- Introductory Seminar on China Pakistan network on Science Popularization
- Science Communication Seminar
- China Pakistan Network on Science Popularization
China Pakistan Network on Science Popularization
The China Pakistan Network on Science Popularization (CPNSP) will be a joint non-governmental, non-political and non-profitable entity, which will be an independent, autonomous and self-governing institution. The Network will work on learning and deploying Science Popularization between China and Pakistan.
Mission
This Network will aim at directing and encouraging science popularization research, development and use of scientific and technological knowledge and associated systems in promoting collaboration and cooperation between China and Pakistan through capacity building, encouraging dialogue, assisting in science communication education and training, and professional exchange program.
Establishment
The proposed China Pakistan Network on Science Popularization (CPNSP) will establish jointly by Zhejiang Provincial Digital Institute for Science Popularization (ZPDISP) and Technology Times. Later on, other organizations will be added in this Network. Technology Times will be the host institution. The permanent secretariat of the Network will remain in Pakistan at the premises of SciTech Media – the parent organization of Technology Times.
Objectives
The strategic objective behind establishment of this Network is to maintain and strengthen support by the general public for science, technology, and innovation in a society that is becoming more and more knowledge-based, and to enhance public understanding on science, technology, and innovation.
This initiative of CPNSP is for utilizing, directing and encouraging the science popularization and associated systems to promote science and technology (S&T) in building human resources and institutional capacity through encouraging dialogue; maintaining popular science activities; assisting in training, research and development; dissemination of information; training the media person, government officials, and administrative bodies in development of a scientifically rich society in Pakistan and China.
The following are major objectives of CPNSP
- To form, maintain and promote an association of member organizations which will engage in the proactive learning and utilization of science popularization;
- To carry out research, development in the field of science popularization and use of Science Communication through an association of member organizations and allied institutions;
- To help develop infrastructure for science popularization through Science Communication;
- To develop world class Science Communication institute within Pakistan and China;
- To develop an extensive pool of academically and technically skilled science popularization manpower at all levels;
- To promote extensive use of science and technology and its applications in trade, industry, homes, agriculture, education, health and other segments of society;
- To create strong China Pakistan relations through promoting linkages and reinforcing networks for science popularization; and
- To facilitate dissemination of knowledge and technology flow(s) from comparatively advanced societies to the less advanced ones.
Reasons for Establishment
The science plays a crucial role in the modern society, and the popularization of science is closely related to the rise and development of the scientific and technological culture, that ultimately strengthen science literacy.
With the advancement of media (print, electronic, and digital) the science popularization has become more and more involved in the knowledge-based society. Therefore, the Science Communication has become an important technical support of the science popularization.
Science popularization is nothing else than an endeavor to image scientific ideas in such a way that everyone (especially non-scientists) can grasp the fundamental concepts and have an idea of what science in essence is. The primary objective of the science popularization is to increase public understanding of science.
The science popularization is an attempt to reduce the distance standing between science specialists and the public. Science popularization is interpretation of scientific information (science) intended for a general audience, rather than for other experts or students.
Science popularization via the Science Communication is a program that takes science to general users with an objective of making them aware of the efforts, achievements and advances of science. Such programs could include books, conferences, newspapers, journalism, workshops, seminars, meetings, electronic forums, open-access journals, audio-visual material, etc.
Pakistan is a population of 197 million (2017), with rich traditions of learning and knowledge. Unfortunately, hard reality is that the total share of Pakistan in high-tech products is far and few and even there is a disproportionate technological capability gap among different geographical regions of Pakistan.
With changing paradigms of economic development where the natural resource endowment is giving way to man-made resources and the comparative advantage means having information ahead of the competitors, the challenge for Pakistan today is to gear up the potential of Science and Technology for the development and progress of the Country.
The Plan
In initial phase, our vision is to build a grid of Hub, Branches, and Outreach units along the route of CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor). This will upgrade the life standards of the society with the help of science and technology.
China Pakistan network on Science Popularization
Name of the event: Introductory Seminar on China Pakistan network on Science Popularization
Date of Event: July 8, 2019
Venue: Auditorium Pakistan Academy of Sciences Islamabad, Pakistan
Number of Attendees: 100 +
Collaborating Organization: Technology Times & Pakistan Academy of Science
Sponsorship: Pakistan Academy of Sciences
Executive Summary
On July 8, 2019, Technology Times in collaboration with Pakistan Academy of Sciences (PAS) organized an introductory seminar on China Pakistan Network on Science Popularization (CPNSP). The day-long seminar was attended by experts from different scientific organization, academia, R&D organizations and media houses in which they emphasized on the need of Science popularization in the society. The speakers and participants all are agreed upon that improving the public understanding of science and technology is an investment in the future, not a luxury to be indulged in when resources allow.
