Science, technology take communication high – WFSJ
Mr Vesa Niinikangas, President, World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ) has noted that science and technological advancement has taken communication to the next level, making the activity borderless.
He said the driving force for this advancement revolves around the curiosity of scientists, researchers and reporters, describing it as the “door that links to the indoors”.
Mr Niinikangas made the observation at the Eighth World Conference of Science Journalists in Helsinki, Finland.
The Conference attracted more than 800 science reporters, communicators, media and researchers from 77 countries globally and is on the theme: “Critical Questioning in the Public Sphere.”
Mr Niinikangas observed that curiosity in the media sense flourishes in freedom of expression, which prompts the ability to ask good questions, remaining relevant and to communicate.
He urged science reporters to continue to be innovative and remain the drivers of science and technology insisting “curiosity never dies”.
Ms Krista Kiuru, Finnish Minister of Education and Culture in an address read on her behalf said Finland would continue to lay the needed infrastructure and support such as funding to broaden the frontiers of science and technology education in the school system.
She noted that posing critical questions leapfrogs science reporters into an abyss of watchdog role for the generality of societal good.
She commended the Finnish Association of Science Editors and Journalists (FASEJ) for their fortitude to host the conference.
Mrs Satu Lipponen, Coordinator of the conference and President of FASEJ said science journalism is a solution to the myriad of problems that confound the world.
She said science journalism is impacting positively globally and the transformation would be at the heart of scientific and technological development.
She urged journalists to seek knowledge.
Professor Tapio Markkanen, Chairman of Finnish National Committee for UNESCO said science, education, culture and communication is the way forward, but it must be backed by the new order and for wider participation.
He said science communication has validated and brought relevance to the world and expressed the belief that this ability would lead to wider responsibilities through capacity building efforts.
The conference is sponsored by the Qatar Foundation, Johnson& Johnson, Sao Paulo Research Foundation, EUREKALERT, European School of Oncology under the auspices of Finnish Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Education and Culture, WFSJ with the media partners being Science and Development Networks.
Source: GNA