International Journal of Education and Development using ICT

International Journal of Education and Development using ICT > Vol. ()

Science for Women Project - A participatory Community Radio Initiative in Science Communication for Women

Neeraja Prabakar, Anna University

Abstract
This paper explores the potential of community radio as a medium of science communication to facilitate a participative initiative with the disadvantaged women community in the sharing of common scientific knowledge indispensable for everyday living and thereby enhance the quality of their lives. The project aims at disseminating scientific awareness needed for everyday living amongst a participatory group of 400 women from two urban slums in the Anna FM coverage zone through the broadcast of a science radio serial in magazine format for 365 days from July 2005 to June 2006 and thereby enhance their living standards. The broadcast themes for the project include health, nutrition, home gadgetry, fuel utilisation, environment, disaster management, food processing, information technology, biotechnology, methid of science and science behind myths and superstitions. Participatory outreach activities related to the broadcast themes are also part of project - health screening camp, environment awareness camp, practical training in computer basics, community radio broadcast skills workshop and the Earth Day Debate. Weekly community skits and phone in live shows by the community women folk add to the feedforward and feedback studies conducted each month to evaluate the omp[act of the project in realising its objectives.

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