BSA-1

SCITECS – 315

Challenges of communicating science: perspectives from the Philippines

(Critical Analysis Paper)

The article "Challenges of communicating science: a perspective from the Philippines" by

Kamila Navarro and Merryn McKinnon and published on February 3, 2020. It enlightens the
people who read the article because the authors reveal all the facts about the challenges you may
encounter in communicating science. The Philippines is a country that science field has only
limited funds from the government, insufficient scientific capacity, and middling research
productivity. Only a few Filipinos are engaging in the science field. The country has few
scientists and science communicators where science does not always appear in the media, not
like in any other country. That is why this study examines the challenges faced by the local
science communicator and scientists in the country.
This study aims to provide an overview of science communication from those on the
Philippines' viewpoints on the front line. This research also highlights scientific communication
problems that need more investigation on a local and global scale by preliminarily defining
challenges. Although their study offers insight into best practices, their results can still not be
generalized to developing countries. Western countries influence research in science
communication. The researchers studied science communication difficulties by scientist and
science communicators from the country through online surveys and interviews. Their responses
showed the issues that reflect in other foreign studies. However, within the Philippine context,
accessibility issues and local attitudes to science have been magnified. These findings reflect the
ubiquity of some science communication problems and the need for country-specific
mechanisms for science communication. On a local and global scale, more research on the
challenges identified the need.
The article is informative, and it contains many facts that support the study's idea.
Readers can quickly determine the study's purpose because the way it delivers to the readers is
understandable. The article is focused on the topic with the supporting details on it and with their
references. I find it interesting while reading the article because, as a student, I can agree that
there are only a few Filipinos who are interested in science field, maybe because it is expensive
to study in some science courses. However, many students apply to be a DOST scholar to have
the benefits and study free, but there are only few students who qualified.
It also contains a lot of information that supports the article. It is good that it is explicitly
listed in detail the challenges of science communication, and I agree with all of that. The
Philippines is a third-world country and we all know that we lack technologies and equipment in
all field. We lack in terms of technologies and training to improve their skills, which is the one
challenge in the country the insufficient training of the scientist and science communicators.
Based on the article according to the survey that they conducted, "only 3 out of 28 (11%)
scientists and 14 of the 27 (52%) science communicators had formal science communication
training. Five science communicators (19%) indicated that they were taking or had tertiary
qualifications in science communication."
This article is well researched and well written. However, other people might not
understand some terms. Still, the article can quickly determine the problem and findings of the
paper. It shows that it has an appropriate conclusion but the results cannot generalized to the
developing countries because of the different data and sources. The findings were only
applicable to the country that being examine and conduct the surveys.
In conclusion, you must read and understand this article carefully because this is a
revelation to all Filipinos the truth that we are behind in the science field. We all know that the
country is behind the technology, and that is because we only have few scientists and science
communicators who give importance to science communication. This article is a big help to
embrace science communication's importance to improve and develop the country. The people
can solve these challenges if we will unite and help spread the importance of science
communication. I would also recommend the paper to those who have interest in science and to
everyone that might change your insight about science communication.