NOPR Collection:

Mobilizing for Democratization of Science in India: Learning from the PSM experience

2014-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Mobilizing for Democratization of Science in India: Learning from the PSM experience Authors: Abrol, Dinesh Abstract: In this paper the author describes the many layered meanings of science popularization programmes being undertaken by the peoples’ science movements (PSMs) in India with the aim to democratize the conduct and governance of modern science and technology over the period of last two and half decades. The author argues that the vast people’s network built over several decades serves diverse needs from popularization of science, to critiquing science policies and state sponsored environmentally unfriendly projects, to broadening access to literacy, education, health and self-help programmes for sustainable livelihoods. The author argues that the PSMs and their leaders are well aware that public engagement with the formation of ‘scientific counter publics’ takes roots in India in competition with the ideologies of neo-liberalism, cultural nationalism and neo-traditionalism. The author argues that the challenge facing the PSMs revolves around the dilemmas of building peoples’ coalition to deal with the challenge of mobilization for the democratization of governance of S&T in India. Page(s): 10-32

Communicating Science in India through People’s Science Movements (PSMs)

2014-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Communicating Science in India through People’s Science Movements (PSMs) Authors: Pattnaik, Binay Kumar; Sahoo, Subhasis Abstract: It hardly needs emphasis that People’s Science Movements (PSMs) in India have been very unique and such movements are not seen elsewhere although science popularization/science communication movements were seen in USA, Europe and Australia. Since, PSM as social phenomena have caught our academic fascination, we first tried to characterise the phenomenon and second, tried to locate such phenomena in their historically context, tracing their socio-historical roots. Lastly, through extensive studies of six cases of various types of PSMs (e.g., Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samiti, Delhi Science Forum, Jana Vignana Vedika, Paschim Banga Vigyan Manch, Odisha Bigyan Prachar Samiti, and Marathi Vidyan Parishad) we have tried to analyse them from the view point of a social movement perspective, such as the Resource Mobilization Theory. Page(s): 33-85

Science for the Odia Public

2014-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Science for the Odia Public Authors: Pattnaik, Nikhil Mohan Abstract: Writings on science subjects, directed at the public have been a regular feature of modern Odia literature which began taking shape during the 1850’s. This article attempts to document such writings between 1850 and 1950 and to present an overview of their number, content and authors. A search through the available printed material, mostly periodicals, of this time interval yielded 765 articles which were contributed by about 100 different authors. The articles showed wide variance with respect to their length, content and style. The writings were distributed among various periodicals (672 articles), collected works (35), and two works of reference (58). The combined length of the 765 articles is about 6,00,000 words and these were supplemented with numerous illustrations and several tables. An illustrative list of 80 selected articles is given with this article along with brief summaries of their contents with a view to helping the readers appreciate their diversity. Tables giving the distribution of the articles according to the time period of publication and according to their length are included. Tabulation of authors and the number of articles written by each has been made to identify the more prolific authors. Page(s): 86-120

Understanding Scientific Temperament and Assessing its Social Relevance

2014-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Understanding Scientific Temperament and Assessing its Social Relevance Authors: Saxena, Abhishek Abstract: Most people have wrongly understood scientific temperament. Though efforts have been made for long to inculcate scientific temper and rational thinking among the lay-public, it has largely been an unsuccessful attempt. One of the major factors may be the tendency of society to submit to every belief and viewpoint of our ancestors, without ever testing its feasibility or its relevance in the changing times. Educating the young can have a positive effect on development of scientific temper in the society. Students should be encouraged to reason and argue with their teachers, mentors, and elders in a healthy manner and should employ a do-it-yourself approach in analyzing situations and solving problems. They should also be encouraged to read the ancient texts in order to critically analyze them and accept or decline the claims that they make based on one’s rational thinking. Page(s): 121-140