Overview

The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope is set to become the largest telescope on Earth, andalso the largest science project in Africa. From September 2011 to August 2012, the SKA featuredregularly in the South African media. In The Stars in Our Eyes, author Michael Gastrow dissects the representation of the SKA in the South African media in the period under discussion. Who were the main actors in this unfolding narrative? Who held the stage and who were marginalised? Where didgatekeeping occur and why? What was the relationship between journalists and scientists? How did thestory unfold in the social media as opposed to the print media? Drawing on mass communication theoryand science communication theory, The Stars in Our Eyes: Representations of the Square kilometre Array Telescope in the South African Media addresses critical gaps in the literature on science communication, particularly with respect to science communication in an African context.

Full Product Details

Author:   Michael Gastrow
Publisher:   HSRC Press
Imprint:   HSRC Press
ISBN:  

9780796925473

ISBN 10:   079692547
Pages:   256
Publication Date:   01 November 2017
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Undergraduate ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Out of stock  
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Table of Contents

Contents; Figures and tables; Preface; 1. High contrast: Astronomy, Africa and the emergence of the SKA as a flagship science project; 2. Watching the stargazers: Social science lenses for understanding astronomy, society and the media; 3. Gathering the evidence: Finding the SKA in the news and on social media; 4. Sending the signal: The social construction of media representations of the SKA; 5. A bird's eye view: Key features and themes of the SKA in the media; 6. The World Cup of science: South Africa vs Australia; 7. Science and technology: Visions of an African knowledge frontier; 8. The Gottschalk Hypothesis: The SKA as a symbol of (South) African science and technology achievement; 9. Material benefits: Astronomy and development; 10. Who is seen? Who is heard?; 11. The blue skies of Africa; Appendix A; Endnotes; References; About the author; Index.

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Author Information

Dr Michael Gastrow is a Senior Research Specialist in the Education and Skills Development research programme of the Human Sciences Research Council in South Africa. His research interest is in skills development, innovation, the public understanding of science, and science communication. He holds a PhD from the School of Journalism at the University of Stellenbosch. He has extensive experience in policy-oriented research at the regional, national, and international levels, having conducted research for organisations such as the IDRC, OECD, European Commission, Department of Higher Education and Training, and the National Research Foundation. Gastrow is the author of twelve peer-reviewed scientific papers, and the co-author of one previous publication with the HSRC Press: Kruss, G. and Gastrow, M. 2015. Linking Universities and Marginalised Communities. HSRC Press: Cape Town.

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