This Seminar was the continuation of China-Pakistan Science Communication Events held on May 21 – 24, 2019 at Hangzhou, China.
The experts at both the seminars developed a consensus that the better public understanding of science can be a major element in promoting national prosperity, in raising the quality of public and private decision-making and in enriching the life of the individual. These are nationally important long-term aims and require sustained commitment if they are to be realized.
The Chief Guest of the event Mr. Jia Wee, First Secretary and Science Attaché at Embassy of Peoples Republic of China in Pakistan appreciated the efforts of Technology Times and Pakistan Academy of Sciences for enhancing China Pakistan relations for science popularization.
Proceeding of the Seminar
Prof Dr. Qasim Jan President PAS delivered the welcome address. He said that this seminar will address the question of what science popularization can do to boost the social as well as economic development of the society and ultimately country. He anticipated to address this question by following the successful model of China and hoped that this Network will pave way to enhance science popularization collaboration between two brotherly countries.
The Key note presentation was delivered by Sayyed Paras Ali, CEO SciTech Media in which he briefed that proposed CPNSP: China Pakistan Network on Science Popularization will be a flagship network to enhance science popularization under Belt & Road Initiative.
He further elaborated that the strategic objective of this Network is to maintain and strengthen support by the public for popularization of science, technology, and innovation in a knowledge-based society. He further said that this initiative of CPNSP is for utilizing, directing and encouraging associated systems to promote science, technology communication popularization in building human resources and institutional capacity.
Prof Dr I.E. Qureshi, former Executive Director COMSATS shed light on the importance of science diplomacy while mentioning that Science Diplomacy is most needed in sectors of global commons and shared threats. It is also required to realize the aspirations of peace and prosperity by all nations. Much of what goes under the rubric of Science Diplomacy is not new, but what is new is a clear understanding about the need to focus on scientific inputs in all level of decision making at national and international level.
He further said that the countries like Pakistan don’t realize the importance of using a well-tested formula for development. It is because of lack of interactivity between scientific community and decision makers. The remedy lies in Science Diplomacy.
Ms. Rehana Batool, Principle Scientific Officer of Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) while giving the presentation on “Need of Science Popularization” said that the need of time is to analyze the relationship between science, technology, economic and social development and its impact on public.
She added that keeping in view the importance of informal education in promotion of science and technology, PSF has taken many steps including establishment of science centers in different cities, a state-of-the-art Pakistan Museum of Natural History in Islamabad, mobile science caravans, and science exhibitions in different regions of the country.
Dr. Wang Guangnian, Director of Science Popularization, Department, Zhejiang Association for Science and Technology (ZAST), China delivered a video lecture on the topic of “Science Popularization the key for the national Development-Case study China”.
He said, “I look forward to further exchange and cooperation with Pakistan to improve the scientific quality and to create science popularization network system to bring public closer to science and the science closer to public. I hope that science popularization network of China and Pakistan will have a bright future”.
Mr. Shafiq Minhas, News Editor at Dosti Radio FM98, in his talk said that the media can exert a powerful influence on public understanding of science. The scientific community traditionally regards the mass media with some suspicion and is, overall, ignorant of the way they work and the nature of their constraints. The more ‘popular’ sections of the media, on the other hand, too often make relatively little effort to discuss science in anything other than a superficial and mostly sensational way, and do not generally understand the nature of the scientific enterprise.
He emphasized that these attitudes need to be changed. To do so it will require a considerable but challenging and worthwhile process of mutual education.
Mr. Aleem Ahmed, Editor Global Science Magazine gave a lecture on “Role of National and Regional Languages to Popularize Science: Past, Present and Future”. He said that keeping in mind CPNSP importance and significance and the changing patterns of economic development, the today’s challenge for Pakistan is to get ready the capability of science and technology for the progress and development of the Country, which can only be achieved through enhanced science, technology communication popularization.
Dr Anwar-ul-Hassan Gillani, Vice Chancellor, The University of Haripur said in his presentation that science communication should be the part of the scientists’ everyday life. For becoming a successful scientist they should be an effective communicator. Scientists must give talks, write papers and proposals, communicate with a variety of audiences, and educate others. Thus to be successful, regardless of field or career path, scientists must learn how to communicate.
