IPU Organises Value Addition Course on Scientific Communication
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The University School of Environment Management (USEM), Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University successfully organized a four – day Value Addition Course (VAC) titled “Scientific Communication and Article Writing for Media and Common People”. The event drew enthusiastic participation ranged from graduation students, young researchers and aspiring science communicators. The course aimed to empower participants with essential skills in effectively communicating scientific ideas to a wider audience, particularly through media platforms, with an emphasis on environmental topics.
The course was inaugurated by Prof. Varun Joshi, Dean of USEM, and was followed by an introductory briefing by the course coordinator, Dr. Sumit Dookia who highlighted the importance of scientific storytelling—a nuanced art of translating complex research into engaging, fact-based narratives that resonate with the general public. Recognizing that science, especially environmental science, must bridge the gap between academia and society, the course emphasized the role of media-friendly writing, field-based reporting, and the integration of audio-visual tools to enhance public outreach and promote scientific temperament.
Mr. Akhilesh Pandey, Senior Environment journalist was the resource person for this 4 days long course. He introduced the participants to core elements of science communication, including how to simplify technical jargon without compromising accuracy, the ethics of reporting, and how to connect scientific issues with societal concerns through his reporting experiences. He also narrated many case studies and work done by him on “Silicosis Crisis” and “Arsenic in ground water”. Both these documentaries were discussed in detailed about the field research, stakeholder engagement, emotional and professional angle to start a narrative for mass communication through camera and in print. The workshop also featured hands-on sessions on field reporting, environmental photography, and videography, enabling attendees to conceptualize and draft media content and documentaries as on the spot assignments. The participants also submitted their field assignments on the last day.
This initiative aimed at expanding the frontiers of environmental education by integrating creative communication tools with academic rigor. By nurturing the next generation of science storytellers, the event was a great success and the initiative will be continued in coming years to play a leading role in shaping how scienceis shared, perceived, and acted upon in the public domain. To help shape a new generation of science communicators who can inform, inspire, and bring science closer to society.
