About me
Dr. Irfana Begum is a prominent Indian science communicator and researcher who was associated with Vigyan Prasar (an autonomous organization under the Department of Science and Technology, India).
Education: She completed her doctorate in Zoology on the topic of Morphotaxonomic Studies of some Nematode Parasites of fishes from CSJM University, Kanpur.
Professional Background
Role at Vigyan Prasar: She has served as a Project Officer for the EduSAT Network. In this capacity, she has been instrumental in utilizing satellite technology for science communication and distance learning.
Expertise: Her work focuses on hands-on science communication, particularly for rural and tribal communities. She specializes in creating "infotainment" formats—informative yet interesting activities that serve as extracurricular science education.
Disaster Management: She is a key facilitator in collaborative programs between Vigyan Prasar and the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM). Her work includes training teachers on school safety, structural and non-structural mitigation, and community-based disaster risk reduction.
Key Contributions & Publications
Educational Materials: Dr. Begum has developed extensive resource materials, including 26 handbooks on various science topics, activity books, and specialized science kits.
Media & Editorial Work: * She served as the Associate Editor for the Urdu monthly science magazine Tajassus.
She has been on the editorial board for the Hindi monthly Bachho ka Inderdhanush.
She has delivered numerous talks on the radio and appeared on TV series such as Vigyan Darpan and Science This Week to discuss science and technology.
Grassroots Impact: She has organized number of workshops, including "Science Toys" workshops and "Bal Vigyan Melas" (Children’s Science Fairs) to foster scientific temper among students in remote and backward districts.
Social Initiative: She is associated with All India Peoples Science Movement and Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samiti for science communication.
Awards and Recognition: She received Yuva Kathakar Samman, Nishan-E- Sir Sayed for Urdu Science Communication, and Outstanding performance for outreach of STEM to tribal and rural
People in India STEM Summit & Awards‟19, and received Best Oral Presentation in the National conference.
Dr. Irfana Begum, a dedicated and passionate professional with a strong academic background and substantial experience in Science Communication. She is dedicated to bridging the gap between scientific knowledge and public understanding, with a strong focus on empowering communities through inclusive and accessible science communication. With over two decades of impactful experience in science communication, outreach, and grassroots engagement.
She completed her research on “Morphotaxonomic studies of nematode parasites of fishes” at CSJM University, Kanpur. She has been committed to creating impactful platforms for scientific awareness, capacity building, and disaster preparedness. During her tenure at Vigyan Prasar, she conceptualized and executed numerous national and international programs, ranging from EduSAT-based science education modules, student–scientist interaction programs, Great Talk, and community-based disaster risk management training initiatives to STEM outreach programs in rural and tribal areas.
Her professional journey has been deeply rooted in the dissemination of scientific knowledge to
underserved and diverse communities across India, making science accessible, inclusive, and socially
relevant. Her work often crosses different sectors, from academia and government to non-profits and community organizations. She also judged various science and innovation competitions and participated as an invited speaker at national and international conferences, where she shared her expertise on topics like women in STEM, intellectual property rights, and the role of satellite technology in education. As a science communicator, she designed and executed a wide array of national-level programs—ranging from teachers’ training workshops and disaster management education to the creation of science activity books, kits, and infotainment-based science festivals. These programs, developed outside the bounds of formal school curricula, offer experiential learning opportunities that bridge the gap between scientific research and societal needs. Through these, She cultivated partnerships with academic institutions, NGOs, and government bodies, and have actively collaborated with local educators and community leaders. Her work is reflected from urban centres to some of the most remote tribal and aspirational districts in India.
Beyond project implementation, She contributed to policy-linked knowledge dissemination through
capacity-building workshops, advisory committee participation, and editorial responsibilities for science magazines and educational publications. Her engagements with international bodies, such as the Australian Academy of Science and the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD), have strengthened her perspective on global best practices in science outreach and public engagement.
Beyond outreach, she have a strong academic and editorial background, She authored and coauthored over a dozen books, research reference books, developed handbooks in science, many of them activity-based learning resources in multiple languages, translated and edited numerous popular science publications, and contributed to both Hindi and Urdu science media, ensuring accessibility for diverse audiences. As Associate Editor of Tajassus monthly (Urdu) magazine and an editorial board member of
Bachho ka Indradhanush (Hindi), monthly, she worked to nurture vernacular science literacy.
Her contributions have been recognized nationally, including the Nishan-E-Sir Sayed for Urdu science communication, the India STEM Summit Award for Outreach to Tribal and Rural People, National Award for Science Song and Slogan Writing, and a Young Story Writer Award and Best Oral Presentation awards at national conferences.