Journal of Scientific Temper (JST)

Mapping the Route to Truth: Approaches to Countering Misinformation and Enhancing Public Engagement

2025-07-21T16:14:26+0530

In the digital era, misinformation's rapid spread across social media and digital platforms presents a significant challenge, undermining public trust and distorting understanding of critical issues like climate change, vaccines, and political events. This paper explores strategies for countering misinformation through the lens of scientific temper—a rational, evidence-based, and skeptical approach to knowledge. Key approaches discussed include educational initiatives that promote critical thinking and media literacy, which empower individuals to evaluate information sources critically. Fact-checking systems are essential for verifying claims' accuracy, thus preventing the spread of false information. Scientific communication plays a vital role in making complex research accessible and understandable to the public, thereby enhancing informed decision-making. The strategic use of technology, such as AI-driven algorithms, is also examined. These algorithms can detect and flag misinformation swiftly, providing a valuable tool for maintaining information integrity. Responsible social media engagement by scientists and experts helps to present evidence-based counterarguments to false claims, fostering a more informed public discourse. The paper argues that a concerted, interdisciplinary effort involving educators, researchers, media professionals, and technology companies is crucial. Such collaboration can build a more informed, skeptical, and resilient public. By prioritizing scientific temper in education and public discourse, society can navigate the vast sea of information more effectively, distinguishing fact from fiction. This ensures that decision-making is based on evidence, reason, and informed judgment. Overall, this paper offers insights into practical approaches for strengthening public engagement and fostering a culture of truth-seeking in the face of widespread misinformation.

Innovation Yatra-A roadmap for scientific engagement in rural India

2025-05-15T12:10:06+0530

The "Innovation Yatra (meaning journey in Hindi)" is a notable initiative aimed at fostering scientific temperament and nurturing grassroots innovation across the country. This paper explores the role of the Innovation Yatra in promoting scientific inquiry, creativity, and entrepreneurship, particularly in rural and semi-urban regions. Rooted in the Indian constitutional directive to develop scientific temper, the Yatra seeks to empower individuals by providing platform for showcasing innovations that address local challenges. Through workshops, mentoring sessions, and innovation challenges, the Yatra engages with local communities to inspire critical thinking and problem-solving based on empirical evidence. The initiative bridges the urban-rural divide in innovation, providing mentorship, funding, and awareness about government schemes such as Startup India and Atal Innovation Mission, thereby fostering a culture of collaboration among innovators, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and educational institutions. This review includes case studies, such as the Startup India Innovation Yatra and the Honey Bee Network's Shodh Yatra, to illustrate the initiative’s impact on identifying and empowering grassroots innovators. It also highlights the role of key stakeholders such as government agencies, non-governmental organizations, private enterprises, and educational institutions, contributing to the Yatra's success apart from discussing the challenges. The Innovation Yatra fosters an inclusive, sustainable, and impactful innovation ecosystem that encourages the pursuit of STEM careers and supports local innovators in scaling their solutions for national and global impact, contributing to India's future as a global leader in science and technology. These Yatras play a vital role in fostering a culture of innovation and merit wider implementation to empower grassroots innovators nationwide.

Challenges in the Effective Utilization of Secondary Science Kits in Schools: Voices from the Field

2025-09-02T10:07:33+0530

Learning science is not just about reading books. It works best when students explore, experiment, and stay involved. Science kits are very useful at the secondary level. They help students learn through activities and make concepts clear. This paper is about a study called “A Study of the Utility of NCERT Secondary Science Kits (SSK) for Classes 9 and 10 across the Country.” The study was done in 2023–24 by the Division of Educational Kits (DEK) of NCERT as approved by the Programme Advisory Committee (PAC). The research focused on how Secondary Science kits are used in government schools in Haryana and Jharkhand. Data was collected from 36 schools. Researchers interacted with 36 science teachers from these schools. They also observed some classes and interacted with students. The results showed a mixed picture. All the sample schools had the kits, but in some of them, teachers were using them well to support classroom teaching. However, in several schools, the items of the kits were either missing or not in working condition. In a few places, even when the kits were available, they were not being used effectively. Some teachers also shared that they had not received any training to handle the kits with confidence.