JNU | RTI | Directory | Contact Us | Emergency Services | List of Holidays
-A A +A

Spreading Scientific Temper: A Constitutional Obligation and Media'

Spreading Scientific Temper: A Constitutional Obligation and Media'

Event End Date
Event Title
Spreading Scientific Temper: A Constitutional Obligation and Media'
Event Details
<strong>CENTRE FOR MEDIA STUDIES SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES</strong> a talk by <strong>Prof. Gauhar Raza</strong> (Former Prof. AcSIR, Chief Scientist, National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources) on <strong>Spreading Scientific Temper: A Constitutional Obligation and Media'</strong> DATE: <strong>Wednesday, 21st September, 2016</strong> <strong>Abstract : </strong>The first part of the presentation will focus on the debate which culminated into 'Scientific Policy Resolution-1958', passed by the parliament of India. The consensus built around the notion of 'Scientific Temper', during the freedom movement and first three decades of independent India, broke down during the Nineteen Eighties. Gradually, communication of science was de-linked from its ultimate objective of building scientifically tempered society. The second part of the presentation will deal with experience gained during production of two popular science TV serials 'Kasuati' and 'Eureka'. It is important to investigate how large cultural distance between 'Science' and 'media' prohibits building a long lasting social compact between the two. Gauhar Raza is former Prof. AcSIR and Chief Scientist, National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources, CSIR. Editor of Journal of Scientific Temper and a Fellow of Mapungubwe Institute of Strategic Reflection, South Africa, Member, Science Communication Committee, JHC, University of Lorraine, France. For the past 35 year he has worked on Public Understanding of Science.  

A warm welcome to the modified and updated website of the Centre for East Asian Studies. The East Asian region has been at the forefront of several path-breaking changes since 1970s beginning with the redefining the development architecture with its State-led development model besides emerging as a major region in the global politics and a key hub of the sophisticated technologies. The Centre is one of the thirteen Centres of the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi that provides a holistic understanding of the region.

Initially, established as a Centre for Chinese and Japanese Studies, it subsequently grew to include Korean Studies as well. At present there are eight faculty members in the Centre. Several distinguished faculty who have now retired include the late Prof. Gargi Dutt, Prof. P.A.N. Murthy, Prof. G.P. Deshpande, Dr. Nranarayan Das, Prof. R.R. Krishnan and Prof. K.V. Kesavan. Besides, Dr. Madhu Bhalla served at the Centre in Chinese Studies Programme during 1994-2006. In addition, Ms. Kamlesh Jain and Dr. M. M. Kunju served the Centre as the Documentation Officers in Chinese and Japanese Studies respectively.

The academic curriculum covers both modern and contemporary facets of East Asia as each scholar specializes in an area of his/her interest in the region. The integrated course involves two semesters of classes at the M. Phil programme and a dissertation for the M. Phil and a thesis for Ph. D programme respectively. The central objective is to impart an interdisciplinary knowledge and understanding of history, foreign policy, government and politics, society and culture and political economy of the respective areas. Students can explore new and emerging themes such as East Asian regionalism, the evolving East Asian Community, the rise of China, resurgence of Japan and the prospects for reunification of the Korean peninsula. Additionally, the Centre lays great emphasis on the building of language skills. The background of scholars includes mostly from the social science disciplines; History, Political Science, Economics, Sociology, International Relations and language.

Several students of the centre have been recipients of prestigious research fellowships awarded by Japan Foundation, Mombusho (Ministry of Education, Government of Japan), Saburo Okita Memorial Fellowship, Nippon Foundation, Korea Foundation, Nehru Memorial Fellowship, and Fellowship from the Chinese and Taiwanese Governments. Besides, students from Japan receive fellowship from the Indian Council of Cultural Relations.