Dubai Press Club, DPC, announced today the beginning of the first session of the ‘Science Journalist Programme’, in collaboration with Emirates Scientists Council.

The programme aims to train journalists in local media organisations across the UAE about the basic rules, which govern scientific and technological concepts in order to express the precise details of science accurately in simple terms that the audience can understand.

The programme, the first session of which was held at the DPC headquarters, will run for four months and will comprise of practical courses, workshops and interactive sessions, where the trainees can learn the basic rules and techniques of reporting science and technology.

The programme will also include field visits to scientific institutions in the UAE to familiarise journalists with the various scientific subjects and enable them to acquire enough knowledge and understand the main constituents of scientific topics.

Director of the Dubai Press Club Alia Al Theeb said that the programme is a direct translation of the solid cooperation framework between the Dubai Press Club and the Emirates Scientists Council, which aims at developing journalistic skills of local and Arab media outlets. She also added that the programme comes in line with the latest developments in the UAE in the fields of space, energy, environment, climate change, information technology and future scientific research.

Chairperson of Emirates Scientists Council Sara Al Amiri said, "The launch of the programme comes within the framework of the Councils’ keenness to promote science journalism through the launch of supportive initiatives and programmes in science and technology in order to support the development process pursued by the UAE."

The ‘Science Journalist Programme’ is implemented in collaboration between the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, United Arab Emirates University and Khalifa University.