Vigyan Prasar’s (VP) programme Science on Television has emerged as one of its major activities. The objective is to bring out video science programmes on different aspects of science and technology in different Indian languages to demystify science and inculcate scientific temper. In this digital era, majority of people in the world are receiving science and technology knowledge through television and new electronic media. So it can be argued that science communication- Television remains the medium with most impact. With this view, VP has been started utilizing television for science communication since its inception and produced several S&T based programmes. Science can become people’s science only when they find involvement and appreciation in the making of science communication. Our science serials/science films/documentary films are an attempt to bridge the gap between labs and people. “Science is everywhere and for everyone” is the guiding principle of this activity.
After the finalization of primarily research work on new themes/topics, VP outsources production work through tendering. The film makers/individuals/institutions/firms are encouraged to participate in tender process through proper announcement in newspapers/website etc. VP approach for making science and technology programmes is as following:
VP is telecasting its programme from 17 different TV channels. A memorandum of association (MOU) was signed in year 2007 with Prasar Bharti with the arrangement that VP will produce the science programme and Doordarshan will telecast through its channels. Since then VP programmes are being telecasted through DD- National, DD Bharti, DD Urdu, DD India, DD Kisan and others 10 Doordarshan regional kendra’s. VP has also signed MOU with RSTV and LSTV for its programmes including weekly science news programme.
VP has a very broad canvas as the target population is concern. It is pitching at urban as well as rural audiences, educated and otherwise, professional, working class and unemployed, young and children.
VP has produced more than two thousand episodes on various themes of science and technology in not only in Hindi and English but also in ten other Indian languages like Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Malayalam Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi, Telugu, Tamil, and Urdu. Presently VP is producing around 300 episodes/ 150 hrs science programme per year. Some important video science serials/documentary films are as follows:
VP started telecast of weekly science news programme Science Monitor in English and Gyan Vigyan in Hindi from Lok Sabha Television (LSTV) in year 2010-11. Now this news programme is being telecasted from Rajya Sabha Television (RSTV) regularly.
VP programmes are also made accessible through Vigyan Prasar YouTube, NISCAIR-tube and National Repository of Open Educational Resources (NROER) of NCERT etc.
VP regularly conducts the screening of its films for students of schools/science clubs/colleges etc. and also participates in various Indian or International films festivals. In addition to this VP is also organising its own National Science Film Festival/ Rastriya Vigyan Chalchitra Mela (RVCM) since 2011.
Most of the produced audio and video programmes are now available on CD/VCD/DVD for sale. A list of audio/video programmes available for sale is given in audio-video catalogue. These resource materials may be obtained by sending a bank draft in favour of Vigyan Prasar. Availability of the material may be checked with sale and purchase department of VP on Ph: 0120-2404427 or info@vigyanprasar.gov.in before placing the order.
Kapil K Tripathi Scientist F & Head, Science on Television Division
Email:- kapil[at]vigyanprasar[dot]gov[dot]in
Ph No.0120-2401721
Sachin C Narwadiya Scientist C
Email:-sachin[at]vigyanprasar[dot]gov[dot]in
Phone no:-011-26967532
Navneet Kumar Gupta Project Officer-EduSAT
Email:ngupta@vigyanprasar.gov.in Phone no:-011-26967532