Reprinted from Proceedings of First International conference
for science communicators, Pune 2000
We are a small group of science communicators which during
its growth has worked on various levels of networking
because of operational needs. The experience covers action
based interactions at local, regional, and international
levels.
1. Regional science communication network
2. National science communication network
3. international science communication network
For each of these types following features are to be
considered:
The core of science communication activities of all types
will have a base in regional science communication groups.
Regional science activity if rightly directed will naturally
form a network with its health growth. Networking is a
natural process but it requires a little care for its
growth. One of our own experiences of natural networking is
establishment of science communication units around our
community science centers. The origin of this network was
in the small regional groups. These groups were doing
informal work in the area of science awareness and science
education. This gave support to the formation of several
community science centers. Once this informal network started functioning a fairly
strong science activity, network got
woven around it. The strength and growth of such a network
lay in constant need based activity. The work that we did
at the community science centers, helped us to form a
network by which we were communicating with many regions of
the country. Today, we have several science centers on
regional level as well as National level.
The base of national science communication network will
always be regional. Many a times national science
communication networks are born as a natural outcome of the
need. Sometimes, such networks are also formed by the needs,
which are felt by the Government or similar semi-Government organizations. These institutions form networks to fulfill
their visualized programmes. Through experience, it is
strongly felt that when government or an outside body
initiates a network, it's life is not healthy. However,
there are exceptions. Sponsored networks exist until the
Government money is pumped into them. Therefore, national
science communication networks must find their roots into
independent regional networks, even if the networks have
very poor resources.
Some essential steps for networks growth
-Needs-Need based objectives - Agreement and clarities -
Hardware and Software facilities - Resources - Feedback
systems - Action
Needs
Any science communication network born when its different
potential members feel strong needs. These needs are echoed
in their informal or formal interaction.
Objectives
After a strong evaluation of needs, the networking group
will set up clear objectives. A practical networking group
would always have fair, clear and achievable objectives.
Here are two samples of objectives taken from two organizations. They express similar concepts and have
similar needs at the base.
Objectives spelt out by Network
1. To create science popularisation programmes with such a
force that scientific attitude will be built in all the
towns and villages and streets of the nation.
2. To create science popularisation programmes which can
influence Thousands of schools of our state within a period
of three years.
Global objectives fail to function
Agreement and clarities
Some networks merely exist because they follow their
leaders for different reasons. They are not at all clear
about programmes and their agreement is based on "Follow the
leader" game. Such networks breakdown gradually. For
stronger existence each member body of the network must be
clear about its objectives and programmes generated from
them.
Communication
Common facilities and feedback
As a building needs strong base, science communication
networks need a reasonable back up of communication hardware
and software. network started without this backup remains
week. A letter in march, a circular in May and a meeting in
July do not bring the strength, which an active network
system needs, for meaningful existence.
Group solutions of communication and software for a network
is always cheaper and more practical.
Several science communication networks suffer because of
lack of promot communication and related feedback.
Action
Science communication networks will have health if they have
well spelt out action programmes related to all its member
units. The programme must have an achievable and a realistic
action programme. Each unit must produce small yet result-
oriented action.
Documentation and its spread must follow action. Smaller
action programmes of various units will produce an effective
ACTION impact. Well defined ACTION programmes will help the
network. ACTION and further action is the key for the growth
of any network.
Whatever the level of science communication project is, the
above process will be helpful in making it work well.
Science communication project networks
Major types and patterns:
1. Topical science communication networks is basically SHORT
TERM
2 Short term network can be developed into LONG TERM NETWORK
In the initial stage it takes roots and fulfills the
ASPIRATION of the Networking group.
3. Built up science communication networks Administratively
strong
4. Network growing organically
<------->
Science communication group general ------- Specific
communities and vice versa
1. Groups had general science popularisation programmes but
to build a network we worked on children's health
communication (specific) and networked with communities
<------->
2. Specific science communication group -------- general communities
A group working on cardiac health problems worked wrll by
planning communication network with community organizations involved in general health. Their communication programmes
worked well
<------->
3. Specific science communication groups ---------------
other specific science communication groups
Networking between science communication groups even
having slightly different objectives will help in building
up a network. In all the types of network, two way
communication is a must.
Science communication Pyramid
Grassroots Agencies
If we put the science communication activities in a graphic
form they can best be presented as a pyramid. The base will
have a very large number of grassroots agencies involved in
science communications, will be related to common man's
everyday needs. This will emerge into an active action
oriented programme.
Grassroots agencies
Middle segment
in the middle segment comes science communication which
coordinates regional science popularisation programme. Their
major aim is to spread the network.
