Science Communication for Planetary Health (SCICoPH) Workshop in Surabaya

Bridging Journalism and Science for a Sustainable Future

Science Communication for Planetary Health Workshop was held on 07 – 08 November 2024 at the Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), Surabaya. UNAIR’s research hub, Airlangga Institute of Indian Ocean Crossroads (AIIOC), acted as the local secretariat. In collaboration with SSEAC (the University of Sydney), Society of Indonesian Science Journalists (SISJ), and supported by the Australia-Indonesia Institute and the Australian Government, the workshop examined environmental and health issues grounded in socio-cultural contexts through transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary lenses and considered how Indonesian journalists can best collaborate with scientists to advance effective science communication. The workshop gathered science journalists, science communication experts, and bioscientists to mentor participants on collaborating with scientists, using open data, and disseminating knowledge. Key themes for the workshop include planetary health, global health, one health, digital health, open science, bioscience, bioinformatics, climate change, resources and extractivism, and biodiversity. 

The workshop attracted 62 applicants from science journalism, communication, and bioscience fields, with 15 selected through a rigorous manuscript review. Eleven participants attended the final sessions, representing media outlets, research centers, and NGOs. Notable attendees included journalists from Mongabay Indonesia, Aliansi Jurnalis Independen (AJI), and Project Multatuli, alongside researchers from institutions like Universitas Gadjah Mada and the University of Glasgow.

12 journalistic manuscripts were submitted, addressing critical issues such as mercury pollution in Jambi’s food sources, Wolbachia-based dengue prevention in Yogyakarta, and indigenous conservation practices in Mentawai. Two finalists—Rianto (UNJ Press/Edura TV) and Wulan Yanuarwati (Mongabay Indonesia)—were selected to present their work at the upcoming 2025 Sydney Symposium.

SciCoPH demonstrated a strong commitment to fostering future collaboration between SSEAC and AIIOC in the sector. Plans are in place for capacity-building initiatives, extending the network to South-South collaborations, involving both the AIIOC network and partners in Africa and Asia.