Science communication through print media

1.5 MB·English

by  Basu, Biman

Pr: pagation

Science communication through print media

Befove the iavention of printing, dissemination of
‘ideas and thoughts took place mostly trcughh hand
‘srtten manueetipt.Indida pal leaftnzmuserpteand
Chinese’ writings on sill are wet knows. Modern
printing technolagy had ite origin i Fonape. Geman
folds th and printer fo antes Gutenberg Was ts rst
Furopean to use movable type prirtire. in around
13st andals tne glode ave tor OF the piaiog press,
Fis many contrbotions to. printing iaclode the
Inconton ata process for mas prostcing, movable

pf aik-based inky and the use oF a WoaCeN
ress (Fig. 1). He combined these clemeas

ig. 1 Gomer res.

into a prictical system which allowed the mass
pradacton of printed books seomomizally, The ase of
fovable "ype ‘sus a amarked improvernent one
Hendyriten manuscripl, which was. the existing
snehod of silt cominuraealion iy many pars a he
‘world

Science communication

Science communication ean be defined a5 “soessafal
‘ssemination afscientife andtoctnological knodedse
fauong a wide range of audionees incudisg non
Scenes” ‘There are nurnerus examples of sHecive

ence communication having browsht about social
tcunge that have transformed the orld, From the
(Copemicas Revaltion nthe Lawsof ermadynamies
{othe Theory af Rela vit communicating sence has
ison aod sll eorkimae to change the wort So
flietive comrunication ut sleree is peobuhly as
spt a sil let a chee ar pink
‘ada rowide a viable maxke of mass cnunisation of

Biman Basu

Sciewwe communication th- ove pint ww vould be
Tor t peor science aulinse or the general public
Scholarly syrting ines proving cette comes
Aad los of tee, litle graphics, al is fecssel om
Teauts, data sid interpretation “Ox the. covttry
Science ‘Sting for a Much Inder audience is
primal anced at disseminate inloxmaten in. no
‘echnical language ande-eating awareness. The focus
facto ceslls, but faer onthe corclsions. sad
Fecolamennaions, ad Social implications i sy.
‘Teooit yeas theo has bveo tremendous diversification
‘of communication media, especially with he awh of
TCPbaettsy stems, whieh kas wale fonmaton ey
accssible. Netwitistanding hese develeprtens,
prin jonvals, migasines aml busks contucs 10
Femain highly “effective ‘media or science
‘otnanusicatan, Alough mid journals ond dats,
ladevex boos aren available lire dal frm
they are basieally the sletranie sersion af pith
clitons

Research communication

CCommunistion of sienee ang scents is very
Seaport foe. the uavaicement of scerce ‘ind
Teebnolgy. This stall atppe'a avery etic
Sd cthodical manner through teshical sei035
Symposie, provoodings snd pose vist arcs
‘ellie jourals. Wile the research ining fom
inks nec tn be comratncaed fo selene aes 30
the commaar rium the vles ler sydely. Most
fesetnchem comuniete tough Rscieh fours
Writer pers and oer stents he respective
Fils, cones! papular science comvmunienan
Pail langle at ne cmon am who nt
‘evenly taveany backgoundotscerce,

te syle of writing «research paper is mostly gules
bythe hotsestsle' ofthe journal in‘srich tis intenced
to appear. Fureist, tie modem ssientlc paper it
Nigidiy stereotyped document, wih well dotized
eccrions fallowne each ther, oe. Inrtistion,
Methods, Results, Discussion andor Coselusion,
References, together with a relatvsly fee-stancins
Abstract. While such constraints undoubtedly provide
fh stundardised format and make the task of wring &
Feseerch paper simpli, takes ava’ rom the wer
the festomta express in hivorher os style

pases written fo publicstin in aeseate’ jou is
primarily aimed at ncher selon ststesearcies in the
Prs:pagation

17

same field, Consequently, techsival terms and
expressions, equations aad mallemstical data ean he
Treaty used whore novessirs. This rakes lhe ask oP

‘aresectch papor compatativelysinpler han
‘Neng popular sconce, in whieh use of teehncal
jruon iss thon. A reseateh pape hast bring ot the
{bjective, experimental pracece, observations, std
fnferences and reults without sy unibiguy, which
frukes a gocd command over the language of writing
‘anessonda prenocuist,

