Selangor Journal
— Picture by JAY WENNINGTON/UNSPLASH

SMC launched to help dissemination of info on Covid-19

KUALA LUMPUR, April 1 — The Malaysian Biotechnology Information Center (MABIC) today launched the Malaysian Science Media Centre (SMC) to disseminate information that is based on scientific evidence and facts on the Covid-19 issue.

In a statement issued today, SMC said the centre was set up to address the dissemination of inaccurate information on Covid-19, especially on the social media.

It said it wanted to help to spread accurate information on the spread of the virus based on scientific facts.

“SMC will provide statements and reactions from scientists, gather the reactions of scientists on Covid-19, including on the aspects of virology, genome, vaccine and treatment, that can be quoted and included in media reports.

“Apart from the lack of ‘science desk’, journalists specialising in writing science topics, knowledge gap and understanding journalists and scientists and fear of misinterpretation by the media, are among factors why science topics get less attention from the press, it said.

This online media platform is set up by MABIC executive director Dr. Mahaletchumy Arujanan, with a former local broadcast journalist, Tan Su Lin.

Meanwhile, Dr. Mahaletchumy expressed his hope that SMC will serve as a link between the science community and media practitioners to improve the quality and quantity of media reports on science to the public without being tainted with inaccurate information.

“We have waited for this a long time and this is the second project by MABIC after the launching of the science newspaper, The Petri Dish, 10 years ago,” he said and hoped that the efforts by MABIC would be supported by the science community, including scientists, institutions of higher learning, research centres and government agencies towards improving science communication and literacy in the country.

The Malaysian SMC Malaysia is a non-profit organisation and is part of a global network of Science Media Centres (SMCs), all of which aim to inform public debate and discussion on the major issues of the day by injecting evidence-based science into headline news.

Originating in the United Kingdom in 2002, the network also boasts well-established centres in New Zealand, Australia, Germany and Canada.

The network encourages critical and accurate science reporting by both helping the media access and understand science more easily, and by training scientists to engage with the media.

For more information, surf the Malaysia SMC website at www.sciencemediacentremalaysia.com.

— Bernama

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