The Joint 'PCST Japan Symposium' and '7th JSF Conference' will be held from 11 to 13 November 2025 in Tokyo, Japan organised by Japan Scicom Forum (JSF) and hosted by Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI), Tokyo.

The joint symposium will focus on the strategic development of science communication and public engagement in Asia by highlighting innovative practices and solutions from around the world for engaging diverse audiences in non-Western contexts to create a sustainable ecosystem within the region.

symposium scope:

The PCST Symposium 2025 Tokyo, Japan, will bring together researchers, practitioners, lecturers, and other scholars in and around science communication to discuss the strategic development of science communication and public engagement across Asia. With a focus on non-Western contexts, this symposium aims to highlight innovative research and practices that address the region's unique challenges and opportunities in fostering sustainable science communication ecosystems. The discussions will centre on how to professionalise science communication, enhance education and training, and bridge the gap between research and society. While the symposium focuses on Japan and the wider Asia region, it welcomes participants from the West and other regions to share their work and engage in discussions about making it relevant to non-Western contexts. 

The symposium will engage in two key thematic areas: Education and Training, with a focus on formalising and expanding science communication programmes across Asia, including collaborations with industry and cultural institutions and integrating AI and digital skills; and Science and Society, which will explore how to effectively connect research with public needs through co-creation, policy development, and impact measurement. Special attention will be given to addressing multilingual communication, cultural contexts, and regional media landscapes, ensuring that science communication is inclusive and relevant to diverse publics across Japan and the Asia region.

Core Themes, Goals, and Working Groups

Theme 1: Education and Training—How can we establish formal and informal education and training programmes in Asia to professionalise science communication?

• Core Teaching Competencies: Defining core competencies for science communicators by identifying essential skills and knowledge areas for professionalisation.

• Beyond Science Academia: Expanding science communication training beyond universities by exploring collaborations with industry, museums, and cultural institutions.

• Global Models and Studies: Adapting global models of science communication education by drawing lessons from diverse regions and their applicability to non-Western contexts.

• AI and Digital Skills: Advancing digital skills and AI learning in science communication by leveraging online tools to enhance professional development.

Working Group 1: Building Core Curricula and Professional Standards
To define foundational competencies and propose regionally relevant curricula and standards that support the formalisation and recognition of science communication as a professional field in Asia.

Working Group 2: Innovation in Learning Ecosystem and Capacity Building
To explore and recommend inclusive, cross-sector, and digitally enabled learning models that foster lifelong development of science communication skills across diverse contexts in Asia.

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Theme 2: Science and Society—How can we bridge the gap between science communication research and practice to engage with diverse audiences?

• Integrating Research into Practice: Applying research insights to real-world use, considering cultural contexts and policy development.

• Aligning Goals with Public Needs: Bridging research objectives with societal expectations, addressing multilingual communication and local cultural differences.

• Co-Creation in Science Communication: Fostering collaboration between researchers, industry, and diverse communities, with an emphasis on shaping policies that reflect public input.

• Measuring and Enhancing Impact: Assessing the effectiveness of evidence-based approaches to influence policy and public discourse.

Working Group 3: Culturally Responsive Engagement
To develop context-aware strategies for inclusive public engagement in Asia by drawing on local knowledge, addressing linguistic and cultural diversity, and sharing global best practices.

Working Group 4: Research-Driven Practice and Policy Influence
To identify pathways for applying science communication research to institutional practices and public policy, with a focus on evaluating societal impact and enabling co-creation with communities.

Collaborative Outcomes

The working groups will convene on Day 2 and Day 3 of the symposium to collaboratively explore these key issues and co-develop practical recommendations. The insights and proposals generated will form the basis of two white papers, helping to shape the future of science communication education, practice, and policy in Asia and beyond.

This symposium represents a crucial step toward professionalising science communication, enhancing education and training, and bridging the gap between science and society—with an emphasis on multilingual, culturally aware, and digitally empowered approaches that resonate with diverse publics across Asia.

Programme Schedule:

DAY 1 (Tue, November 11)

• 12:00 – 13:00 Registration

• 13:00 – 14:00 Opening Panel: Setting the scene

• 14:00 – 15:00 Contributed Talks Session 1

• 15:00 – 15:30 Coffee Break

• 15:30 – 16:30 Contributed Talks Session 2

• 16:30 – 17:15 Big Idea Keynote

• (Group photo will be taken after the keynote)

• 18:00 – 19:30 Movie Screening

DAY 2 (Wed, November 12)

• 09:30 – 09:45 Morning Coffee

• 09:45 – 10:30 Japan Panel: Past, Present, Future of SciCom

• 10:30 – 12:30 Working Group Session 1

• 12:30 – 14:00 Lunch

• 14:00 – 16:00 Working Group Session 2

• 16:00 – 16:30 Coffee Break

• 16:30 – 17:15 Big Idea Keynote

• 17:45 – 20:00 Dinner

DAY 3 (Thu, November 13)

• 09:30 – 11:00 Working Group Discussion

• 11:00 – 11:30 Coffee Break

• 11:30 – 12:30 Conclusion Panel: Moving Forward

Post-Symposium Events (optional)

• 14:00 – 15:30 EurekAlert! Japan User Meeting

• 15:30 – 17:00 Workshops

Partners

Sponsors

supporters

ENdorsed by

• The Science Communication Society of Japan (SCSJ)

• Japan Association of Communication for Science and Technology (JACST)

• Japanese Society for Science and Technology Studies (JSSTS)