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Biosciences for Farming in Africa project
A case-study in science communication/understanding
Dr Bernie Jones11/11/2013
B4FA project outline
• 3 years long• To encourage dialogue and understanding
– Biosciences– Farming– Africa
• Principal funder: John Templeton Foundation– science & the big questions; how major advances in genetics might
serve to empower; …
Big Questions…
Our Big Question evolution
• “Can GM crops feed the world?”• “Can GM crops help feed the world?”• “Can GM crops help feed Africa?”• Genetics for Farming in Africa• Biosciences for Farming in Africa
B4FA activity
• Book for policymakers, educators, leaders etc• Dialogue and development for media• Scoping for implementation barriers– Innovation Farm concept for Africa– Farmer uptake of new technology– Use of e-training tools for agric innovation
“Insights”
• Essays on different aspects of agricultural biotech, research, and uptake.
• No advocacy, aim to stimulate informed debate and discussion
• Free distribution – ACADEMIES, PLEASE TAKE SEVERAL COPIES BACK HOME!
• Also available online (www.b4fa.org)
B4FA media programme
• To encourage more reporting, and more informed reporting, of genetics and agricultural biotechnology
• To network local scientists and the media• To improve quality of reporting• To improve knowledge and visibility of local
research
Why target the media?
• Where the public gets its information• Where policy-makers and leaders get their
information• Where policy-makers get the “pulse of public
opinion”• Where farmers get their information
Initial research showed
• Different standards of journalistic practice• Difficulties in getting articles published outside
business/politics environment• Difficulties in travelling to research stories• Low level of technical knowledge …..makes it hard to critically engage with issue
What do they see?
Programme outline
• Basic training on genetics and plant breeding• Long term fellowships rather than short• Field trips, mentoring, repeat training
throughout fellowship period• Networking with scientists• Across four focus countries
In practice, since Sep 12
• 8 training & dialogue workshops delivered in Africa• > 160 journalists selected as fellows• > 40 local scientists from > 30 African research institutions
presenting on the courses • 17 field trips during the courses• > 20 organised field trips/events since training• > 400 articles published/broadcast on genetics, biosciences
and plant breeding
Training Content
• Technical training components– History of agriculture– Fundamentals of plant breeding– Basics of genetics– F1 hybridisation– Marker assisted selection– Tissue culture– Gene banks– Genetic modification
Content cont.
• Professional presentations
– Regulatory environment– Commercial environment– Science journalism skills– Pitching a story and creating a lead– Discussion sessions on public acceptability and other issues– Ethics– Keynote addresses
Content cont.
• Practicals/Games/Exercises
– DNA extraction– Dominance/Recessives– Saving F1 hybrid seed– MAS– Writing practical pieces
Participants
• Media fellows (and alumni)• At least 4 national scientists presenting case studies• Senior international and national scientists for training components• High profile international journalism mentors• Local journalism mentors• National regulatory experts• Regional IP and commercial experts• High profile invited speakers• B4FA staff
Presentations
Practicals
Field trips
Interaction
And also…
“Farmer journalists”
• Understand issues and challenges• Able to apply training to explain traditional
practices and methods• Implementing what they have learnt and seen• Encouraging media to start farming
Feedback
• Highly regarded and competitive for journalists • Field trips & farmer visits invaluable• Unique opportunity for scientists to showcase what they do,
how and why• Improved understanding and respect between media and
scientific communities• Made our B4FA fellows the biotech “experts” in their media
houses
Opportunity for Academies
• Engage with media, over the long term• If you want to influence policy, the media are
your allies• Don‘t expect good coverage of something
technical unless you are prepared to explain it AT AN ACCESSIBLE LEVEL
• Create a relationship, and follow up
Practical actions?
• Use “Insights” creatively• Academies in Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda and Tanzania: we have
160 trained and enthusiastic media professionals for you to interact with
• Academies in other countries: we have many resources to share with you should you want to engage yourselves with the media
• Consider working with your J-schools• Make some resources freely available to media
And now, before Q&A…
• ….over to B4FA’s REAL experts
THE MEDIA
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