Science and Development Network: Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox newspaper|logo = |founder = David Dickson|website = {{url|www.scidev.net}}|foundation = 2001|type = Online Media Outlet}} '''SciDev.Net''', short for Science Development Network, is an online source of news and analysis about science and technology in the context of global development. It aims to help individuals and organisations apply science to decision-making in order to promote sustainable development and poverty reduction. <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scidev.net/global/content/about-us.html</ref>

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{{Infobox newspaper|logo = |founder = David Dickson|website = {{url|www.scidev.net}}|foundation = 2001|type = Online Media Outlet}}

{{Infobox newspaper|logo = |founder = David Dickson|website = {{url|www.scidev.net}}|foundation = 2001|type = Online Media Outlet}} '''SciDev.Net''', short for Science and Development Network, is an online source of news and analysis about science and technology in the context of global development. It aims to help individuals and organisations apply science to decision-making in order to promote sustainable development and poverty reduction. <ref name=":0">{{citeCite web |title=About us |url=https://www.scidev.net/global/content/about-us.html |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=SciDev.Net |language=en-US}}</ref>

==History==

SciDev.Net was founded in 2001 by David Dickson as a science news service for developing countries. It originated from a project set up by news staff at the journal Nature (with financial assistance from the [[Wellcome Trust]], United Kingdom) to report on the World Conference on Science, in Budapest, in 1999.<ref>{{cite web |urlname=https":0" //www.scidev.net/global/content/about-us.html</ref>

It was established in response to the significant gap in scientific knowledge between rich and poor countries and with the understanding that “those who stand to benefit the most from modern science and technology are also those with the least access to information about it." <ref>{{citeCite web |urldate=http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev2011-2948806-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html08 |title=Science and Development Network: International Development Research Centre |accessdateurl=2010http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-0829488-13201-1-DO_TOPIC.html |urlaccess-statusdate=dead2025-04-04 |archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608214512/http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-29488-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html |archivedatearchive-date=8 June 2011-06-08 }}</ref> SciDev.Net seeks to redress this imbalance via its free-to-access website, regional networks, and science communications training.

==Ownership==

Since 2017, SciDev.Net has been owned by CABI ([[CAB International]]), a not-for-profit organisation focusing primarily on agricultural and environmental issues in low- and middle-income countries, and the creation, curation, and dissemination of scientific knowledge.

SciDev.Net operates editorially independently from CABI with its content overseen by an independent Editorial Advisory Group whose role is to ensure its editorial independence protocol is adhered to. <ref>{{cite web |urlname=https":0" //www.scidev.net/global/content/about-us.html</ref>

SciDev.Net has a global edition, which is based at CABI’s headquarters in Wallingford, Oxfordshire, and there are five regional desks covering Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and North Africa, Asia and Pacific, and Sub-Saharan Africa (English and French).

==Website==

The SciDev.Net website is made up of a global edition and five regional editions. It publishes in four languages: English, Spanish, French, and Arabic. Content includes news, analysis, opinions, in-depth features, podcasts, and data visualisations.

Content is categorised under the following topics: agriculture, environment, health, governance, enterprise and communication.

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==Podcasts==

SciDev.Net’s Sub-Saharan Africa editions produce a podcast series in English (Africa Science Focus), French (Santé, Science et Développement) and Arabic (The Spark). The podcasts feature scientists from across Africa and the Middle East talking about topical science issues and the impact of science on development in the region. In 2021, the Africa Science Focus podcast was awarded silver in the AAAS Kavli [[Science journalism|Science Journalism]] Awards. <ref>{{citeCite web |title=Award Winners {{!}} AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Awards |url=https://sjawards.aaas.org/awards/field_award_category/audio-144/field_award_level/silver-12/field_award_year/2021-150The150 |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=sjawards.aaas.org}}</ref> The podcasts are published on the website and are available to download from a range of other platforms.</ref>

==Training==

SciDev.Net has over 15 years’ experience of specifically supporting southern journalists and researchers to communicate scientific evidence through workshops and on-the-job mentoring. Since its inception, SciDev.Net has delivered workshops for approximately 1,500 journalists.

In 2013 SciDev.Net piloted a new approach to capacity building centered upon training for trainers. The new approach provides a blend of face-to-face workshops, networking programmes, awards, mentoring and online learning for journalists, researchers and policymakers.

==Signing up==

Visitors who sign-up with SciDev.Net receive a free weekly and/or daily email with all the latest stories from the website. These are available for each edition English, Spanish, Arabic and French. Those who sign-up can comment on articles and submit announcements, events, jobs and grants to the noticeboard for free and these are featured on the website and in the weekly emails.

==RSS feeds==

The latest news can appear instantly on other websites through a free SciDev.Net global, regional or topic specific newsfeed. Each newsfeed carries the latest news stories, including a headline, introductory sentence and link to the full article.

