SANFROSSA MANYINDA writes
@SunZambian
DZIWA Science and Technology Trust says it is committed to promoting science, communication and advocacy skills among Zambians to help the country develop.
Executive director Veronica Mwaba said in an interview on Thursday the aspirations of the trust was to have a scientifically informed and prosperous Zambia.
Ms Mwaba said the trust was aimed at creating a platform to enable scientists, ordinary people, women and the youth to fully participate.
Ms Mwaba said it was unfortunate that a lot of space in Zambia was taken by politics, sports, entertainment and business with science receiving the least attention.
She said there was need to strike a balance for Zambia to become a middle income country.
“Science issues do not take a prominent stage in Zambia today. People say science is complex and lacks human interest on the other hand,” Ms Mwaba said.
She said science needed to be central in Zambia and at the heart of national development if the country was to be at the safe side.
Ms Mwaba said if the targeted audience was to develop interest in science, there was a need to train journalists.
“DESAT has partnered with the University of Zambia, National Biosafety Authority and Biotechnology Association of Zambia to orient Lusaka-based journalists so that they can develop interest in reporting on issues relating to science and understand the technical part,” she said.
Ms Mwaba said as the trust was advocating for the advancement science, with a focus on research, controversy, development and policy statements.
She said it was important for people to generate interest and know where Zambia would be by the year 2030 and what advancements would have been made in science and technology.
She encouraged scientists to come on board and share information with the public ad targeted audience.
She said women would not be left out in the programme on grounds that women multiply access to information which result in productivity once empowered in science and technology.