A well-writen research paper is able 1 convey a Ist
{Brough juisious use of less words. clase example
js te paper an DNA strvecue by Janes Walson and
Feaneis Crick published in Narre on 23 Apr] 1958.
‘vas a one-pane paper bur contained the germ of &
Sle nes wos oF blechobogy aad grate

that has) revaluionised the study of

Biology
Watsonand Crick wrote inthe page

We wich 0 suggest a siculure for the sale of
deoxyribonucleic sid (DNA). This svetare bes
Several novel nies which hre of considerable
Dielopieal importance... This stractare fa 5
helical chains each cofad round she same ans,

The two chains but rat their bases) are rota
‘by a dyad perpendicular to the bre as. The
novel featie of the stucture & the mani
‘whieh the two chats are held together by the
purine ane pyrimidine bases. The planes ot ths
Dass ae perpelculs 10 she ne ais, They ans
Joined topeee in pais, sing © use Trem one
Chaining hjhoen-bendedto single ae hn
{heeier chain, wo tht te we ls ide by side with
iden eal »-coonlinates, One ofthe pairs mathe
pine sind dh others pyine for bonding

thas not escaped out notice thatthe soecific
Diiring we eve postlatec immediately snges
E passble copying aiechanisr fir the genet
materia

Here the ave scientists could bring out the remenéons
potential of their discovery untumbiguously in jose a
Fess word inthe last sentone,schich speaks of thi
ability to communieste seenge precisely and with
tev

the, moors professions! patter of special
seidemie journals containing stercorypiea
Stuctred weseach papers is not very ol it only
ImaTupod ine vente century, fllawing 0 te ine
fta few roto -journals of te Ray Soeiey and oxher

citly leamed soils. Historically, eamy sei
(Osho sere knowin as natural phiosophe's) preferred
\Weidig monographs rather shan publishioa papers in
jpunulstoestabtshelaim for nev knowledge. Tomeet
{he cost of printing, cary: printers and publishers
‘equivedauihers ta obain sparsorship (especially Tbr
expensive illustrations}, or get up als” subscribers
Sho would poy" br i yam vane. ary oF
(day's esearch fouruals oo, evy page chargss Fo%
suthors forpublishing papers

Scienlfie und medical jouraals stated ss newslelers
wed a Ubsominatiag, masers of interest to the
Community ard were not sxe usvely devoted 0
Fublishing fesh research, Specialised journals.
fllecing the “rugmemation of science, slaried
‘ppeasns aly from the late ciahveenth century
Intally “such jeumals' were mostly pudisked hy
Ieamed socielies, whose leceures. and) proceeding
rovided the contents Seine journals evel
the stundant medi for primacy reporting of
tue research aimed at meeting i nersastgpessue
fF claims “or new Knowledge font a ineresing
ruber of working sicatss

Before the advent of computers and desktop
Publishing, every research paper hie to 0 thro
Fneticons pvood-read.ay aller seseting. here the
ages could be seat ‘or pring. Prooreaing ws mot
fly atodious process tht was time consoring, bi it
‘was ako net completely foolproal. Often fepestting
mistakes went unnoticed. Asaresultauthors of had
Inmuke corsetions morethan once. wich delayed the
fublicatin of paper

Today the situation is quite dilfeent. Authors are
ruled to send error five copy of tke paper which
‘obviate the reed Tor proof mating, Some jou
fever accept papers omy if submitted in the ssne
Fesat the joa sprinted so hat the priatr only hs
Ine camara tormakinghe pes forprining. These
advances have made possible faster publication of
‘esearch papers by sieaficantlyeutting dw re timne
Tag besweensecoptance and arin.

