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Over 120 science communication researchers, practitioners, educators, and policymakers from across Asia and around the world.
From November 11–13, 2025, Tokyo became a focal point for science communication discourse in Asia as the PCST Japan Symposium 2025 brought together a vibrant community of over 120 scholars, practitioners, educators, and policymakers from across Japan, Asia, and around the world. Organised by the Japan SciCom Forum (JSF) and hosted by Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI), this event marked a milestone — the first PCST symposium in Japan and the seventh JSF conference — in advancing collaborative approaches to science communication in non-Western contexts.
Reimagining the Symposium Format
Rather than following a conventional conference model focused on presentations alone, the symposium adopted what we now call the Collective Inquiry Symposium Model. This participatory co-creation framework integrates Preparation → Engagement → Synthesis into a continuous process of collective knowledge creation. Working group coordinators were appointed two months before the event to shape background materials, review key literature, and craft questions that would guide in-depth discussions during the symposium itself.
This design reflects a deeper commitment to participatory design and constructivist learning, where knowledge emerges through shared reflection and dialogue rather than passive consumption. It is a format that better aligns with the complex challenges and cultural diversity inherent to science communication in Asia.
Collective Inquiry Symposium Model - a participatory design that transformed the symposium into a collaborative learning and knowledge co-production rather than passive exchange.
Themes and Core Questions
The symposium centred on two thematic questions that guided every discussion and activity:
Education and Training:
How can Asia develop formal and informal education and training programmes to professionalise science communication?
Science and Society:
How can we bridge the gap between science communication research and practice to engage with diverse audiences?
These themes were explored through four working groups:
Working Group 1: Building Core Curricula and Professional Standards
Working Group 2: Innovation in Learning Ecosystems and Capacity Building
Working Group 3: Culturally Responsive Engagement
Working Group 4: Research-Driven Practice and Policy Influence
The opening panel set the scene and established expectations for the symposium.
Four Working Groups served as the leading platform for discussion and collaboration throughout the symposium.
Highlights from the Symposium Experience
The first day began with high-calibre keynotes and contributed talks that laid the intellectual groundwork for subsequent discussions. Speakers shared insights into global frameworks for science communication, the role of foresight and future studies in shaping public engagement, and emergent models that bridge research and practice. These sessions provided context and inspiration for deeper collaborative work.
Day Two featured a device-free session designed to foster mindful, distraction-free dialogue — an embodiment of the symposium’s emphasis on meaningful engagement. This was followed by intensive working group sessions where participants shared case studies, identified challenges, and began drafting written reflections. In these sessions, discussions often went beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries, integrating cultural, linguistic, and regional perspectives that are often underrepresented in mainstream science communication literature.
Participants noted the value of this approach. For many, the experience was not just informational but transformational — enabling new ways of thinking about professional identity, institutional structures, and audience engagement. The collaborative atmosphere encouraged participants to push beyond individual frameworks toward shared regional insights.
Collaborative Output and Future Directions
A central outcome of the symposium is the development of two post-event insight papers, synthesising the discussions, best practices, and challenges identified across the working groups. These papers will provide actionable recommendations for educators, practitioners, and policymakers seeking to strengthen science communication ecosystems in Asia.
Beyond these publications, the symposium has laid the groundwork for ongoing regional collaboration. Participants expressed interest in future joint initiatives — from cross-institution training programmes to communities of practice that extend well beyond the duration of the event. The organising committee is committed to nurturing these connections, supporting emerging leadership, and continuing conversations that foreground Asian perspectives in global science communication.
A Shared Commitment to Inclusive Science Communication
At its core, the PCST Japan Symposium 2025 was an exercise in collective inquiry — a testament to what can happen when diverse voices engage in structured, respectful, and generative dialogue. The symposium reaffirmed that Asia has not only unique challenges but also rich, context-specific insights that can contribute to global science communication practice.
As we move forward, this symposium stands as both a culmination of years of planning and a starting point for sustained action. The Japan SciCom Forum is proud to have played a role in shaping this moment, and we look forward to continuing the journey with all those who participated.
PCST Japan Symposium 2025 website: https://www.japansci.com/conference/jsf25
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