A survey to gather perspectives of DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance-funded researchers on public engagement with science
Authors
Sarah Iqbal
Independent Communications and Public Engagement Consultant, Noida, 201304, India
Marina Joubert
Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology (CREST), Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Sarah Iqbal
1
Han Tran
Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Mary Chambers
Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Han Tran
Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Mary Chambers
Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Marina Joubert
Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology (CREST), Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Banya Kar
DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance, Hyderabad, India
Sarah Iqbal
1
Keywords:
Public Engagement, Science Communication, Researcher, India, Survey, Research, Biomedical science, Health research, Clinical research
Abstract
Lately, the Indian research ecosystem has seen an upward trend in scientists showing interest in communicating their science and engaging with non-scientific audiences; however, the number and variety of science communication or public engagement activities undertaken formally by scientists remains low in the country. There could be many contributing factors for this trend. To explore this further, the science funding public charity in India, DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance (India Alliance), in a first of its kind of study by a funding agency in India, surveyed its 243 research grantees in November 2020 requesting their views on public engagement with science in India through an online survey. The survey included both quantitative as well as open-ended questions to assess the understanding of, participation in, and attitude of India Alliance Fellows/Grantees towards public engagement with research, identify the enablers, challenges, and barriers to public engagement for India Alliance Fellows/Grantees, understand the specific needs (training/capacity-building, funding, etc.) and develop recommendations for India Alliance as well as for the larger scientific ecosystem in the country. The survey showed that India Alliance grantees are largely motivated to engage with the public about science or their research but lack professional recognition and incentives, training and structural support to undertake public engagement activities.
Keywords: Public Engagement, Science Communication, Researcher, India, Survey, Research, Biomedical science, Health research, Clinical research
Author Biographies
Sarah Iqbal, Independent Communications and Public Engagement Consultant, Noida, 201304, India
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