Popular science communication

Pee=reviewed articles ate aflen the Hirrus test of &
fesearcter's success, determining tenure. of
"Tandabil ty! ibs only goal of researc is toinocnee
ts sate-attho-ur lngeting only ote reseache,
tisn this isthe sllimate objective, Howeves, I the
"esearch has tohave ny pict soe by chaning
fr infineneing peliry, mere publican ee paper ht
peer-reviewed journals wuld he wail iceuate
Fecmuse beyond seivniiss ard academics.

he
18

seaetshp of sienife jourals is efecively 20
Decisantnskers donot read thom. Nethor do the
buedia-oF commutes. The language af sione
jours len makes timpesebe forthe ly perso to
Ancestand ie esearch. levels the mporance ot
Popa selehce commuateation an the pent eda
plays aruajur role here, m

Poplar science writing docs not follow any
standard sei Tons, THe writer baw tae comple
Tiewlom i express higher sheughts ix whatever wes"
heishe Teele Mu Thal is why many populler seine
vertess can be identified by ther style nf writing. This
Inses popular seienee commmuniation more vetted
thaa research eommuricatin,

There are several formats in which popular serene
sorumunication through pein madi ean he came T
ty be strgght artes er esay timer enor even
a phot fears o- eattoon stip ig.2). Tete a

Fain

pers and dramatic witten on seignee themes that
provide a novel and effective made af sommneating

iat mea for popular seienes commenieation can be
basically of cee types, eech with ils stevgths abd
‘ealancsses. Daily hews>apers eller the fastest pent
icdium for coverage ef seleatfic event, but ae
corstisincd by limited space availeility eusory
fnverggeand ephemeral vate There litle seape a
detailed discussion anany topic ina newspaper artic
"Week's, fortishtly and rranthly magszines offer a
heteraltemative i terms of coxerege ard treater,
hha there va time lig of up to week or mors bene
Sulasion ofan aracle sd is pubheation, Magazine
fricles have Intemainte valve. Rooks OMe a
Imtiuny Tor the most eemprohensive treatment oF &
‘Scemtti opi. Theazhe as apie wow Tot den

Pr: pagation

‘deeper inte the subject and bringing out the salient
Point iva moze lesurely manner than possible vith
tithes a nensaper or magazine artic” Books have
Tasting value Table

Daily newspapers

Daily newspapers are offen dhe Fist source uf news
out anew scientific Uevelooment for the commen
Man. icles in tewspapers news items, leatures oF
florals ~ reach + wide iene aa eat generale
Public debate. The print media io the form of
hewspaper en thus informs the bie bout research
Jpeingcrvied oul in different scientific institutions and
Tbe snd help ir beter pustie understanding of te
research,

The sivle and format of a newspaper anile 6
markedly: dierent from an article in a scontfc
Foun. In the ease of a newspaper arilo, non
ust the ile pub the eas ateicon ut Ie atl
self sould fe couseue-ed like an nverted py,
Stting wih he mest npetent infonaton and
‘working down to ‘he individual suporsing deta
While this applice more to ance tory thane afales
Feat tile th logis is ipottntto andettan,

‘Unfitanately, desoite their wide reach, che specs
devoted. to science in Irdian newspapers S|
iabigrificant. While a few Indian newspanars publish
wneskly selenve columns and have regular selene
ontespondents ex science editor inthe sa items mn
Scie ad teclinology pub ished mn dian newspaper
mostly arebasedonpressreleasesand agency sori.

‘ow studies have beer done on coverage at sien it
newspipers and its inspact on public perception of
Soe. na study earied eutin 2000 by Bhar Dust
ff National Insite of Selene. and K. C. Gare

NISTADS, items or. science ant technolney in
English-iurguage newspapers published in different
pus of Tasha during January-Decemiber 1995 were
nclyseu. Resulls indicate! tha the grestestProporeion
St newspaper space was devoted in nucle selene
tna teclma o4yelollowed by delence, space reseeeh,
ind ‘sinomomy. The Pioneer. The Tien, an The
Mines ef India were the “wspapers tnt together
P-..pagation

Adoumal of Se enee Communion

19

secounte or about 23 >etcent ofthe ttl space devoted
to lenss en Scones ad toxtinolesy The sourace for
most of the ateles (97 peter!) on policy ises
feriginated fio within India, sehile forthe stares
foreign sowees, inchulmg hove from the Unite Stats
and the Untod Kingdom, also contbutod. The such
indested thal on sverae, Inean newamapers cevated
far less than one pore of te Lal rinse space
cles and stories claed ty seience tn technology
Thissuatinn reeds io be npeovee,

