1. NSF tangible outputs to the people through media.
2. Objective Science Reporting Programme (OSR)
3. Sharing of S&T messages through social media by means of video clips & short videos among the general public and school children.
4. Organizing Events assigned by the NSF Mangement.
5. Other activities assigned by the NSF Management

The MEMD popularizes the tangible output of NSF activities via print and electronic media and by organizing

A Media briefing for the print and electronic media on the launch of the NSF Global Digital Platform was arranged at the Department of Government Information auditorium on 17 February 2022. The Chairman and the Head, IAD participated at the Media briefing representing the NSF.

Media coverages were arranged for the following NSF activities.

1. Launch of the NSF Global Digital Platform held at BMICH on 21 February 2022 with the participation of then Prime Minister, Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksha as the chief guest.
2. Launch of National Instrument Database held at Ministry of Education on 14 September 2022 with the participation of Hon. Susil Prem Jayantha, Minister of Education as the Chief Guest.
3. National Science Day programme held at the Ministry of Education on 10 November 2022 with patronage of Hon. Susil Prem Jayantha, Minister of Education.
4. WEST programme held at Thimbirigasyaya Divisional Secretariate on 11 June 2024.
5. National Consortium on Sustainable Recovery and Inclusive Development Forum   held at SLIDA Auditorium on 30 July 2024.

1. The following three (03) articles were published in the newspapers.
   1. Sunday Times (31 March 2024)
       Article on " National Science Foundation awards ceremony recognizes scientists and researchers).
   2. Irida Divaina (05 May 2024)
       Article on Objective Science Reporting Programme" (ජාතික විද්‍යා පදනමෙන් නිවැරදි තොරතුරු මාධ්‍යකරණයට නව මාධ්‍ය පදනමක්)
   3. Dinamina (10 May 2024) -
      Article on the "Objective Science Reporting Programme" (නිවැරදි විද්‍යා වාර්තාකරණයකට මග පෙන්වන ජාතික විද්‍යා පදනම).
2. News item on WEST Programme at Thimbirigasyaya was telecast via two TV Channels.
   1. Rupavahini (11 June 2024)
   2. ITN (14 June 2024)

Short videos and video clips on suitable scientific topics are produced by outsourcing or as in-house productions.

Accordingly, the following video clips were produced by the Division.

1. Video clip on WEST programme held at Thimbirigasyaya Divisional Secretariate (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsDcH0AbnuU)
2. Video clip on National Consortium on Sustainable Recovery and Inclusive Development Forum  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5_R80e1PDw)
3. Video clip on Objective Science Reporting Programme.

Producing of the NSF Corporate Video (video clip) and a video clip on Lab to Market Model is in progress.

Science reporting to the general public through media in Sri Lanka is not at a satisfactory level. We experienced that many disinformation (knowingly developing and disseminating incorrect information intended to deceive), misinformation (unintentionally distributing incorrect information), and mal information (disturbing information such as personal information intend to harm) based on science passed through some media channels to the public. Objective science reporting has also been ignored by many media organizations. This is due to lack of trained science journalists / reporters in the country, and / or decision-making bodies of the media organizations pay more attention and interest on other popular topics and political issues, rather than scientific issues, and lack of proper platform to media personnel to obtain authentic information and facts on science and scientific developments.

As per the Mandate of the National Science Foundation, the Media and Event Management Division (MEMD) is working on establishing the Objective Science Reporting (OSR) Programme with the objectives of ensuring receiving of authentic information and facts on science and scientific developments to the people and thereby improving science literacy of them, strengthening skills and attitudes of media personnel from media organizations on objective science reporting, and training and building the capacity of media personnel to take science to the general public, policy makers, and other government officials.

The OSR programme which is going to be established by the NSF is to report only accurate facts and authentic information relevant to scientific findings / innovation / or any other scientific development as a news story, feature article, documentary, or radio programme through establishing a Science Base and a Media Base. The Science Base will provide authentic scientific information and facts to the Media Base upon request received from them.

The MEMD so far has achieved the following targeting the Launch of the OSR Programme this year.

• Developed a Concept on how authentic scientific information and facts to be taken to the general public.
• Established a Science Base by identifying Contact Points from stakeholder scientific organizations and identifying Independent Scientific Group consisting of scientists from local universities and retired subject specialists from the above stakeholder organizations.
• Established a Media Base with media personnel from media organizations.
• Three Organized Orientation Sessions for the Contact Points, Independent Scientific Group, and for the Media
• Conducted two Training Workshops on Science Communication to General Public” for the Contact Points and the Independent Scientific Group.

The MEMD is working on the following.

• Providing training on "Science Communication to the General Public" for the Media Group.
• Launching of the Objective Science Reporting Programme (OSR) by meeting the above three groups together.