Public Perception of Folk Media and its Importance in the Dissemination of Science

67-77Science communication aims to connect the general public with scientific research by enhancing their awareness, interest and understanding of science. Folk media can play a significant role in low-resource settings that require more cost-effective measures to communicate effectively. The major objectives of this preliminary study were to study and document the role of folk media in the dissemination of science and to understand the public perception of the role of folk media in science communication based on an online survey. Data for this study was collected from literature survey of published research papers and other relevant documents including grey literature and online news articles, and an online survey that assessed people’s opinions on using folk media for science communication was conducted. The questions for the survey were based on the importance of folk media for science communication and types of folk media. The findings from the preliminary review of literature, news articles and public survey in this study indicated that folk media can be effectively used for science communication among the rural and deprived sections of society but it can also be useful in a modern context and to enhance engagement with science in urban areas. The survey participants agreed that folk media is important for science communicators and to counteract misinformation and superstitio