Popular science magazines

paral dy nnspa, he eof oma
Corsmunication i man fold. Howevsn, fon
‘Sommail and eeenamis considerations sustinrig
popu scones mguneis hens uphl tak fo the
Publier. The consiain iy maily financial
‘aketsers donot onsier puta scence magazines
‘ble mela foradvertsingallnoaph the earshot
2few papa science magazines pe lan, AS 2
Teall, ost of fe popular science” magazines
Palast m In ke Sconce Reporter and Fae
Praga boi abled by Counc of Seni and
indir) Researeh and” Ming. fesonably ange
‘aderhips, ae hevily suid Anomer fopuer
¢eience monthiy Pron 297, pubished hy gyn
Fre an auonomons organsaien ander Deptt
of Seine and Tediobygy iv dst tee 12
Fruerested retro il up ge crulion ad
eames fee gia dan 5 event fram wy
Fxeied ffem readers. Setace Too, a wel feud
fopaler scence monty published by the Tnes of
Tia srun, end Senet smote ily ead

pabishal by Nehm Ceate
pul setence ales
joa nuncialuniaty

Ibothtaadus close downin

There area few populer seience snagezies pulls
ina few rowional languages including Hind: Rengal
(Ociya, Maleyalarn, Tani Telugu, Macethi, Assan,
lonme fw Bu riot have meng creation tare
purl subsidised,

Quite we foreign popular seienoe magazines sue’ as
Discover. Scieanecdmertein, rience llistraed. and
New Scien are qvallable i India, 28 1s National
Geograpaie magazine which ollen cares 2xcel et
popalar science anieles, Buvall ae quite expensive by
Indian standards aa ae besund reach of the merge
Irina ved

Dessite boing ore of the most effective makes of
popular scienee communication for non-specialists,
the zost of predic punular science magarines in

‘dla is quit high, which makes beeping thepic ow
2 dea proposion unless teavily sabato his
Gonszainc eas he removed if the Indian prt stor
fetes Larval" take ip push of low-priced
popularscienes ragarives asses espns

Popular science hooks

[By their very nate, has ofr unique pat for
jommuniceting papular see provided 9 na ether
printnedizam in terms oF detailed treulment possible
Popular scisnse books have been st the forefront of
sclence poularisation for tore aa cemry

Charles Darwins Tie Origen of Species, pubis in
1829, savatralsoter popular sclencecamtniation
(5g 3) The book vs wren for tse reads

Fg 3 Tike page of The Origin of specs,
tndatracted widespread interes upan its plication.
ins honk, Darwin Inioduced the sicaiie teary thet,
fltns cole over te eoite of gece
through « process of ratura selection It presente a
body of evidence That the dversty of Tle arose iy
jomranon descent ‘tough a brinching. pattem ol
fevouution, Darvin includ evidence That he. sl
tzkored on the Beagle expedition io te [830s sm ie
Subsequent findings rom research, comrespendnce and
experiments,
20

‘The Jusiity of his text can be judged trom the
invrodston hs wre for The Orig a Specter. Daria

Whoa oa board HM.S. Beagle, asnaturslist Lwas
‘much stuck wih conan facts inthe diseoution
Of the iahabitanss of Seuth Americ, and in the
feolapial ralatiors of the present to the past
Inhabitants ofthat conten, These fuels seemed
‘ometothroe some light on be erisinolspecies
thot mystery of mysterss,as thas ace called by
‘oss af our greats phi osupers. On muy rel
home, ture etme, om TRS thd somett
‘might perhaps be mace out an ths question by
paviently acumalatns and reflecting onal sare
Sifts which cauld possibly have any beaing on
Te Ader tye year work | alowes niyssle to
sieulate on she subject and drew up some short
odes these lsnarged in 1644 ito sketch of
teanclusons, which ther seenied to me probable
fin chat peri tots present cy | have ste
pursed ths sarse objcet. L hope thet | maybe
{xcused for enterinzon these personal details a6
lslvo them to show that Tbave nat hees hasty i
Somingtaadeesion

In consieing The Ona of Speci, itis quite
hat a naruslis, feloong. an the
fens! sins “of argue ings, di
tinbryelagicelrsltions, hei -goutaphice!
Sacto, googie succes, an cther Sach
Thetsaight come othe conclasicnthat each specs
Trad not hen independents erated, ut ad
Secened, The sarees tom other Spee
Neverbeless, suc a conclusion, even if well
Founded. woUkd be unstisiactor, intl could bo
swat ow he inmaamerable species inhabiting this
word! Fave been modifies so a8 0 acquire that
perfection of stucuze and. co-dapaton Walch
Inostjsyexeites our adm-in

