Have Your Say. Improving the Science-Media Communication Gap

The Departments of Biological Sciences and of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics at UCT are inviting you to attend a public Discussion Session on: Improving scientific communication and media-reporting on marine resource management issues.

This will take place from 14:00 to 16:30 on Wednesday, 3 December at the UCT Lecture Theatre 2, John Day (Zoology) Building, University Avenue North, Upper Campus, Cape Town.

Though initially arising from concerns amongst scientists about the reporting of the local penguin-fisheries debate and associated litigation earlier this year, the issues involved arise frequently in marine resource management in various contexts locally and worldwide, and the event intends that wider focus. 

There are shortcomings in communication from both sides – scientists and media – and the purpose of this discussion session is to seek to improve this situation locally.

The format of the event is set as follows:

• The first hour will comprise of short presentations from several speakers on aspects of the issue

• Thereafter a Comment and/or Question and Answer session

• A panel will then be asked to put forward specific suggestions for improving the situation. 

Both the presenters and the panel are planned to be drawn from amongst marine scientists, lawyers, ENGOs, politicians, and environment reporters. 

The event has been timed to coincide with the presence in Cape Town that week of some world-leading scientists for a local fisheries assessment review workshop, so that they can contribute to this event and assist in bringing an international perspective. Read Annual International Stock Assessment Review Workshop

The proceedings will be chaired by Associate Professor Colin Attwood, Head of the UCT Department of Biological sciences.

The (now former) Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dion George, has indicated that he sees this discussion session, aimed at improving scientific communication and media-reporting on marine management issues, as an important initiative.

For further information contact:

Doug Butterworth, Dept Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, UCT: doug.butterworth@uct.ac.za

Colin Attwood, Dept Biological Sciences, UCT: colin.attwood@uct.ac.za

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