Summit segment
The summit of this science communication pyramid will have
close network of science popularisation agencies or
scientific bodies. Here also a well laid our science
communication plan will yield excellent results. This
segment will handle strategies, policies and evaluation of
developmental guidelines.
All these three segments of network must be actively inter
related to produce desired action oriented results.
These observations are based on experience. We were a group
of grassroots organisations. Gradually our meetings became
regular and a base group was formed. Then regional groups
were formed. The groups felt the need for network for
spreading the communication programmes and zonal units were
the natural outcome.
Today we have a national network, which certainly works.
It does have occasional problems but that is the part of
networking also.
All these types of science communication networks will have
a common process approach to problems.
Here is the common process approach
Messages
Target audiences and segments
Media
Product and Feedback
Messages
network planning will be effective if the initiating core
group decides on some need based specific messages.
Additions and changes can be done as the network formation
progresses.
It is very important to decide the target groups from the
beginning. Vagueness about this aspect will create problems
for the network. During the last fifty years, we have seen
several science communication networks limping because of
vagueness about their target audiences.
Media
Relative media planning is a must in propagating network formation. Low cost and no cost is an excellent approach.
But al the time this does not work. Media cost is less if
mediums are selected and acquired long before. Last minute
rush costs heavily and proves non effective.
Product and feedback
Networking will flourish if there is constant watch on their
product.
Product related to action
It is the product, which affects the action
Stronger the product stronger the action
This pattern is based on our personal experience related to
the All India Radio's national science serial's outreach
material production and its spread. The pattern was
suggested informally by its national evaluation cell that
networks in about 20 regional units. Each agency would
evolve its own pattern of process, based on its own
experiences and resources.
International science communicators' network
Those agencies which have a good regional networking
experience and have reasonable intellectual as well as
physical resources can contribute well in forming
international network. Clarity of objective is a must here.
I was working for a European international network having
youth programmes. There were nations having strong base of
regional networks Naturally they were the leaders. We have
similar experience with one of our national network.
What would International Networks cover?
1.these networks help in exchanging communication
experiences and solutions on an international level.
2. Latest information's availability becomes easy
3. Sharing of communication strategies and methodological
becomes possible.
4. Exchange of print and electronics media becomes speedy
and economic.
5. Exchange of experts, study teams and researchers becomes
easy. It simplifies inter-institutional exchange experience.
6. Interpersonal relations get established amongst science
communicators. This widens their understanding about
problems handled by other nations. Many a time these
relationships become lifelong.
7. Grass root level networks influence the national and
international levels. At the same time international
networks influence the grassroots level networks.
8. Earlier some of us networked with International Natural
History Museums and science centres. These have had a good
influence on the afar off networks and on our small regional
museums and science centres.
9. International network's interaction can percolate to grassroots levels of regional
science networks.
Advantages networks offer
Strength is built through united resources.
Access to needed information and know how becomes easy
Economic solutions to individual science communication
problem becomes possible.
Intra group technical researches can be exchanged
Common software visualization and production becomes
easy.
Help network groups locate commonality of science
communication problems.
Exchange of knowledge takes place on equal level
Covers larger number of beneficiaries as network gets
enlarged.
Electronic media like E-mail systems, video and satellite
turns the network into a close knit community
It makes science communication extremely easy and speedy.
Proper use of electronic media in science communication
centes will bring forth very fruitful results.
Some problems and solutions of networking for science
communication projects are:
All types of networking for science communication present
some problems and the communicators will have to find out
solutions according to their environment
Some of the problems faced are:
Hurried setting up of networks. This leaves several communication gaps between network members thus clogging
their communication flow.
Hazy objectives develop hazy programmes
Uncertain division of roles and responsibilities between
science communication network members envelops the network's
environment with uncertainties.
Imaginary resources create resource vacuum at on unexpected
juncture.
When resource providing agencies keep strings in their
hands, the capable agencies gradually drop out.
Lack of technical systems for setting up communication
strategies creates limping movement for the network
Carefree treatment pf strategy related time time makes the
projects disorganized.
Last and very important is the lack of concernedness
With concernedness and sincerity science communicators can
certainly bring forth needed results.
Networks' solution to problems
Many of the network problems can be solved by
clear objectives
Experienced agencies
Establishment of well worked communication flow and feed back
Democratic operation
Realistic resource building
Human approach
Positive evaluation
Absence of string pulling and puppeteer
Concernedness is the base of successful networking for
science communicators
Some vital facts about networking in science communication
are:
Strong regional and grassroots networks must back Science
communication networks
Science communication programmes must have common man's
needs in mind
Puppet string handling of guidance should be avoided in any
network
Small networks are as important as big ones. Some times they
are better for functioning
Networking is a natural activity. Networking is a must for
growth.
