A dearth of science journalists, scientists wary of what they perceive to be ill-informed journalists and incredible local science stories going untold due to language barriers.
These were just some of the factors that spurred on the launch of the first Science Reporting Conference in November 2007.
Initiated by Paula Fray & Associates, the conference aimed to enhance and deepen journalists’ ability to understand science, find stories in the jargon and enhance skills in putting across science in a user-friendly way. The conference also provided an excellent opportunity to for journalists to network with scientists.
Paula Fray and Associates brought out British doctor/virologist, Dr Chris Smith – presenter of The Naked Scientists radio show – as the keynote speaker.
“The Naked Scientists’ basic goal is to help people enjoy science as much as we do and, at the same time, have fun,” says Smith.
He and his media savvy team of physicists and researchers from Cambridge University use radio, live lectures, and the internet to strip science down to its bare essentials and promote it to the general public.
Their award winning BBC weekly radio programme reaches a potential audience of six million listeners and has a large following on the web.
Smith amazed the conference participants with his knack of taking complicated science and making it understandable and simple enough to fascinate the layperson.
The science reporting conference was aimed at editors, senior reporters, science writers, television and radio presenters, producers, sub-editors and post-graduate journalism students.
A mix of acclaimed practicing science journalists and scientists shared their knowledge and skills with 47 delegates. Present were experts in climatology, HIV/Aids, astronomy and paleontology.
Dr Chris Smith and Diran Onifade
Paula Fray and Associates also hosted Nigerian television journalist, the Vice President of the World Federation of Science Journalists who explained to the delegates how the federation was spreading the passion and skills for science journalism in Africa through its mentoring program.
The conference attracted some of South Africa’s top science journalists. Christina Scottt, Africa news editor of the Science and Development Network news website and a mentor to African science reporters, spoke about how science reporting differs from general news reporting.
Astronomer Case Rijsdijk, astronomer gave a presentation entitled “Why is there no pepper with SALT?” and Deputy Editor and Science Editor of Die Burger George Claassen discussed bridging the divide between scientists and journalists.
Adele Baleta, award-winning science journalist and media trainer, spoke on how to detect pseudo-science.
The conference programme also included the following speakers:
- Prof Lee Berger – Head of Palaeontology, Wits University
- Prof Krishanlal Bharuth-Ram, Executive Director of National Facilities, NRF
- Prof Eugene Botha – University of SA
- Hastings Chikoko Component Manager, Awareness Creation, SADC/DANIDA
- Rehana Dada – Radio & Television producer & presenter
- Dr Sumentheran Govender, Clinical Study Manager, Population Council
- Marina Joubert – Science Communication Trainer
- Dr Jocelyn Moyes – Director, Research, Microbicides, RHRU, Wits University
- Frank Schwegler – Group Air Quality Management, Anglo Technical Division
- Dr Mark Tadross – Snr Research Fellow, Dept of Environmental & Geographical Science, University of Cape Town
- Dr Francois Venter – Cluster Head, HIV Management Cluster Reproductive Health and HIV Researc Unit, Wits University
Evaluations indicated that every delegate who attended the conference felt they gained valuable skills and would return to their jobs better equipped to tell the stories that needed to be told.
Below are some of the comments from delegates:
- Very good conference. Should be brought to the attention of SA editors so they appoint science editors;
- Good balance of topics – leaving having learnt a little more about all the issues discussed;
- Content was spot on.
- Wonderful opportunity to be exposed to other writers out there and to meet foremost scientists and writers;
- An opportunity to understand the reservations the scientific fraternity might have about the press and to make new contacts;
- Very educational – please introduce annually
- Spread the conference over three days. Would have loved to attend all sessions but had to choose;
- On the whole, the conference was excellent. Looking forward to 2008.
