 |
Vigyantech India® |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Vigyantech India® |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| COMMON TERMS AND DEFINITIONS |
|---|
|
Science The word 'science' here is used in a much broader and wider generic sense to include in its fold 'mathematics','technology', 'industry', 'design', 'engineering', 'education', 'methodology', 'applications', and 'processes'. It also includes agriculture, health and defence areas. It does not include astrology, for we do not believe that it qualifies in any way to be included under 'science' since, in its practice, the scientific methodology is not involved or made use of. Scientific temper/outlook/attitude Every Indian citizen has a constitutional duty under Article 51(A)(h) to develop scientific temper, a term often used by Jawahar Lal Nehru. He wanted citizens of free India to rid themselves of age-old superstitions and blind beliefs, which were holding back the country'sdevelopment, and develop a scientific, rational outlook in life. Though scientific temper, outlook, and attitude are basically all different terms, the common thread that binds them is the "method of science". If an individual has internalised the method of science, he/she would be most likely to possess all these attributes. Science popularisation This is an expression used to describe efforts aimed at popularising science and promoting scientific attitudes among common people -- the key objective being that more and more people, more and more often, make use of the method and values of science in their everyday lives. These efforts include spreading of awareness and understanding about the scientific aspects of natural phenomena and events taking place around us, about the possibilities and potential that on going research and development work in laboratories around the world hold for mankind -- both the beneficial as well as the harmful ones. Science communication Science communication covers a much larger canvas and science popularisation is just a specific category of science communication. But since we would be dealing mostly with this category on this site, the expression "science popularisation" and "science communication" may sometimes be used interchangeably. Public understanding of science This is an expression used largely in North America in place of "science popularisation". However, in operational terms, the two are almost identical in their meaning and scope. In any case, we would not be making much use of it on this site. Method of science We believe that the method and values of science are far more important than the content of science. This method is at the core of doing science and its progress. Inquisitiveness, asking questions, questioning assumptions, experimentation, reproducibility, verifiability etc. are important characteristics associated with the method of science. Scientific literacy It is being felt more and more that for a self-respecting citizen in this day and age, merely being literate is not enough. He/She needs to become scientifically literate as well. However, unlike a (more or less) universal definition of literacy, there is as yet no such similar definition of scientific literacy -- even though work on this has been going on for over a decade now in India. (UNESCO also got a Concept Paper prepared in 1999 on this subject for launching a worldwide programme on promotion of scientific literacy and culture accessible to all.) Software This is not to be confused with computer programmes. Science Communication software is a generic term for all types of science communication (and educational) materials, such as scripts of popular lectures, plays, radio and television programmes, films including video films, puppet shows, exhibition materials, books, charts, posters, other print materials, toys, kits, experiments...and more. Back |