International Science Council Asia-Pacific

12/06/2026

🌏Calling all members of the Asia-Pacific!
Join us for our first ISC RFP-AP Member Meeting for 2026.

🗓️ Wednesday 17 June
🕓 4-5pm AEST
💻 Online via Zoom

It's been a while since we last convened, and there's a lot to share!

At this meeting you'll hear updates on RFP-AP's programmes, including presentations from the Asia Science Mission and the Pacific Academy of Sciences. We'll also share our regional priorities – but most importantly, we want to hear from you so we know how best to support our region's science.

Register here: https://council.science/events/isc-rfp-ap-online-member-meeting/

We hope to see you there!

05/06/2026

Welkam to our new Pacific Programme Manager!

We are thrilled to welcome Kaita Sem to the RFP-AP team as the new Pacific Programme Manager. Hailing from Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands, Niue and Aotearoa New Zealand, he brings a decade of experience working across public policy and education, including with more than 16 Pacific governments to strengthen Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning.

“The global science ecosystem and trust in science and evidence generally is being challenged in new ways that require concerted interdisciplinary unity. At the same time, scientists around the world continue to develop solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges and push the boundaries of our imaginations. As a Pacific person, I’m looking forward to meeting our members and doing my part to bring our peoples and our knowledge to these global conversations."

Kaita can be contacted via his profile: https://council.science/profile/kaita-sem/

We're thrilled to have his expertise as part of the team. Welcome, Kaita! 🎉

26/05/2026

The Asia-Europe Training & Youth Summit on Science and Technology Diplomacy is back for its second edition and applications are now open!

As the International Science Council Regional Focal Point for Asia and the Pacific, we're proud to be a Supporting Partner of this programme again this year.

If you a young diplomat, government official, or research/science manager aged 35 or under, join a six-week online training (1 September – 8 October 2026), with the chance to attend an in-person Youth Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia (19–23 October 2026) for selected participants.

Learn more and apply via the link below 👇

As part of the Asia-Europe Science and Technology Diplomacy Initiative for Young Professionals, ASEF is conducting the second edition of the Asia-Europe Training and Youth Summit on Science and Technology Diplomacy in 2026 – and you can join us! (Learn more about 2025’s edition here)

25/05/2026

" As a region, we are seen as being on the front line of the impacts [of climate change]...But the tools and models that are used to assess what adaptation is and how it's being experienced are not necessarily fit for purpose or fit for our context."

Dr Christina Newport, one of the delegates who attended the United Nations Science Technology and Innovation Forum in New York recently, spoke with Marian Kupu from ABC News Pacific Beat about the experience, and why representation on these panels are important.

13/05/2026

Pacific knowledges at the UN!

The International Science Council and the Regional Focal Point for Asia and the Pacific (RFP), alongside the Permanent Missions of Australia and Tuvalu to the UN and the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) group, convened a high-level side event at the 2026 UN Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Forum at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

The RFP were thrilled to support two highly regarded Pacific researchers, Dr Awnesh Singh and Dr Christina Newport, to speak at the event titled "At the Water's Edge: Sea Level Rise, Water Security and Livelihoods in the Pacific", highlighting the compounding effects of rising sea levels on Pacific communities.

Around 70% of Pacific Island households rely on agriculture for their livelihoods, and progress on SDG 6 ‘Clean Water and Sanitation’ remains off track across much of the region.

The message was clear: the challenge is not a lack of knowledge. Pacific communities and researchers have developed locally grounded solutions, in water management, coastal adaptation, and food system resilience, but these innovations remain under-resourced and disconnected from international climate finance mechanisms.

A great opportunity to work with our ISC colleagues in Paris and our colleagues at the Pacific Academy of Sciences to bring expert local knowledge to a global forum!

Read more about the Forum in the first comment.