The Seminar was chaired by Mr. Jia Wee, the First Secretary and Science Attaché at Embassy of Peoples Republic of China in Pakistan. He extended his gratitude to Technology Times for proposing China Pakistan network on Science Popularization. He also appreciated the role of PAS for their wonderful support for organizing the event.
He said that, “science is a major component and it is very important for socio economic development. He mentioned that this seminar is the continuation of the proposed network of CPNSP. This network was proposed at a seminar held at Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China in the month of May 2019; and now it is formally moved to Pakistan. He said that CPNSP is the joint effort of Chinese and Pakistani experts on science popularization. He said that this seminar will provide platform for the success of this Network. Through this venture science popularization will go further and better between both countries”.
At the end of the event Ms. Hina Baloch, In-charge Editorial Section, Technology Times while giving the concluding remarks thanked all speakers, participants and organizers for their presence and continuing interest for science popularization in Pakistan.
She further added that it is heartening that Technology Times since 2010 has grown significantly over the years into a strong science advocacy movement and is now recognized as the premier scientific media of Pakistan. The journey of Technology Times from its first issue published on January 4, 2010 to date has been quite remarkable and exciting as it helped in achieving significant breakthroughs in different fields of science communication popularization to create a scientific culture in Pakistan.
The participants of the Seminar are of the view that popular scientific and technical magazines such as Technology Times and popular science media are important sources of scientific information and education for the scientifically attentive public. They believe that scientist without help of Media cannot build a scientific culture in the country which is extremely needed task.
Science Communication Seminar
| Date of Event: | May 21-24, 2019 |
| Venue: | Auditorium Hangzhou Low Carbon Science and Technology Museum, China |
| Number of Attendees: | 100 + |
| Directed by: | Department of International Affairs of China Association for Science and Technology |
| Sponsorship: | China Center for International science and Technology Exchange Zhejiang Association for Science and Technology Zhejiang Provincial Department of Science and Technology Hangzhou Association for Science and Technology |
Executive Summary:
Science communication plays a vital role in creating awareness among the general public about science. It is influential in bringing the work of scientists from the lab to the limelight.
The work of Popularizing Science is important in bridging the gap between the language of the common person and scientist’s resultant in public opinion which safeguards the making of appropriate government policies advantageous to the development of science in the country.
A three-day seminar on China-Pakistan Science Communication was organized by Hangzhou Low Carbon Science and Technology Museum, China under directions of Department of International Affairs of China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) at Hangzhou China.
Speakers from various science and technology organization of China and Pakistan attended the seminar. SciTech Media, Technology Times and Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) represented Pakistan. Whereas, Chinese Association of Sciences and Technology (CAST), Zhejiang Association of Science and Technology (ZAST), China Research Institute of Science Popularization (CRISP), Beijing Technology and Business University (BTBU), and several other representatives from academia, industry and media organizations represented China.
Proceeding of Seminar
Wang Zhongming Vice President of ZAST while talking to audience said that, “the event will be committed to building a China- Pakistan cooperation mechanism for Science Popularization promoting the “ China –Pakistan Economic Corridor”, and having talks and discussions on some top concerns such as science popularization planning, Science Communication innovation and the integration of science, technology and culture”.
Sayyed Paras Ali President SciTech Media and Editor Technology Times while speaking at the seminar told that “without having clear understanding of science, it is impossible for general public to engage in meaningful thought, debate, or actions regarding some of the most pressing, controversial, and consequential matters which are facing our society”.
He further stated that “using science and technology to promote economic and social development should be an international consensus”.
He also presented the concept of China-Pakistan Network on Science Popularization (CPNSP). This Network will work on learning and deploying Science Popularization between China and Pakistan.
Wang Guangnian, Director of Science Popularization Department, ZAST mentioned that this seminar will be a driven force to friendly and mutually supportive relations between China and Pakistan, and make common progress on the way of promoting popular science for all.
Purpose behind this seminar is to enhance the mutual cooperation and communication, share experience on Science Communication, and advance the scientific literacy of people of both countries.
The six member delegation from Pakistan include: Dr. Ata Ur Rahman, Counselor (Scientific & Technical Affairs), Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Beijing; Dr Mirza Habib Ali, Director of Research Support, Pakistan Science Foundation; Sayyed Paras Ali, President of SciTech Media; Hina Rasheed Baloch, Kamran Amin, and Abdul Aleem Baig from Technology Times attended the seminar.
The seminar was co-organized by the China Centre for International Science and Technology Exchange, Zhejiang Association for Science and Technology (ZAST), the Science and Technology Department of Zhejiang Province, and Hangzhou Association for Science and Technology (HAST), under the guidance of the International Liaison Department of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST).