Asia-Pacific Science Communication Forum

Asia-Pacific Science Communication Forum
Name	Asia-Pacific Science Communication Forum
Formation	21st century
Type	non-profit network
Headquarters	Regional hubs across Asia-Pacific
Region served	Asia-Pacific

Asia-Pacific Science Communication Forum The Asia-Pacific Science Communication Forum is a regional network connecting science communicators, journalists, institutions, and policymakers across Asia and the Pacific, fostering public engagement with science and technology. It brings together stakeholders from organizations such as United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, World Health Organization, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, and regional research institutions like Australian Academy of Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Indian National Science Academy to coordinate training, policy dialogues, and outreach campaigns.

Overview

The Forum operates as a collaborative platform linking entities including Japan Science and Technology Agency, Korean Federation of Science and Technology Societies, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, and NGOs such as The Asia Foundation, Asia Society, Wellcome Trust to strengthen public communication about issues addressed by International Atomic Energy Agency, World Meteorological Organization, United Nations Environment Programme, Food and Agriculture Organization, and International Union for Conservation of Nature. Member activities often intersect with initiatives by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Mastercard Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, Asian Development Bank, and regional bodies like Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Pacific Islands Forum, and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. The Forum interfaces with universities such as National University of Singapore, Peking University, University of Tokyo, University of Melbourne, and Indian Institute of Science, and with media outlets including BBC, NHK, South China Morning Post, The Hindu, and The Straits Times.

History and Development

Origins of the Forum trace to meetings among communicators convened by UNESCO and UNESCO Bangkok in the wake of international conferences like the World Conference on Science and dialogues tied to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and Convention on Biological Diversity. Early partners included Royal Society, American Association for the Advancement of Science, European Science Foundation, Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research, and foundations such as Wellcome Trust and Sasakawa Peace Foundation. Milestones have involved collaborations with institutions like Pew Research Center, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, Kobe University, Fudan University, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, and policy interactions with G20, ASEAN University Network, and Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.

Organizational Structure and Governance

Governance models draw on boards and secretariats similar to International Science Council, InterAcademy Partnership, Royal Society, and National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The Forum convenes steering committees with representatives from Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Australian National University, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Seoul National University, University of Auckland, and funders such as Wellcome Trust and MacArthur Foundation. Regional hubs collaborate with agencies like National Science Foundation (United States), Japan International Cooperation Agency, Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange, and regional partners including Pacific Community (SPC) and Asian Development Bank. Advisory panels have included members associated with Nanyang Technological University, University of Hong Kong, Mahidol University, University of the Philippines, and Universitas Indonesia.

Programs and Activities

Programs include training fellowships modeled on exchanges like Fulbright Program and Chevening Scholarship, workshops with curricula influenced by UNESCO Chair programmes, media fellowships with outlets such as Reuters, Agence France-Presse, and science communication labs inspired by European Molecular Biology Laboratory. Activities encompass capacity building with partners like Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, International Rice Research Institute, CERN outreach collaborations, citizen science projects patterned after Zooniverse, and public campaigns coordinated with World Health Organization and UNICEF. The Forum supports digital initiatives alongside platforms such as GitHub, partnerships with publishers like Nature Research, Science (journal), Elsevier, and engagement with awards like the Kavli Prize and L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science.

Regional Impact and Partnerships

The Forum has influenced communication strategies for crises managed by World Health Organization and regional responses to events like the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, 2010 Pakistan floods, and public health campaigns tied to H1N1 pandemic and COVID-19 pandemic. Partnerships include collaborations with Asian Development Bank, World Bank, UNDP, UNICEF, GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, and networks such as ASEAN Centre for Energy and Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. Academic partnerships span Australian Research Council, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Indian Council of Medical Research, and Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.

Conferences and Events

Regular events mirror formats of World Science Festival, AAAS Annual Meeting, Royal Institution Christmas Lectures, and regional symposia hosted in cities like Singapore, Tokyo, Beijing, New Delhi, Seoul, Jakarta, Manila, Bangkok, Auckland, and Suva. Conference themes have engaged delegations from United Nations University, World Health Organization, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, International Monetary Fund, and nongovernmental participants from Greenpeace, Asia-Pacific Journalists Association, and Science Media Centre networks.

Challenges and Future Directions

Key challenges include navigating policy landscapes shaped by ASEAN, SAARC, and bilateral frameworks involving China–United States relations, managing misinformation encountered on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and addressing inequities highlighted by reports from World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and UNESCO. Future directions emphasize strengthening ties with research bodies such as International Science Council, InterAcademy Partnership, expanding digital literacy initiatives in collaboration with UNICEF and ITU, and fostering resilience in partnership with World Health Organization and United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Category:Science communication Category:Asia-Pacific organizations