To achieve this, SAASTA’s communication unit utilises three critical processes:

• The Scientific Editorial Process (which ensures that information is responsible, reliable and credible); and
• Scientific editing (which considers ethnicity and ethnology of target audiences, ensuring that messages are clearly communicated and understood).
• Audience analysis, with the intention to better understand South Africa’s diverse audience categories by measuring information needs and information seeking behaviour.

The unit has the following focus areas:

• Science and the media: This includes media-scientist networking, events and the facilitation of workshops to assist media practitioners and scientists to popularise science.
• Science promotion: This includes various communication tools and resources that are used to promote science to the general public, one of the best-known being SA Science Lens – South Africa’s only scientific photographic competition.
• Science communication and capacity building: This includes developing the media and communication skills of researchers, enabling them to more effectively share their achievements in priority research areas.

Three DST-funded programmes are managed by this unit:

• The Public Understanding of Biotechnology programme (PUB)
• The Public Engagement with Nanotechnology programme (NPEP)
• Hydrogen South Africa Public Awareness

Find out more ...

• About Science Communication
• Projects
• Resources
• ASCC - 1st Conference 2006 African Science Communication Conference
• ASCC - 2nd Conference 2009 African Science Communication Conference
• SASCON Southern African Science Communication Network
• PCST Public Communication of Science and Technology
• Relevant links
• Public Understanding of Biotechnology
• SA Science Lens
• Young Science Communicators 
• National School Debates
• Hydrogen SA Public Awereness
• Nanotech Public Engagement Programme