The role of the media in tackling disease in the developing world

BA Festival of Science

University of LIverpool, 10 September 2008

David Dickson, Director, SciDev.Net

www.scidev.net

Science, technology and innovation are essential to meet the challenges of:

• achieving economic growth,

• reducing poverty, and

• tackling food shortages and disease.

Premise (1)

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The communication of accurate and accessible information about science and technology are essential to achieve all of these objectives.

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This is true of the communication of information about diseases and their potential treatment to:

• Policymakers

• Citizens

In particular:

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Policymakers at all levels need accurate, timely and reliable information about potential role of biomedical science in tackling diseases and thus meeting development objectives.

Policymakers needs:

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This information is needed to:

• Identify allocation of health resources

• Identify research needs

• Construct appropriate regulatory framework.

Policymakers needs (Ctd):

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Public understanding of, and engagement in, biomedical science ensures open and democratic debate about the promises that research offers.

Public needs:

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Public understanding is also required to handle the potential misuses of biomedical research, and to ensure evidence-based decisions are\taken by policymakers.

Public needs (ctd):

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Effective communication about biomedical science is an essential requirement for effective development.

Conclusion:

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Eliminating the transaction of costs of communicating biomedical information opens up new possibilities and opportunities for communication information about diseases and their potential treatments.

World-wide web:

www.scidev.net

What we are and what we do

www.scidev.net

To become a basic resource for policymakers and stakeholders concerned with science – including biomedical science – and development issues.

To achieve this by providing a combination of topical and background information that is both authoritative and accessible

Our goal

www.scidev.net

Activities:

2. Operating a free-access website (www.scidev.net) containing news, views and analysis about science in the developing world.

3. Organising regional workshops and other activities – including internships – to enhance the capacity of science communicators and others (including researchers) to provide reliable and authoritative information on such issues

www.scidev.net

Our website contains

• News

• Feature articles

• Opinion articles

• Weekly editorial

• Dossiers (including commissioned policy briefs)

• Notices (including lists of meetings, grants and jobs)

• Links (e.g. to scientific organisations and journals)

• Feedback from users

Capacity-building workshops

These are intended to help build capacity in developing countries to report accurately on science and technology and their contributions to development.

www.scidev.net

SciDev.Net is currently funded by:

• UK Department for International Development (DFID)

• Swedish International Development Agency (Sida/SAREC)

• International Development Research Centre (IDRC)

• Dutch Ministry for Foreign Affairs (DGIS)

• Swiss Development Agency (SDC)

www.scidev.net

www.scidev.net

For more information, and to register to receivefree weekly email alert, visit us at

Thank you!

Liverpool, 10 September 2008