20/04/2026

REMINDER: Don't miss the first of six science communication training seminars. 'Crafting Your Research Narrative' will focus on supporting researchers to turn their research into clear, engaging stories that demonstrate impact and relevance. Faciliated by James Fitzgerald of SMK , the session will also include a Q&A with two science communication practitioners from the region who will share their experiences: Amy Maslen-Miller, creator of and science communication specialist Mark Ivan Roblas.
📅 Wednesday 22 April 2026
⏰5-7 pm Australian Eastern Standard Time
Register here: https://council.science/events/isc-rfp-ap-science-communication-workshop-module-1/

15/04/2026

📢 Aspiring science communicators - this seminar is not to be missed!

The ISC RFP-AP is kicking off a six-part science communication and media training series, with Module One taking place soon:

📆 22 April 2026 | 5:00–7:00 PM Australian Eastern Standard Time
💻Online
📌 Topic: Crafting Your Research Narrative

Learn how to turn complex research into clear, compelling stories with practical frameworks, AI knowledge and techniques to enhance your impact. Plus, a live Q&A with science communicators from across the region, who will share their science communication journeys.

Facilitated by James Fitzgerald, Programme Director at SMK - a global EdTech business that has trained communication teams at Apple, UNICEF, News Corp and more. James brings deep expertise in digital communication and storytelling that cuts through.

This is hands-on, expert-led training designed specifically to build science communication skills in Asia and the Pacific. And it's completely free.

🔗 Register now: https://council.science/events/isc-rfp-ap-science-communication-workshop-module-1/

03/04/2026

The next chapter in your research career could start with the right mentor!

The Asia-Pacific Academic Mentoring Program is now open for applications, connecting early-career researchers from across Asia and the Pacific with senior scientists and scientific leaders based in Australia.

Now in its third round, the 2026-2027 program offers mentees:

✈️ In-person attendance at Science at the Shine Dome in Canberra (September 2026), with travel and accommodation support provided
👩‍🎓 Monthly one-on-one online mentoring sessions throughout the year
📝 Tailored workshops, personalised training and peer networking

This is your opportunity to accelerate your research career and access a global platform of likeminded researchers.

Applications close 28 April 2026 at 9pm AEDT. Apply today! Details in the comments.

31/03/2026

Congratulations to the recipients of the Tupu Pacific Research grants!

These incredible projects are tackling the Pacific's most urgent challenges, from women's economic empowerment to coral reef survival.

"These inaugural Tupu grant recipients represent innovative, community-driven work aimed at tackling these challenges from the ground up. We couldn't be prouder to support these teams" said Ronit Prawer, Director, ISC RFP-AP.

The Tupu program brings together Pacific-led multidisciplinary research teams, connecting at least two Pacific Island universities with one Australian university to drive real change aligned with the Blue Pacific Strategy 2050.

We're grateful to have partnered with the Pacific Islands Universities Regional Network (PIURN) to make this happen. 🤝

Check out the recipients below, and don't forget to head to the comments for the full media release!

07/03/2026

This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the women whose knowledge, leadership and discovery are shaping the future of science across Asia and the Pacific.

Yet progress remains uneven. Women represent just 23.9% of researchers across the region - below the global average - according to the UNDP’s Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics in the Asia Pacific report. In fields such as engineering and computer science, the gap is even wider.

The challenge isn’t only about access to STEM degrees. The real drop occurs at the transition from study to career. Too many talented women leave the scientific pathway before they have the opportunity to fully realise their potential or contribute to the breakthroughs our region needs.

This is a scientific issue as much as a gender issue. When talent is lost, innovation is limited.

At the RFP-AP, we believe science is strongest when it reflects the full diversity of the communities it serves. That’s why we:

✅ Proactively encourage applications from women researchers across all our programs
✅ Work to ensure our boards and decision-making bodies reflect the diversity of our region
✅ Champion an Asia-Pacific science ecosystem that is inclusive at every level.

Today, we celebrate the extraordinary women scientists advancing knowledge across our region, and we recommit to building pathways so the next generation can thrive, lead and discover without barriers.

Learn more about our programs here: https://council.science/activities-rfp-ap/

AI has been used for certain creative elements of this video.