As Dani ws an exinont seins, hs findings wore
isa seri and te exile he plese generat
Sciensiic aul philosophic discssem, Bu mors Sin
that it showed the poe the pried wort inchanging
thomindsct of ponte

{Inia einen penal ike Rabindranath Tagore,
Bankier Chandea Chatlejee. Igadish Clandra Bose,
Sayeniianah Bexe and) many obbets wrote excellent
Popular science, Tagore Piskexe Pasar, aud
Bowes iyuite are outstanding popular seienee books
lat euialledsseole geneation of yourg readers n
‘Gers In rece limes ibe works of ayant V Navi,
1. Balasubvamanin, Bal PLoake, G, Venkataraman
huve become bus sells, Autong noble inca

Fr;pagation

four oF SsenseConmnicston

popular selene authors, ieonse Gamo, Ise Asino»
Bhar: Clarke, Joba Cibin, Riekrd Daweh, sal
Richard Feysmanhave wie ders nc,

As isthe case with popalar science mazszine, the
pice of fersign books ip India is usually igh,
Ethough Indian roprins of many tls are mate a
low pce. Io make popular science books evailuble at
affable covt. several gcvernmenl agzncies have
faken up popular scenes book punishing, Noble
famong ther are Nalional Bok Trust, Viayan Psa
Poblicatinss Division, and Natioasl Intute

‘Solenee Communion ard tnformaiion Resources
(SISCAIR} a unit of the Coane! of Seiea ie ad
Tnduisiial Research. Amoug. temselves_ these
‘ganisations ave brought cut excellen! poplar
Sence books that have gone into several eprins

Graphics in print media
Tables rap, dings ar sels or plographs
are esc component reset pape polar
Sisos miele ore pops sckace bok pal
Soop ifecrwon wed fagee ha tsb td crt
‘Shick wes noronly Gime Gomaiming bi also obuld nat
frosice omer’ gia. iectmgues ol makin
‘Shan fcilusratons have uncergon sx chan

{he aientofvraes copter groper se
thestucacofconjher nce «bargraph orp
itu titse compurs sPwate valle hat Con
‘Soi cordate tone rogted graph

Before the saventofehe prosentelgital age, processing
‘of geaphies terial fe printing involved he complex
find expensive method 0! blosk waking, Colour
ilustatons nocess ated multiple block making that
teealy increased the vast c- priming. Morenver nce
Eblock was prepared tess was nn senpe of
fuoulifcation —atecuctin or increase inthe ire of us
‘lystationto ft heavatlabe space in a page. Mader:
teehniques of digital seanning ane. processing wave
totally eliminated these eanseaits. Pha
Uiggiais can bo racessed tay 3
page‘smade up lomake final moxifcatons

Modern printing technology

Be it daily newspapers, journals and megzzines, oF
‘ocks, printing technology has also undergone a
revolution across the world. Gone ate the days of
feling type 3¥ hand of mechine. ‘The ‘ditional
Sysiem af galley proof and att pully we totally
ltinated. Typesetting Is universally done teday on
Sompater and! pages teade ip using. a variety oF
Sotwate sich fs PageMaker" 7 CoraiDra Ina
Publishing inuse Mike eroefeee Text atic: and
stapes ave directly imported to the DP statom to
age making an fing. made-up pages with text and
staples ae delivered for ple making and printing
‘rintng soften camed eat a large-scale incisal
process, ud an essential par of publishing and
Fransaction printing.

