Central America Needs a Plan for Science Communication

In opinion page article from SciDev.Net, Jorge A. Huete-Pèrez discusses the limits to opportunities for scientific research in Central America and states that: "Faced with these issues and the growing impact of science and technology on people's lives, Central American countries must establish priorities for science communication and build a culture of science."

Huete-Pérez cites a lack of political commitment to science and readership for the burgeoning volume of news about science, technology, and innovation because of a crisis in public education. "Under these circumstances, science communication must be about more than just science news - it also needs to educate people about the value of scientific discoveries. Science communication should be facilitating greater social ownership, commitment and participation in the political decision-making process for science and technology.... Identifying priorities is the first step towards successful science communication. These might include setting up community science fairs and 'discovery museums', as well as sound university programmes and annual prizes for science communication." Huete-Pérez advocates for "build strong and lasting ties between communicators and scientists in conjunction with civil society... based on a view of science communication as an essential tool for human and social development.... In developing countries, communicating the progress and challenges of science and technology should be managed strategically to create a culture of science, and to aim for higher levels of social ownership."

In conclusion, the author calls for governments to take action in implementing science policies and for foundations and science academies to incorporate outreach activities within a national planning and coordination scheme. He faours holding a science journalism seminar in Nicaragua and, at Central American University, Managua, Nicaragua, implementing a programme for scientific outreach and journalism, specialising in science and technology, as well as the cooperation agreement between the Nicaraguan Academy of Sciences and the Nicaraguan Council of Science and Technology (CONICYT).