International Science Council Asia-Pacific

02/09/2026

🔊Don't forget: Our next Science Communication training course on Media Training and Speaking with Journalists is coming up soon!

Join us online on 18 September, 17:00–19:00 AEST (07:00–09:00 UTC) to build confidence and clarity for media engagement. We'll cover:
✅How journalists work and what newsrooms need
✅Preparing key messages and anticipating questions
✅Delivering concise responses across print, radio, TV and podcast
✅Managing uncertainty, misinformation and difficult questions.

Led by James Fitzgerald, Programme Director at SMK, with a Q&A featuring Dacia Herbulock, Director of the Science Media Centre of New Zealand and Dr Sinead Chen, CEO of Media Center Taiwan.

Register in the link in first comment.

01/09/2026

Last week, the RFP-AP farewelled our 2025-26 cohort of the Asia-Pacific Academic Mentoring Programme.

Hearing from the mentees about how the programme helped their confidence levels, their careers, and their networks, was a testament to the impact of a good mentor in an academic's career. And hearing what the mentors had to share highlighted what a worthwhile and fulfilling experience mentoring could be.

We even heard about research collaborations between mentees!

We're so excited for this network to continue collaborating and empowering each other. Thank you to all our mentors who gave their time and expertise selflessly, and to the mentees who engaged in the programme in earnest.

Stay tuned as we announce the 2026-27 cohort during the Academy of Science's Science at the Shine Dome event this month!

27/08/2026

The RFP-AP is looking forward to hearing from our Regional Members at the next Member meeting on 8 September, 4-5pm AEST.

We have so much to share about our activities and programmes, including our engagments with Pacific researchers in the lead-up to COP31.

Our Regional Members are warmly welcomed to share their updates and raise any topics that the RFP-AP may be able to support.

Register here: https://council.science/events/isc-rfp-ap-member-meeting-september-26/

20/08/2026

Applications are now open for the Regional Challenge Research Initiative (RCRI) Alpha Cohort, with grants between AUD $50,000-$145,000 available!

Delivered by ISC RFP-AP in partnership with CERN APAC, this round supports collaborative applied research on:
♻️ Circular economy
🗑️ Waste reduction
🌱 Sustainable resource use

Waste volumes in Asia and the Pacific are projected to reach 110–115 million tonnes by 2030, according to UNEP. This funding program is seeking research-led, cross-disciplinary solutions to address this challenge.

✅ Grants of AUD $50,000–$145,000
✅ AUD $580,000 available across 4–5 projects
✅ 12–15 month projects
✅ Consortia must include an Australian institution plus at least two partner institutions from across Asia and the Pacific.

Partnerships with government, industry and civil society are encouraged.

Applications close 5 October 2026
Learn more and apply: https://council.science/our-work/rcri/

This program is funded by the Australian Government Department of Industry, Science and Resources through the Regional Challenge Research Initiative.

06/08/2026

Thirteen new science-policy projects are getting off the ground across Asia and Australia! 🌏

From citizen science seed banks in Bangladesh to flood intelligence training in India, the 2026–2027 Seeds of Science, Asia-Australia grants are backing researchers and policymakers working together on real community problems.

ISC-RFP-AP and .asia are proud to support thirteen grantees with funding and mentorship as they tackle issues like air pollution, water governance, and women's health across the region by bringing science and policy together.

Read more: https://council.science/news/seeds-of-science-asia-2-recipients/

04/08/2026

Don't miss out - Applications for the first Science Communication Tutorial in the ISC RFP-AP's training programme close 10 August!

Eight projects will be supported for a one-on-one, 15-minute mentoring session with a communications expert from the Asia-Pacific region.

If you need advice on media engagement, public engagement, research narratives, or new communication ideas for your science communication project, this targeted mentoring is ideal for you.

Open to ISC RFP-AP Members, affiliated organisations, and early- and mid-career researchers from the Asia-Pacific region. No need to have attended earlier modules.

Apply today!

📅 26 August 2026, 5:00–7:00pm AEST
📝 Applications close 10 August 2026
Apply here: https://council.science/events/science-communication-tutorial-1/

02/08/2026

Ahead of COP31, the ISC RFP-AP joined scientists, policy-makers and community leaders in Nouméa for the Pacific Resilience by Design Symposium, tackling how to build resilient food systems across the Pacific.

Partners included CSIRO, the Pacific-Community-SPC, the University of Hawaii at Manoai and Pacific governments and civil society.

The stakes were made real as delegates met: unseasonal storms flooded agricultural land nearby, a stark sign that climate impacts are already hitting Pacific food systems.

"Building resilient food systems requires sustained collaboration across science, policy and community leadership. The RFP-AP is proud to have contributed to a process that puts Pacific priorities and Pacific voices at the centre of this agenda," said Ronit Prawer, Director, ISC RFP-AP.

A key outcome included the establishment of a new Pacific Food Systems Community of Practice, connecting researchers, policy-makers and practitioners across the region.

Read more:

As momentum builds towards COP31, scientists, policy-makers, development partners and community leaders from across the Pacific gathered in Nouméa, New Caledonia, from 20 to 22 July for the Pacific Resilience by Design Symposium: Reimagining Food Systems Policy and Planning in a Risk-Driven World, ...

20/07/2026

🔉A great opportunity for budding science communicators in our region🖥️

Applications are open for the first Science Communication Tutorial in the ISC RFP-AP's training programme.

Eight projects will be supported for a one-on-one, 15-minute mentoring session with a communications expert from the Asia-Pacific region.

If you need advice on media engagement, public engagement, research narratives, or new communication ideas for your science communication project, this targeted mentoring is ideal for you.

Open to ISC RFP-AP Members, affiliated organisations, and early- and mid-career researchers from the Asia-Pacific region. No need to have attended earlier modules.

Apply today!

📅 26 August 2026, 5:00–7:00pm AEST
📝 Applications close 10 August 2026
Apply here: https://council.science/events/science-communication-tutorial-1/

08/07/2026

The WISE (Women In Science & Engineering) committee of the Association of Academies and Societies of Sciences in Asia (AASSA) is pleased to announce the second round of Professor Yoo Hang Kim Young Women Scientists Award for 2026.

The award will enable young women scientists to attend an AASSA-recognised international scientific conference or meeting to present their research.

Applicants should submit their application form and supporting documents to their local Academy or Society.

📝 Application deadline for local-level screening: 31 July 2026
🌏 Nomination deadline from your Academy/Society to AASSA: 24 August 2026

More details available at:https://aassa.asia/events/events

19/06/2026

Don't miss the second module of the RFP-AP's science communication and media training courses, coming up very soon!

Learn how to craft your research narrative like an expert. In this course you will acquire the tools to:

🖊️ simplify complex scientific ideas while preserving nuance, evidence and precision
🖊️ access practical exercises in rewriting real scientific content for different audiences and use cases
🖊️ use AI to adapt tone, language and structure for public, media and policy contexts.
and more.

We will also be joined by Sagar Aryal, a science communicator from Nepal and founder of Microbe Notes, an online educational platform for microbiology and the life sciences. Learn about his journey into science communication and how it can help you!

📅 Wednesday, 24 June 2026
🕛 5-7pm Australian Eastern Standard Time

Register today, and don't miss out!: https://council.science/events/isc-rfp-ap-science-communication-workshop-module-2/