Abstract
This chapter gives a historical account of turning points that mark the ever-changing relationship between modern science and the public at large. Scholars recognize the importance of that, but assert that there is a growing gap between the scientist’s way of configuring nature and the people’s world view. This led to an intense debate about the science–technology–society relationship. The chapter then examines the development of science communication in India and similar countries, the science–technology–society relationship followed a trajectory that was not rooted in the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution. Modern science was alien and had to be learned and mastered by natives. The realization that science and technology are essential to improve conditions for Indians marked the first phase of science popularization. In the second phase, propagating science among the general public and building scientific institutions were seen as essential parts of the national struggle for freedom. In the third phase, science and technology and their acceptance among the masses were considered necessary for building a modern and self-reliant nation. The chapter then gives an account of the past 30 years of research experience in the Indian context and discusses the cultural distance model for analyzing public understanding of science. It also discusses the efficacy and limitations of empirical methods of measuring cultural distance.
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Notes
- 1.
Early eighteenth-century newspaper reports: A sourcebook compiled by Rictor Norton (http://rictornorton.co.uk/grubstreet/learning.htm) shows that in first two decades of that century a number of advertisements in British newspapers covered science subjects such as innovations, education, popular lectures, and geographical and natural phenomena.
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- 3.
- 4.
Almost all political leaders of Indian freedom movement and social reformers repeatedly emphasized the need to integrate modern science into Indian culture. For example M.K. Gandhi as early as in 1937, emphasizing the need to introduce Nai Taleem (New Education) wrote ‘Only every handicraft has to be taught not merely mechanically as is done today, but scientifically …’ (Harijan, 31 July 1937). J. Nehru, who became the first Prime Minister of India in 1947, in his book Discovery of India introduced and defined the phrase ‘scientific temper’ and popularized it by repeatedly using it in his speeches. Nehru became member of the Science and Social Science Relations Committee of the Indian Science Congress in 1940 and in 1947 was elected as General President of the Indian Science Congress. It is remarkable that scientific and political leadership were quite close to each other in pre- and post-independence India.
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Traditionally, in India, people move together in processions (originally on foot but now using vehicles) on various social and religious occasions. During the freedom movement, this tradition and many other religio-cultural forms of gathering were used quite effectively for anti-British political mobilization. In 1970, the KSSP mobilized people for lectures on scientific issues for the first time, and the mobilization naturally took form of processions and was called ‘jatha’. In the following years, realizing the potential of this form, the KSSP decided to mobilize scientists and artists, once a year, to spread science awareness on specific issues through mass contact. Street plays, skits, and songs written and performed on science issues gradually became an integral part of the jathas.
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Raza, G., Singh, S., Kumar, P.V.S. (2012). Public Understanding of Science: Glimpses of the Past and Roads Ahead. In: Schiele, B., Claessens, M., Shi, S. (eds) Science Communication in the World. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4279-6_9
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