Dubai Press Club (DPC) today announced a collaboration with Emirates Scientists Council to launch the ‘Science Journalist Program’, a focused training programme for journalists in local media organisations across the UAE. The Program aims to equip journalists with the tools necessary to stay abreast of developments in the rapidly evolving world of science and enable them to communicate scientific concepts to the public in simple and easy-to-grasp terms.

The announcement was made at a press briefing held at the 16th Arab Media Forum being held under the patronage of Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum at Madinat Jumeirah.

Alia Al Theeb, Director of Dubai Press Club said: “The Program is timely, as the United Arab Emirates has made significant strides in advancing its technological and scientific sectors. The ambitious missions to Mars that it recently announced are testament to this. These developments have made it critical for journalists to find new and effective ways of conveying complex scientific information to their audiences. DPC considers it vital to equip local journalists with the knowledge of the latest methods of science reporting so that they can stay abreast of rapid changes in the scientific domain.”

 
Al Theeb explained: “The Program targets 20 journalists, chosen through a nomination process, from local newspapers across the country. Once enrolled in the Program, the reporters will undergo extensive training that includes field tours to the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, United Arab Emirates University and Khalifa University. The extensive training program spans four months (two days of classes per month) from July to October at the DPC headquarters.”  

Sara Al Amiri, Chairperson of Emirates Scientists Council, said: “This strategic collaboration between science and media sectors is critical to highlight the technological developments taking place across various sectors in the UAE. This can be leveraged through the media, since it is a pre-eminent medium for reaching out to large segments of society, especially the youth, so as to acquaint them with the latest scientific knowledge, advancements, achievements and breakthroughs across the UAE and beyond.

“This partnership builds a solid foundation for attracting top scientific capabilities and researchers who can bring knowledge and inputs about the latest scientific discoveries and recent cutting edge technologies,” Al Amiri explained. She added that the media can provide further impetus to research activity and, at the same time, make significant research developments accessible and comprehensible to the public. 

The ‘Science Journalist Program’ will impart information and knowledge to journalists on Space, Energy, Information Security, Aeronautics, Biotechnology, Genomics, Materials Science, Food Security, Artificial Intelligence, and Basic Sciences (Chemistry and Physics), in addition to a number of topics of scientific nature.