Communicating Science to the Public [recurso electrónico] Opportunities and Challenges for the Asia-Pacific Region

This book explores effective approaches for communicating science to the public in developing countries. Offering multiple perspectives on this important topic, it features 17 chapters that represent the efforts of 23 authors from eight countries: Australia, Bangladesh, India, Ireland, New Zealand, USA, Singapore and South Africa. Inside, readers will find a diversity of approaches to communicate science to the public. The book also highlights some of the challenges that science communicators, science policy makers, science teachers, university academics in the sciences and even entrepreneurs may face in their attempts to boost science literacy levels in their countries. In addition, it shares several best practices from the developed world that may help readers create communication initiatives that can lead to increased engagement with science in communities in the Asia Pacific region and beyond. Given the pervasive influence of science and technology in today’s society, their impact will only increase in the years to come as the world becomes more globalized and the economies of countries become more inter-linked. This book will be a useful source of reference for developing countries looking to tap into the potential of science for nation building and effectively engage their communities to better understand science and technology. Supported by the Pacific Science Association, Hawaii. Front Matter....Pages i-x Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Promoting Science Literacy via Science Journalism: Issues and Challenges....Pages 3-20 Science Clubs: An Underutilised Tool for Promoting Science Communication Activities in School....Pages 21-31 Developing Scientific Literacy from Engaging in Science in Everyday Life: Ideas for Science Educators....Pages 33-46 The Nature and Role of Science Kits in Affecting Change in Public Attitude Toward Understanding of Science....Pages 47-62 Field Trips to Industrial Establishments: Infinite Opportunities for Popularising Science....Pages 63-77 Front Matter....Pages 79-79 A Role for Science Centres in Communicating Science: A Personal View....Pages 81-103 Science Communicators as Commercial and Social Entrepreneurs....Pages 105-118 Assessing Science Communication Effectiveness: Issues in Evaluation and Measurement....Pages 119-138 Front Matter....Pages 139-139 Graduate Degree Programmes in Science Communication: Educating and Training Science Communicators to Work with Communities....Pages 141-160 Outreach Activities by Universities as a Channel for Science Communication....Pages 161-181 Role of Learned Societies in Communicating Science....Pages 183-194 Science Olympiads as Vehicles for Identifying Talent in the Sciences: The Singapore Experience....Pages 195-211 Challenges Facing Developing Countries in Communicating Science to the Public....Pages 213-222 Front Matter....Pages 223-223 Web-Based Channels for Science Communication....Pages 225-245 Science Communication Through Mobile Devices....Pages 247-260 Café Scientifique....Pages 261-275 Television as a Medium of Science Communication....Pages 277-292 Back Matter....Pages 293-298