Promoting Science Literacy Through Media Education Insight From Media Students In Rawalpindi And Islamabad, Pakistan

Understanding science is crucial, for making informed decisions and improving comprehension of complex scientific topics. In Pakistan, where addressing development issues requires the public to engage with science the role of media professionals in communicating information is vital. This research explores how science communication education is being taught in media departments at universities in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The focus is on students’ awareness, perceptions, challenges, and suggestions for improvement. Through qualitative methods, 75 media students (40 males and 35 females) participated in structured interviews to share their insights and views. The results show that there’s a lack of awareness among students about science communication with not realizing its importance or having access to necessary resources. Barriers include integration into the curriculum, faculty knowledge in this area and a lack of collaboration across disciplines. Despite these obstacles students acknowledged the significance of science in their lives. Suggested ways to enhance science communication, such as adding courses to the curriculum hosting workshops and fostering partnerships between science and media departments. This study underscores the need for educational changes to boost literacy among media students so they can effectively communicate science information and contribute positively to public understanding of science, in Pakistan. The knowledge acquired from this study forms the basis, for creating custom initiatives that tackle the obstacles and utilize students’ suggestions to enhance science communication, in media education.