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Home > Policy > White Paper, Notice, Announcement > White Paper > Annual Report on the Promotion of Science and Technology 2000 > Part1 Chapter3 Section4 2 | ![]() |
According to demands of society, mechanisms are required to
explain science and technology knowledge to the public in a more specialized
manner, at any time, and in some cases to individuals. It is also necessary to
create opportunities to evoke interest in people who did not have an interest
in science and technology.
There is therefore a need to foster "Interpreters" who
act as a bridge between science and technology and general public.
(Mechanisms to Communicate Information) |
With the rapid development of telecommunications technology,
effective and efficient distribution of information utilizing new communication
media such as computer networks and multi-channel satellite broadcasting have
become possible.
There is also a need to identify effective means of communicating
information from all possibilities, including publishing books and cartoons,
lectures, and communication by telephone and interview as means that have been
carried out from the past.
(Requirements for Interpreters) |
Since interpreters are expected to understand highly technical
information about science and technology, and to understand the latest information,
it is thought to be effective to utilize researchers, engineers, school teachers,
and retired teachers.
There are a large number of researchers who, apart from research
work, show an interest in dissemination and education in science and technology
soon after the planning sector of research and development. They are expected
to be a source of Interpreters ( Fig.
18 ).
It is also necessary to foster Interpreters who have skills
to explain science and technology in easily understood terms to the general public.
Examples of effective methods include increasing visits and enhancing training
held at research institutions in a variety of fields, holding lecture sessions
with science journalists and people from educational circles as guest lecturers,
and providing Interpreters with videos and textbooks that introduce experiments
and lectures that are easy to understand, and that act as the norm when actually
giving explanations to the public.
(Quality of Information) |
The quality of information provided to the general public
should be diverse and varied, meeting the needs of the target ranging from evoking
an interest in the sector of society without interest in science and technology
at all, to responding adequately to the intellectual curiosity of sectors of
society with considerable interest in science and technology.
From the past, science journalism has functioned as an Interpreter
concerning science and technology. Public opinion polls indicate that the general
public relies heavily on the media as a source of information about science and
technology ( Fig. 19 ).
In the future, it will be necessary for science journalism
to promote understanding and evoke interest about science and technology among
the general public by providing accurate facts from impartial and diverse perspectives.
There is also a need to foster and secure journalists who
are specialized in science and technology, and to make reports which actively
incorporates commentary and analysis by experts, thereby improving the quality
and quantity of science journalism in Japan.
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