2. Introduction
Science Communication
in Turkey
Women in Science in
Turkey
3. Science Communication in Turkey:
Overview
Popular science magazines for interested
readers (TÜBİTAK’s Bilim Teknik losing
prestige)
Mainstream media: editors not concerned
about communicating science
– But they do communicate “science related topics”
No science journalists
Content: Myth/fact
4. Journalism and Science
Communication in Turkey
Reasons editors cite for including science news:
We can’t win the fight against ignorance without
science
Readers are interested, Big story
Story available (from agencies, the academy or similar
sources)
Not much going on elsewhere
5. Journalism and Science
Communication in Turkey
Reasons editors cite for not including science
stories:
Lack of trained reporters
Financial difficulty, lack of resources
“We don’t need it”
No reader demand/not interesting
Too much going on, not enough space
Emphasis on local/regional news
6. Journalism and Science
Communication in Turkey: Quality
Content of science communication:
– Dominant group’s interests observed
– Advertorials/promotion of products
– ‘Miracle products’/miracle cures
– Alternative medicine/herbal therapy
7. Local newspapers: Coverage of
science related topics
Health
Religion (pseudoscience)
Technology
Environment
History
Other (Computers, science conferences, sociology..etc.)
16,60%
4,10%
4,70%
5,20% 59,30%
10,10%
8. High circulation newspapers
95.6 percent of news stories communicating scientific
information about weight loss, dieting and nutrition.
IT news usually in the form of hidden advertising.
(Many during CEBIT fair)
Religious-minded papers communicate science in
relation to religion
Science supplements problematic, no footnotes or
sources cited.
9. Examples of Headlines for Stories
Communicating Science
Journey to the mysteries of the brain
Thought power moves robot arm
Cure for cancer found!
Margarine is good for the heart!
Phoenix traveled to Mars on Turkish
boron
Robot Titan puts on a show for
students
10. Sources Journalists Rely on for
Science News
Statements from academia (55 % local)
Statements from diet experts (61.5 pct%
mass)
Clerics/religious leaders (9.6 percent)
Swiss scientists! (Ambigious sources)
Other sources( Internet, television,
radio..etc).
11. What to be done? Solutions,
recommendations
Training in general ethics courses
Media relations/structure needs to
change
Common good & the truth over interest of
powerful groups
Value of human life over sensationalism
Academics could get involed
12. Women in Science in Turkey: An
overview
Rate of female participation in work force low
(27.4 pct)
Academia remains a man’s world
Very strong glass ceiling affect for women in
science
13. Women in Science: What research
shows
More women in lower academic
ranks
Teach more hours/work more office
hours/lower pay than men
More women on part-time basis
Less access to grants/financial
resources
Cultural patterns only a factor
15. When does the gender gap begin?
Gender gap widens after completion of
education
- More pronounced in private universities
- Private sector R&D departments pay more,
have more male reserachers
---- Policies should focus on helping women at
the start of their careers ---
16. Recommendations/solutions
Official policies to alleviate glass ceiling affect
Mentoring system at universities
New generation, dinasours dying out
17. Conclusion
Science journalism in Turkey
– Newspapers need to take science communication more
seriously, a culture that values facts over speculation should
be fostered. More research needed to understand reader
opinions.
Women in Science
– Women need support during the early years of their careers,
as numbers of boys and girls do not diverge significantly in
pre-university years. Official policies needed. Mentoring
system recommended.
18. Thank you for listening!
Barış Altıntaş barisa@bk.ru
