New Delhi, Jan 15 : Union Science and Technology Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Tuesday launched DD Science channel and internet based channel India Science with national broadcaster Doordarshan here.
The DD science will be telecasting one hour program slot on Doordarshan National channel from Monday to Saturday 5pm to 6 pm while internet based India science channel will be available on any internet enabled device.
Inaugurating the two key initiatives of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) along with Doordarshan (DD), Prasar Bharati, Dr Harsh Vardhan said that this is a watershed moment not only in science and technology communication but in developing the scientific temper of our society.
Recalling, the role played by Doordarshan, India’s public service broadcaster, in the Pulse Polio campaign back in 1990’s, Dr. Vardhan said that Doordarshan,which reaches out to more than 92 per cent of India’s population would be a very impactful medium for popularisation of science.
The Minister expressed hope that in near future the country will see a 24X7 DD Science Channel. “By 2030 we have to be in top three countries in science and technology and such initiatives are building blocks towards that”, he said.
“The two science communication platforms are National level initiatives to elevate science into a celebration and bring it close to everyday life. DST and DD aim to make them jewels in the crown of the country for serving humanity for the furtherance of science”, Dr Harsh Vardhan further said.
The channels have been conceived and supported by the DST and are being implemented and managed by Vigyan Prasar, an autonomous organisation of DST. The two science channels which are milestones in the history of science communication in India, are the first step in creating a national science channel for the country.
While India Science (www.indiascience.in) is already a 24×7 presence, DD Science may also be scaled up to a full-fledged channel in the future, the official release said.
The two channels will have science-based documentaries, studio-based discussions, and virtual walk-throughs of scientific institutions, interviews and short films and will be completely free to access.
The inauguration programme and the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Vigyan Prasar and Doordarshan was attended by DST Secretary Prof Ashutosh Sharma, Information and Broadcasting Secretary Amit Khare, Doordarshan Director General Ms Supriya Sahu, Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi Shekhar Vempati, Vigyan Prasar Director Dr Nakul Parashar and senior officials from Ministry of Science and Technology and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
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