Strategies for Next Generation Science Communication

The National Consultation Meet on “Fostering faster reach of Aquaculture research innovations through media in a science communication perspective” was held at ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Bhubneshwaron 27 October, 2017.

Dr. S.K. Singh, Project Director, ICAR-DKMA, Chief Guest,  hoped that media interactions would help enhancing visibility of ICAR in public space. He urged the scientist and others to be more friendly with media which will help in wider dissemination of the farmer-friendly information.

The keynote speaker Dr. Mrinal Chatterjee, Professor and Regional Director, Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Dhenkanal, Odisha urged the mainstream media to cover agricultural inventions and innovations developed by farmers. He also stressed on the need to align research institutes’ objectives with the priorities of media.

Prof (Dr). Ashok Panda, General Manager and Editorial Coordinator, Sanmarg, Bhubaneswar, stressed on harmony and healthy relationship between media and the organisation.

Earlier Dr J. K. Sundaray, Director, ICAR-CIFA underscored the importance of media in creating awareness about improved agricultural technologies.  Innovations, success stories and best practices adopted by the entrepreneurs should reach to the end users, he added.

Fruitful deliberations were made by the experts during the meet and it took a stock of the present state of affairs of media outreach of aquaculture research. It was felt that a multi-pronged communication strategy would be the best option to reach the different sects of the stakeholders of aquaculture industry.

(Source: ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Bhubneshwar)