The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), in collaboration with the Times School of Media, Bennett University, at Greater Noida, has commenced a unique five-day Short-Term Course on “Communication and Public Engagement in the Space Sector”. This course on media communication in space sector is first of its kind initiative in the country by IN-SPACe.
The programme has been designed to address the growing need for informed, ethical, and strategic communication in the rapidly evolving Indian and global space ecosystem. As space activities increasingly intersect with public policy, national priorities, commercial enterprise, and public discourse, effective communication is emerging as a critical pillar for public trust, scientific literacy, and responsible engagement.
Delivering the keynote address on ‘Communicating with Media in the Age of AI’, Dr. Vinod Kumar, Director, Promotion Directorate, IN-SPACe, highlighted the central role of credible communication in the space domain. “As India’s space ecosystem expands with increased participation from non-government entities and academia, communication becomes as important as technology. Accurate, responsible, and accessible space communication is essential to build public trust, counter misinformation, and ensure that the societal value of space activities is clearly understood. Initiatives like this course are crucial in creating informed communicators who can translate complex space science and policy into narratives that engage and educate the public”, he said.
Gaurav Kumar, Assistant Director, IN-SPACe, serves as the Course Director. The conceptualisation and design of the course were spearheaded by IN-SPACe, in keeping with evolving industry demands. It is open to academicians, media professionals, researchers, industry executives, and graduates interested in space communication and public engagement.
The course brings together experts from space institutions, media, academia, and policy to provide participants with a holistic understanding of how space narratives are shaped, communicated, and interpreted across platforms. Over the next five days, participants will engage in lectures, workshops, boot camps, field visits, and hands-on training covering space policy, crisis communication, misinformation management, multimedia storytelling, AI in journalism, and public engagement strategies within the space sector.
The curriculum of the programme integrates foundational perspectives on space history, global and Indian space agencies, and media coverage of space missions, alongside practical skill-building in fact-checking, verification, ethical reporting, and digital content creation. Special emphasis has been placed on crisis communication, vernacular outreach, and the socio-political implications of space narratives in a digitally connected world.
