SciCoPH Sydney Visit

In early April 2025, the Science Communication for Planetary Health (SciCoPH) program brought together Indonesian science journalists, communication experts, and bioscientists in Australia to explore collaborative approaches to science communication. The program, led by the University of Sydney in partnership with Universitas Airlangga and the Society of Indonesian Science Journalists (SISJ), aimed to strengthen science journalism’s role in addressing planetary health challenges.

Field Trip to Katoomba

On April 8, participants visited the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre in Katoomba. This visit provided insights into local initiatives on biodiversity conservation, hydrological cycle restoration, and community-led sustainability practices. The participants learned from the Blue Mountains City Council's practical approaches to integrating scientific knowledge with community action, exemplifying how planetary health principles can guide local governance and environmental stewardship. For a detailed account of the field trip, see this article.

Symposium at the University of Sydney

The following day, April 9, the University of Sydney hosted a full day of activities as part of the SciCoPH program. The morning featured an expert meeting and collective writing session focused on the theme of science precarity, opportunities for public-facing publications, and identifying potential journals for collaborative outputs.

In the afternoon, the half-day symposium "Advancing Science Communication for Planetary Health" was held. It opened with "The Politics of Conservation," a conversation between Dr. Dyani Lewis, a journalist with a background in science and contributor to Nature and The Guardian, and Dyna Rochmyaningsih, an award-winning Indonesian science journalist and SISJ co-founder. This was followed by a presentation from Professor Warwick Anderson, a leading historian of science and public health, who provided the historical and conceptual context of planetary health.

Mike DiDirolamo, an environmental journalist and managing editor at Mongabay, shared insights on interviewing scientists and reporting on planetary health. After the afternoon tea break, Carl Smith, a Walkley Award-winning journalist from ABC Radio National, joined via Zoom to discuss experiences reporting on science across the Asia-Pacific.

A conversation between Professor Alice Motion, a public engagement advocate and science communication expert at the University of Sydney, and Professor Arli Parikesit, a science policy specialist and open science advocate from Universitas Gadjah Mada, explored collaborative strategies and the future of open science.

The final session focused on future collaborations between SISJ and the Science Journalists Association of Australia (SJAA), featuring Melvinas Priananda, an Indonesian science communicator and SISJ member; Mike DiDirolamo; and Dr. Dyani Lewis. Professor Sonja van Wichelen concluded the event with reflections and an invitation to the symposium dinner.

The SciCoPH program brought people together, reflected on the critical role of science journalism in planetary health advocacy and demonstrated the effectiveness of international collaboration in strengthening communication practices and community responses to environmental and health challenges. The energy from the workshop and symposium did not end there. Participants are continuing conversations, drafting pieces together, and exploring the next steps for shared projects.