MEDIA RELEASE
The International Network for Governmental Science Advice (INGSA)-Asia, supported by the ISC Regional Focal Point for Asia and the Pacific (ISC RFP-AP), has awarded seed grants to six selected applicants with outstanding proposals to organise workshops promoting science advice at an institutional or national level in their respective countries in 2025.
As part of this award, the recipients will receive guidance and mentorship from a distinguished member of the INGSA-Asia Steering Committee to organise their science advice workshops in 2025.
One of the selected recipients, Science Media Centre (SMC) Malaysia, will organise the PANAS! Science Journalism Workshop as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance science communication in Malaysia. Building on the success of the PANAS! Climate Change Stories in Malaysia initiative, this interdisciplinary workshop will bring together scientists, journalists, and advocacy groups to explore how science advice can inform and improve science communication, particularly in the realm of climate change reporting.
The workshop aims to:
- Improve science literacy among journalists, enabling them to cover scientific topics more accurately and effectively.
- Enhance public understanding of key scientific issues, supporting informed decision-making at both individual and policy levels.
- Strengthen public trust in science and the media by institutionalising science communication practices within media organisations and research institutions in Malaysia.
Other awarded projects include:
- Dr. Shadab Alam & Dr. Darshan Gajanan Joshi (India) – Enhancing Grassroot Science Education in Maharashtra: Challenges and Solutions
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jane Gew Lai Ti (Malaysia) – Empowering Food Vendors with Science Advice: A Guide to Minimizing Single-Use Plastics
- Dr. Gina Aliya Sopha, Dr. Ir. Dudi Iskandar & Mr. Tubagus Ari Satria Bakti (Indonesia) – Empowering Bandung: Enhancing Waste Management Awareness through Black Soldier Fly Technology
- Dr. Aftab Ahmad (Pakistan) – Enhancing Science-Policy Integration in Waste Management
- Dr. Sri Fatmawati & Prof. Dr. Sri Suhartini (Indonesia) – Empowering Indonesian Women in Science for Policy Influence
Watch out for announcements on the upcoming PANAS! Science Journalism Workshop soon!