Japan scicom forum 2024

6th Japan SciCom Forum Conference

october 22–23, 2024

hosted by Kyushu University

Science communication and outreach, especially to global audiences in English, is taking off in Japan. Japan Scicom Forum brings together communicators, writers, scientists, journalists and select experts from abroad to inspire and boost the cohesion of scicomm in Japan, learn new skills and inform the community with best practices. Keynote talks will reflect on research-media interactions from the perspectives of both scientists and press professionals. Workshops will provide hands-on training to support communicators and scientists working in Japan as they engage in global outreach. Open discussion and networking opportunities are spread over the program. The event will be in English.

英語による科学広報やアウトリーチは今、日本で活気を帯びています。ジャパン・サイコム・フォーラムでは、サイエンスコミュニケーター、サイエンスライター、研究者、ジャーナリストに加え、海外で活躍する選りすぐりの専門家が一堂に会する場を提供します。海外に向けた研究成果の情報発信に携わる方、科学広報やアウトリーチに興味や関心のあるすべての方がご参加いただけます。

基調講演では、科学や研究成果を題材とした広報や情報発信に特有の課題について、研究者や実務家の視点から探ります。ワークショップでは、対面で議論したり実際に手を動かしたりすることで、科学広報やアウトリーチの実務に活かせる実践的な知識を共有します。また、プログラム中には参加者同士で議論し、ネットワーキングできる機会を設けています。本イベントの使用言語は英語です。

ジャパン・サイコム・フォーラムで、英語による科学広報やアウトリーチのスキルを磨き、横のつながりを作り、お互いのベストプラクティスを情報交換しませんか。

Programme Schedule:

DAY 1 (TUES, OCT 22)

13:00-20:00 (find your local start time)

13:00 - 13:10: Welcome from Kyushu University President Ishibashi (10min)

13:10 - 13:20: Housekeeping

13:20 - 13:50: Keynote: Kiki Bowman, Head of Communications, United Nations University (30 mins): Designing Meaning in Science Communications [Slides]

13:50 - 14:05: Keynote Q&A (15 mins)

(Group photo will be taken before the coffee break)

14:05 -  14:30: Coffee Break (25 mins)

14:30 - 16:00: Workshops (4 in parallel, 25 people in each) (90 mins)

Workshop 1: Tomoko Otake, Senior Writer, The Japan Times. Think like a journalist: understanding and engaging with the media.

Workshop 2: Akira Ohkubo, Science Communicator, Miraikan - The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation. Why inclusion matters at your workplace and activities.

Workshop 3: Andrew Robertson, Associate Professor, Faculty of Engineering, Kyushu University. Getting Started with Videos – From Equipment to Editing.

Workshop 4: Kaoru Natori, Director of Communications, Médecins Sans Frontières Japan. Better Safe Than Sorry – Equipping Your Institution for Crisis Day.

16:00 - 17:00: Social Hour

Coffee break/Campus tour (60 mins)

17:00 - 18:00: Panel Discussion on AI and Science Communication (60 mins)

• Moderator: Thilina Heenatigala, Assistant Professor/Director of Communications, Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI)

• Panellists: 

  • Brian Lin, Director, Editorial Content Strategy, EurekAlert!

  • Heather Young, Vice President, Communications and Public Relations, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST)

  • Daisuke Furuta, Editor-in-Chief of Japan Fact Check Center (JFC)

18:30 - 20:30: Networking Dinner (120 mins)

DAY 2 (WEDS, OCT 23)
10:00-19:30 (find your local start time)

10:00 - 10:15: Welcome from Brian Lin (EurekAlert!) and housekeeping (15 mins)

10:15 - 10:45: Keynote: Tetsukazu Yahara, Director, Fukuoka City Science Museum (30 mins): From outreach to co-creation: Lessons learned from science education programs for children in Fukuoka City Science Museum [Slides]

10:45 - 11:00: Keynote Q&A (15 mins)

11:00 - 12:00: Contributed Talks (3 talks, 20min each, 15min talk+5 min Q&A) (60 mins)

Kaalaman sa Agrikultura: Communicating agricultural science information to rice farmers in science city of Munoz, Philippines
Laurence Lingat, Central Luzon State University [Slides]

Why should every student give science communication a shot?
Negar Khalili, Kyushu University [Slides]

Promoting science and engineering among marginalised slum-children of Chennai (India)
Aurovrata Aurele Venet, Freelance [Slides]

12:00 - 13:30: Lunch Break (90 mins)

13:30 - 14:30: Contributed Talks (3 talks, 20min each, 15min talk+5 min Q&A) (60 mins)

Association of providers and the media of COVID-19 information with avoidance of the 3Cs and infection anxiety among residents in Tokyo and Osaka
Noriko Noguchi, Doshisha University

Analysis of practices for multicultural disaster prevention education in Japan from a cultural tuning perspective
Zichao Liang, Kyushu University [Slides]

Creating your own metric for press release assessment
Adam Phillips, RIKEN [Slides]

14:30 - 15:30: Social Hour

Coffee break/Campus tour (60 mins)

15:30 - 16:30: Panel Discussion on JSF2024 Reflections and Looking Forward (60 mins)

• Moderator: Jan Lauwereyns, Professor/Senior Vice-President, Kyushu University

• Panellists: 

  • Ayumi Koso, Director, NBRP Public Relations Office, National Institute of Genetics

  • Kiki Bowman, Head of Communications, United Nations University

  • Rina Matsuki, Manager of Global Strategy Division and Head of International Public Relations , Osaka Metropolitan University

16:30 - 16:45: Concluding Remarks

16:45 Adjourn (Hall closes 17:00)

SPECIAL EVENT: THURSDAY, OCT 24, 10:00 - 11:30
There will be a EurekAlert! Japan Users meeting at Hakata station (JR Hakata City). Participation is free.