How to translate the language spoken by scientists to the public? In this session speakers will present a special expertise from the EU transition countries, where in the recent years many new channels of scientific communication have been opened. Namely, at the beginning of the century, in Serbia and in the Western Balkans in general, there was almost no media that promoted science. But things have changed since.
Due to the process of EU accession and specific political and social circumstances, there has been a rapid growth of scientific communication. During the last five years, after the great success of Belgrade three-day Festival of Science, enthusiasts initiated more than 20 other science festivals throughout Serbia. Eventually, the Government established the Center for the Promotion of Science. Following these trends, the more and more journalists started to report on science.
However, they are facing constant challenges on how to present science in conventional media. Therefore, the countries of this region can be considered as a polygon, or a “laboratory” in which one can observe these challenges of scientific journalism in vivo – especially on how to translate the language spoken by scientists to the public.
Producer and moderator: Slobodan Bubnjević
Speakers: Marija Nikolić and Ljiljana Ilić
Slobodan Bubnjević was born in Rijeka, Croatia, but now he lives in Belgrade, Serbia. He is science editor in «VREME» weekly since 2003. «VREME» is an independent, informative and political weekly based in Belgrade, Serbia. This was first Serbian magazine that established the science column after fall of Milosević regime in 2000. Before his engagement in «VREME», Bubnjević studied experimental and theoretical physics at University of Belgrade. During 2006-2008, also, he was editor of the Television B92 web science section. He is author of «National Geographic Serbia» since 2009. He is chief of Communications Department of the Center for the Promotion of Science since 2010. He published book «The Perturbations And Other Stories» and wrote eight dramas which all were broadcast on Radio Belgrade.
Marija Nikolić is a science journalist with experience in radio programing. She is editor-in-chief of Radio Galaxy, popular science radio talk show, based in Belgrade, Serbia. Marija is also associated journalist at National Geographic Serbia. Marija is editor of SHARE Magazine, printed edition of SHARE Conferences – an open source conference which revolves around the topics of Internet, digital society, technology, culture and activism. She is also program manager of Mini SHARE, initiative with forward-thinking approach to educational praxis
Ljiljana Ilić has gained extensive experience in the field of science communications, media relations, public affairs and consultancy on managing positions in corporate and NGO sector, as well as independent consultant. She has worked at Communications Department of the Center for the Promotion of Science since 2010. She is responsible for media relations and communications, as well as for editing content of CPN internet portal with listed science events in Serbia.
