Defining moment as the World Conference of Science Journalists (WCSJ) comes to Africa
Registration opens for the World Conference of Science Journalists (WCSJ) 2025
Registration has opened for the World Conference of Science Journalists (WCSJ) 2025. The 13th edition of the conference will be held in Pretoria, Tshwane, South Africa from December 1-5, 2025. The biennial conference, a product of the Canada based World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ), will be coming to Africa for the first time. The global gathering was last held in Medellin, Colombia in March 2023, after a hiatus occasioned by the COVID- 19 pandemic.
Journalists are invited to register for the conference.
The selection process for the conference programme was completed, and features speakers from 57 countries. The programme promises a rich combination of keynote speeches, plenaries, parallel sessions and workshops, covering a range of topics. The wide range of formats will include panels, debates and skill building workshops. The programme will also include day trips and longer options to explore South Africa’s science initiatives.
The overarching theme of the conference is: “Science journalism and social justice: Journalism that builds understanding and resilience”
Among the topics lined up for the global convening include Misinformation, Disinformation and Fake News, State of Science Journalism and Journalism and Well-being for People and the Planet.
The excellent selection of workshop themes is geared towards offering hands-on learning in an interactive setting. The sessions will explore storytelling; tackle pressing issues and provide tools and insights to strengthen reporting and communication.
In the coming days, applications for travel grants will be invited from journalists who have a proven track record of producing high quality journalism, accurate and engaging journalism.
According to the conference website, organisers are also lining up field trips that will expose delegates to among others, Centre of Excellence and Training in Vaccines, The future of smart cities, environmental sustainability and clinical research in Cancer and TB Drug development and Clinical Research.
The field trips will take delegates to the University of Pretoria’s Nuclear Medicine Research infrastructure and to Moja Gabedi, a vibrant community engagement hub.
Delegates can also choose to visit the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Biomanufacturing Industry Development Centre. The inaugural WCSJ was held in 1992 in Tokyo, Japan, even before the establishment of the World Federation of Science Journalists. Since then , these gatherings have taken place in 12 countries.
The WFSJ is run as a non-profit, not governmental institution. Its membership consists of 70 science journalists associations in all parts of the globe, representing some 10, 000 individual science and technology writers from around the world.
To learn more and register for the congress click the link below: https://wfsj.org/