The Mehta Family Centre for Engineering in Medicine

Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur

MFCEM Workshop on Science and Public Engagement

By

Dr. Sarah Hyder Iqbal

The MFCEM workshop on Science and Public engagement was conducted by Dr. Sarah Hyder Iqbal on 24th Sep. 2022. Dr. Sarah is a communications and science engagement strategist.  She received her PhD in Biochemistry from Oxford University. Her focus is to build capacity in science engagement in India and develop creative, inclusive and participatory tools for public and policy engagement with science for a sustainable future.  She has initiated and is part of many national and international engagement programs, such as Superheroes Against Superbugs: an initiative to build a community to tackle antibiotic resistant-infections in India; and international programms such as Arting Health for Impact and Planet Divoc-91 among others.

  Resources on Science & Public Engagement

In the workshop Dr Sarah delved into the WHAT, the WHY and the HOW of Science and public engagement, highlighting the need to bring Science, Technology and Engineering to the public and society at large. In a highly engrossing session she introduced the audience to the various facets of public engagement particularly in the Indian context: namely communicating science; engaging with the public; co-creating solutions and ultimately empowering the public to have a say in matters science. Dr. Sarah encouraged young researchers to actively think, participate and if possible initiate public engagement activities.

During the workshop the participants were introduced to the various Indian government policies on science and public engagement: such as the Science Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP 2020) and Scientific and Social Responsibility (SSR). Dr. Sarah also brought to fore the various existing platforms for public engagement, such as the Indian Science Festival, as well as workshops, webinars and events organized by Public Communication of Science and Technology (PCST) and Mesh, a global community engagement network.

Overall the workshop was highly informative, very motivating, and wonderfully engrossing.

 

 

The Bhupat & Jyoti Mehta Family Foundation

MFCEM at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur is generously supported by the Mehta Family Foundation.

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