Smart websites: Insights from the department of biotechnology

Abstract

Communication is crucial for growth and inclusive development-the very factors that make science useful to society. In an age when the web has become a crucial element of our existence, communication through this medium has also become equally important. Till date most government websites, specially the Indian ones have limited themselves to providing information. This needed a change, specially in the case of science institutions that have an additional responsibility of making science attractive to the public. Department of Biotechnology took the plunge in bringing forth a site that is communicative and projects the dynamic image of the department, which administers world-class science. This chapter captures the experience of how the idea of the new website took shape, and the journey involved in shaping it into effective communication tool-an interface between the public and the government-to build confidence in the government and also to dispel prevailing myths about science and technology.