The sessions and presentations at ScienceComm’17 conference showcased how to make science accessible to all through communicating it in simplified and intriguing ways. Swiss and Indian keynote speakers and experts shared their ideas, findings and researches in simple and effective ways, implemented through hands-on group experiments, workshops, compelling speeches and open discussions. The addressed disciplines were varied and mirrored worldwide communication trends, ranging from science writing, photography & films, social media, data visualization & infographics, science marketing and more. The one-day long conference was open to a broad audience of students, researchers, educators, science writers and citizen science enthusiasts and was attended by 120 participants from all over India.
In order to foster connections with experts in this relevant field from Switzerland and India organizer swissnex India partnered with Science et Cité, the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences' competence centre for dialogue, and National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) Bangalore, the Indian centre of higher learning and interdisciplinary research. The event took place in the framework of the biennial initiative «70 Years of Swiss-Indian Friendship».
ScienceComm’17 India was formally opened by Prof. Baldev Raj, Director National Institute of Advanced studies (NIAS), and Dr. Balz Strasser, CEO swissnex India and Consul General of Switzerland. A gamut of activity based hands-on sessions was planned for both halves of the day between common keynote speeches for all participants. The program’s main theme of ‘Simplifying Science’ was introduced by Philipp Burkard, Director Science et Cité. He also spoke on the evolution and trends in Swiss science communication.
The curated themes of the diverse sessions provided for an engaging variety for the participating audience. Co-founders of Biomimicry Seema Anand and Prashant Dhawan tapped into the world’s largest meta-data: Nature. Data analyst and visualization expert Laura Symul gave a workshop on how to create a purposeful visual science story. Science writers Sandhya Ramesh and Nandita Jayraj showcased how to use social media to kick-start science dialogues. The group following photographer, filmmaker and story teller Anil Annaiah discovered science through the lens of the camera. To wrap up the conference renowned journalist Subhra Priyadashini, Nature India Editor, gave a compelling speech on the art of science writing and Grammy Award-winning musician and conservationist Ricky Kej struck the right note with his presentation on music as a powerful communication tool.
The first ScienceComm’17 conference received an enthusiastic response from both speakers and participants with a packed auditorium till the end of the day. It enabled participants for a good exchange of ideas and to take home and put to use new and effective practices of communicating science in the discipline of their work.
