Science and technology communication: Easy or difficult?

In order to promote science and technology communication activities, the representative of the Ministry of Science and Technology in Ho Chi Minh City recently met with a number of newspaper and radio reporters to discuss and discuss this topic.

From the perspective of scientific managers, PhD. Bui Van Quyen, Director of the Ministry of Science and Technology's representative office in Ho Chi Minh City, said: Science and technology information activities still face some shortcomings, limitations on information resources, linking and sharing resources. News that did not meet the requirements. Besides, collecting, updating, synthesizing, popularizing and exploiting and using scientific and technological information are also facing certain limitations and difficulties.

Newspaper and radio reporters participated in the workshop "Promoting Science and Technology Communication" held in Ho Chi Minh City on October 23. (Photo: ML)

Error caused by . scientist?

According to Dr. Bui Van Quyen, the dissemination and dissemination of KH-CN media to the community, although it is only one of the contents of Science and Technology Information activities, has a special meaning related to the development of the information market. even contribute to boosting the technology market.

However, it must be acknowledged that the fact that science and technology communication activities are still limited. Even so, many people said that the dissemination, exploitation and use of scientific and technological information to serve the research of scientists has been a difficult problem, but it is difficult to bring that information to the community. than.

It must be affirmed that institutes and universities are the most important source of scientific and technological information. However, in fact, the contingent of scientists has not really considered the science and technology communication work. Therefore, this activity has not yet expanded the information of Science and Technology in the direction of social information.

According to Mr. Quyen, communication activities of Science and Technology have specific characteristics throughout the information collection to propaganda and dissemination. Moreover, information of Science and Technology is not abundant and its complexity makes information of Science and Technology not attractive as other information in social life. Meanwhile, most of this information is compiled in the form of scientific reports, so most people are difficult to receive.

Analysis of the causes of the above situation, TS. Bui Van Quyen said that inherent limitations are that most scientists often do not like to introduce, do not even want to write about their results. This invisible psychology has caused many difficulties for reporters in approaching scientists.

'There are many reasons for this situation but mainly because our thinking process has not been renewed to meet the requirements of scientific and technological innovation activities, and even have not resolved well the relationship between doing and said '- Mr. Quyen analyzed.

Or by journalists?

Talking about the relationship between journalists and scientists and scientific research agencies, Ms. Doan Nguyen Thuy Trang, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Science Journal - Standing Club of Science and Technology correspondent - Journalist Association of Ho Chi Minh City. HCM said: Journalists and scientists despite having different jobs but meet at some point is the need for information, attaching importance to accuracy, objectivity and social responsibility.

According to Ms. Trang, there are 3 forms of cooperation between scientists and journalists (journalist-scientist with co-author relationship, writing scientist - Modified journalist accordingly; journalists write - Scientists provide information), depending on the time, the size of the problem and the individuals involved, select the nature of cooperation in each specific case.

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According to Trang, some scientists are afraid of reporters misquote opinions or express their tendency to splash stories that may affect their social reputation.

One of the other shortcomings of press activities in the field of science is the complexity and abundance of new research results compared to the limited ability in the writing and editorial work of the houses. newspaper.

According to Ms. Trang, in order to do a good job, the scientific journalist needs to master the scientific research process, or at least understand the scientific activities, and at the same time accumulate basic professional knowledge. in this area.

In fact, many journalists and journalists wrote that the problem they face is the orientation of scientific communication in each industry, each field as well as having difficulty in taking information, access to information sources and processing of information of intensive nature. These difficulties have inadvertently reduced the number and quality of articles on Science and Technology by today's journalists / reporters.

Where does science and technology communication begin?

From the current status of science and technology propaganda activities in the past time as well as confirming the requirements set out for communication activities, information services activities in the market economy today.

According to Dr. Bui Van Quyen, in the short term, needs to promote science and technology communication in the direction of linking scientific research activities at institutes, schools and enterprises. Bringing institutes, schools closer to businesses, scientists closer to entrepreneurs .

Since then, raising awareness about the responsibilities and benefits of KH-CN communication activities right from the science and technology organizations. At the same time, increasing the quantity and quality of information to diversify forms of dissemination of laws and policies on Science and Technology, especially policies related to production and business areas.

In addition, the need to innovate operating modes in specialized scientific and technological information organizations from the central to the branches and localities as well as promote science and technology information services with revenues In order to step by step convert and develop the information market - intellectual property . also need more attention.

'The close combination of scientists with journalistic spirit and journalists with scientific spirit also needs to be promoted in order to transform scientific and technological information, which is less, difficult to write, difficult to understand and lack. the attraction to the public '- Mr. Quyen shared.