For busy researchers or editors who need to sift through information from many sources, [[RSS|RSS (Really Simple Syndication)]] enables instantaneous delivery of SciDev.Net news stories to a 'news reader' soon as they are published.

== Creative Commons ==

All SciDev.Net website material is free to reproduce under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 licence. Under the terms of this licence users are permitted to copy, distribute, display and perform the content, and make derivative works so long as the original author and website are quoted as the source.

Hundreds of media outlets have syndicated SciDev.Net’s work including global media houses such as The Guardian, The BBC and The Thomson Reuters Foundation as well as regional news networks like AllAfrica, The Asian Scientist and Dawn.

==Funders, supporters and partnerships==

'''Funders''' of SciDev.Net include:<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.scidev.net/en/content/supporters/ | title=Support us - SciDev.Net }}</ref>

== Creative Commons ==

*UK Department for International Development (DFID)<ref>{{Cite web | title=Research for Development | url=http://www.research4development.info/ProjectsAndProgrammes.asp?ProjectID=3937 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070611022816/http://www.research4development.info//projectsAndProgrammes.asp?ProjectID=3937 | access-date=2025-01-11 | archive-date=2007-06-11}}</ref>

All SciDev.Net website material is free to reproduce under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 licence. Under the terms of this licence, users are permitted to copy, distribute, display and perform the content, and make derivative works, so long as the original author and website are quoted as the source. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Use our content |url=https://www.scidev.net/content/media.html |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=SciDev.Net |language=en-US}}</ref>

*Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sida.se/English/ | title=Start page &#124; the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency }}</ref>

Hundreds of media outlets have syndicated SciDev.Net’s work including global media houses such as The Guardian, The BBC and The Thomson Reuters Foundation as well as regional news networksoutlets like AllAfrica, The Asian Scientist and DawnEl Espectador.

*International Development Research Centre (IDRC)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-1-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html |title=International Development Research Centre |accessdate=2008-03-13 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080313024911/http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-1-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html |archivedate=2008-03-13 }}</ref>

*The Wellcome Trust <ref>Australian Aid. http://aid.dfat.gov.au/Pages/home.aspx</ref>

*INASP<ref>{{Cite web|title = INASP – Home|url = http://www.inasp.info/en/|website = www.inasp.info|access-date = 2016-02-23}}</ref>

*Carnegie Corporation<ref>{{Cite web|title = Carnegie Corporation of New York|url = https://www.carnegie.org/|website = Carnegie Corporation of New York|access-date = 2016-02-23|first = Carnegie Corporation of New|last = York}}</ref>

==Training: Script==

'''Partners'''

SciDev.Net trains researchers and journalists to improve the communication of scientific research to the public and policymakers through its science communication training programme, Script.

SciDev.Net works with a range of organisations at global, regional and national levels to achieve shared objectives. These include:

Script provides online training on science communication skills. This aims to enable researchers to simplify complex findings and engage non-specialist audiences and equip journalists to report on science accurately, enhancing public understanding of science.

Over the past ten years, Script has trained more than 10,000 researchers and journalists worldwide. It seeks to facilitate connections between researchers and journalists, fostering collaboration to increase media coverage of scientific research. Script supports universities in integrating science communication modules into journalism curricula, with the aim of ensuring that future journalists are equipped to report on scientific issues.

By strengthening the communication of scientific findings, the programme aims to promote greater public awareness and the use of evidence in decision-making at policy and personal levels, to enhance the impact of scientific research.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://scripttraining.net/ |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=Script |language=en}}</ref>

==Communications==

*Nature

Visitors who sign-up with SciDev.Net receive a free weekly and/or daily email with all the latest stories from the website.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SciDev.Net sign up |url=https://www.scidev.net/global/content/register.html |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=SciDev.Net |language=en-US}}</ref> These are available for each editionin English, Spanish, Arabic and French. Those who sign-upReaders can comment on articles andalso submit announcements, events, jobs and grants to theSciDev.Net’s noticeboard for free and these are featured on the website and in the weekly emails.

*Science

*Guardian Environment Network

*Guardian Development Network

*AlertNet

==Funders==

SciDev.Net is also affiliated with TWAS, the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World, based in Trieste, Italy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twas.org/|title=TWAS|website=TWAS|language=en|access-date=2019-04-25}}</ref>

SciDev.Net’s primary funders are the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)[ and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC).

Other organisations that have supported its content include: the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome, the European Journalism Centre, Adaptation Research Alliance, and Carnegie Corporation of New York.

SciDev.Net works with a range of organisations at global, regional and national levels to achieve shared objectives. These include: the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS); the science news service AlphaGalileo, and the World Federation of Science Journalists.

==References==