Bouks, mayezines, and nevepapers re printed teday
‘sing the fechnigue of ullse agra (Fiz. this
‘echinique th inked inage is tansferred oma uplatetoa
rubber blanket, hen othe printing surface. When use
fn combination wath the lthowcapie process, whieh is
tased on the repulsion of oul and Wate, tbe o set

Fig-4 A ndern ot pining racine

technique employs a lat image easier on whish the
Ftsiueto be printed oatansink mikes whe ths
ronpsntingureaatracts water-based film, ksoping ths
"onepenting ets inklee. Okt printing has not only
tne teprincng ores aster hae 30 sgn ats
inprosed the guiliy of peining, especially colour
isting of popu scerce mesirnes and books

Print media vs electronic media

‘while seienee comamusieasion Uiugh pein meses
‘ssid fom olde days aril ort

‘etre the spread of electronic mevta has broughiina
new dimension ‘othe toehsique of selene

ommisicaton. The Inemst todas" potides almost
‘nat goss to almest any kindof information nelding
‘Sele intra hat 98 ine msn canna poe
Ati sce ims, however, fhe convenience of reading
hata pat newspane, again or hook san prove
soLavalable wih te elsonie media such as e-vadets
fan ad tht olen involves seco to the Incas
fevered bs ballerye exiles, constant reading the
Sciesnthat Can hequix tir fortheeyes,

Nonetheless. in view of the quick accesshilty the
Inlemet provides comparse to ths print madi, most ai

enapapers an any rssh urmals and. pop
Science maygzies are today avaiable in digital form on
Uhelngene “ar inmostenses the ier apa ine

21

vs fhe same as nthe pit editions. In this eespeet the
etc forms can be cers nly a estes of
the parted form, slthough interns of Test
acecubility the clechonie indians shied Thats ly
many scholarly journals as rue have advance online
publication befor they actually pein prin the
foumel, This gives researche” fctor acces fo new
research nor possi feng prin ania

Despite the faster accessibility of information
‘compares tp the print meal esearch hss shows hat
comprehension especially ef popular scien, isele
‘eit printed vatehal eompates to online fading,
“hugs hy Mériea Macedo-Ravct ef a, cf Methodist,
Unversity nt Sto Paul, some years ago 0 detotine
the effects of print and online presentations ol i
multiple document repor readers comprehension,
ptionoFeognitive ead salisvasion a lent
fedthar utero onfine maa show poorer resell
rman with pnt nears Avr expwrinrata pats
‘was used toassess readers’ performance use rita
online versiors of @ popular science mavarine, The
researchers. found) that Hypertex. ed higher
petecived cognitive load and pootez compeeliensicn of
{he comolementary documens, The result sisest
Thar prosensing arazhis it long yperest seeases
effort and redces text lei. te daa supported
Theories of disoxienion aid eupative lose in
hypormodieleaeing. Inst ay, online reading with 3
many lyperlinks em be std teats information
Bverlead tha often dsircis te realr fom te rin
Tepicanidreduescompretension,

Conctusion

Despite the spread of the Inlemet and electronic
publishing, the pst: media fs keytool say as 3
powerful vehicle fer science “communcalnon ~
spect popular scence ent nkat on lor several
retsons. Flectnie maa i cob boeing the
poferved media For fast exchange of information,
expecially scenic infarmation, and 0" cour
blogging, But the convenience of reading « sisted
hock or magrvin, especially popula seience oy ime
tay place fsa big advantage wits pre media thatthe
Sleettonis molia may nl be whe to provide, The
[roving wuber of sopulr eience tiles hein >istad
\Worldaide avery year and their expanding readership
Dolat to the populariy of the aint media dss the
Hlobal spread of tLe slecinme meta. h'may be i
‘question oF eetieg use toa new me, tat eal
Tock or neces pial fea sll remgins mo
omfartable and convenient ‘han tzading arsagarire
Bock on a plop, iPas ar eseader. Further, reading
prinlel book or magazine cas never bo interuptd hy 3
Tw oreiecinon bates!
22 Prspagation

References

1. Nichols Russel, Communicating Science: 3. Dharvi Doll... Garg, Public Under standing
Proisonal. Papuan Ltonarys Carebdgs: Unsery, of Seen, Vol, 9 No, 2133-140 (200),
Pr NID) 4, Minica Macedo-Rouet ef a1.. Seience

2. JD, Watson, EULC. Crick, Nature 171, 737-738" Cammunicatian Wol 28 no. 296-128 3008).
(1953)

Biman Basu. tied sce the Cane of Scent und Indu Regeaeh, se tng br ofthe
Popular sient monly Scene Raporer es 8 ete othe 194 NCSTC Nan wend ov “Hes
ETc tues hs The are trae than npr sence Bn a wes ein
farina magne

Hmantnctaa a