Comcom: Prof. Chitnis can you tell us something about the space programme in India?

Prof. Chitnis: Space programme started as a space science programme. But, soon we realised that it must be driven by applications of space like communication, meteorology, remote sensing. Because in the developing country of India, these are very relevant things, we have no fantasy to copy Americans and think of going to moon. That is not our aim.

Therefore, we stuck to applications programme and whatever technology was required like building satellites, rockets, were almost done with the end view that finally we will use this technology for applications, i.e. for development, education , dissemination of information.

As satellite has a vast reach, in a country of more than 5 lakhs of villages, where even roads are not there, we can reach straight to those villages via satellite and through direct reception system. We can provide information which is useful to them. Information on health, agriculture, animal husbandry you name it and we can do it. and this is the basic aim of the space programme in India.

Comcom: Can you tell us the space programme which has done something to popularise Science Communication?

Prof. Chitnis : Yes , in fact our first SITE experiment has several components realising that to take science to villages through school system is practically difficult because there is only one teacher. He is teaching all the classes and all the subjects. So he is not a science specialist. He has no kits, he has no library.

How do you expect him to teach science; so we took the route that science is everywhere you don't require laboratories; you don't require boards but science is about observing thing; about thinking of things; examining things; evaluating things and science you can learn from a bicycle; you can learn from a village pond and so many things even you can look at an elephant for science. We should not divide science into biology, physics, chemistry and so on.

Learn science in an integrated way as an ordinary child in a village would do. In this way we have succeeded and created 250 science programme during site and we were hailed by people from Tata Institute of fundamental research, Physical Research Laboratory, Community Science Centre - Ahmedabad, Homibhabha centre. So many people came forward and we formed a network. For the first time we had a team of people - producers, Science writers, Communication Experts and all these people came together and produced wonderful programmes.

Comcom: Can you tell us, Prof. which programme created such a group?

Prof. Chitnis : In a way they were there; they were interested in Science teaching; in rural areas people like Ekalavya; we network them. but at the same time they had no ideas about media and so it was a team work.

Comcom: So in a way you introduced them to a new medium....

Prof. Chitnis : Yes to a new medium and it was a team work and the Scientists are the Content Experts while the producers were the creative persons. The communicators were around to guide what works with children what doesn't, what children would prefer. The right words to drive home a point and the words that are difficult to understand. It was a kind of team work. For the first time these kind of programmes were produced in India in the year 1975.

Comcom: Can you refer any programme which is exceptional and you liked it very much?

Prof. Chitnis : One of our producers taught the Concept of Measurement; the need for standards like meter or weight measure Kilo gram. These kinds of things, he taught in such a wonderful way that the children liked the programme. It was a thrill. But I tell you even these producers, to begin with, their productions were horrible, but we didn't have the guts to tell them that they were so. That might have demotivated them. But later on, they learnt the method of producing right programmes for children and that was a big success story.

Another thing we did was to improve the teaching skills of Science Teachers during SITE. This was done in collaboration with NCERT. Mrs. Vijay Moley was there and we could upgrade the Science Teaching skill of 50,000 teachers. Remember India had in those days more than 2 million primary school teachers and to improve their skills if we created a package If we make a conventional approach, it is imposible to complete such process, in time, before that package itself becomes obsolete.

Comcom: So when do you hope to reach that 50,000 Science Teachers ?

Prof. Chitnis : Yes, we will reach the 50,000. But the same multiplier effect can be used and even today it is very valid. This is what Prof. Bhide mentioned in the conference and I think we shoud do that. There are so many teachers who are in need of skill upgradation.

Comcom: : Thank you Prof. Chitnis.