popularisation and this led to a perceptible improvement in the literacy level by providing post-literacy activities to the neo-literates. In the northeastern region, science popularisation activities were earlier chiefly confined to Assam but now in every State in that region a lot of activities to popularise science are taking place.

Yet another initiative is the Vigyan Rail, which has been a big draw wherever it has gone until now. It will cover 56 towns over a period of eight months. This is the first time that a full train with 12 exhibition coaches, showcasing the country's achievements in S&T since Independence, has been organised. It has evoked interest not only among students but even among those appearing for civil service examinations. Students are seen taking down copious notes. Those who are appearing for civil service examinations have found it useful because one cannot otherwise get such a range of information at one place. In some places I found schoolchildren quite excited about the exhibits. Some of them even exclaimed, `I want to be a scientist'. Vigyan Rail has been inspiring children and making the people aware of our achievements in the area. Vigyan Rail is scheduled to complete its journey in August but there is a possibility of extending the journey as 2004 has been declared as the Year of Scientific Awareness.

I would say that a perceptible improvement in science awareness has taken place over the years owing to the initiatives taken by Vigyan Prasar with active support from other organisations.

What are your plans for the future?

I am of the view that we should use the latest communication technologies for science popularisation. We have made a beginning. We are using the WorldSpace digital communication technology. Since the transmission is digital the sound quality is high, and we can also send graphics and sound as two separate files. Moreover, we can reach the entire country at the same time. Vigyan Prasar is using this medium for one hour daily to transmit programmes in Hindi and English. The graphics and pictures can be transmitted as a datafile and stored in the computer with the help of an adaptor. When the audio transmission takes place, one can synchronise the pictures with the audio and the same can be projected on a screen. An entire class can watch the audio-visual presentation. If the WorldSpace receiver is connected to the computer through an adapter one can receive the lecture-demonstrations on one's computer. Wherever one may be, whether in the jungles of Madhya Pradesh or on the top of Mount Everest, one can receive it. We have distributed the digital receiving sets to some of the VIPNET science clubs. The response has been overwhelming. We are producing software especially created for transmission through WorldSpace radio. This software is also broadcast through the Gyan Vani channel of IGNOU and made available on our web site.

Another medium we use is the Ham radio. Although Ham operation is basically a hobby it is an important means of communication in times of calamities. The number of lives we have been able to save by communication through Ham radio is more than that through any other means. When the normal communication network fails how else can one communicate? Vigyan Prasar has, along with NCSTC, set up a Ham radio club at Technology Bhavan. Vigyan Prasar is also planning to set up Ham radio stations in disaster-prone areas. We intend to take up special programmes on disaster-preparedness.

We are also planning to spread the network of science clubs. Every month 100 clubs are added to our network. We intend to set up 50,000 science clubs all over the country. This means one club in each village. Further, Vigyan Prasar is planning to set up core groups of science communicators in different States.